Developing a framework of Quaternary dune accumulation in the northern Rub' al-Khali, Arabia

Abstract

Located at the crossroads between Africa and Eurasia, Arabia occupies a pivotal position for human migration and dispersal during the Late Pleistocene. Deducing the timing of humid and arid phases is critical to understanding when the Rub' al-Khali desert acted as a barrier to human movement and settlement. Recent geological mapping in the northern part of the Rub' al-Khali has enabled the Quaternary history of the region to be put into a regional stratigraphical framework. In addition to the active dunes, two significant palaeodune sequences have been identified. Dating of key sections has enabled a chronology of dune accretion and stabilisation to be determined. In addition, previously published optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates have been put in their proper stratigraphical context, from which a record of Late Pleistocene dune activity can be constructed. The results indicate the record of dune activity in the northern Rub' al-Khali is preservation limited and is synchronous with humid events driven by the incursion of the Indian Ocean monsoon.

A multi-proxy analysis of the Holocene humid phase from the United Arab Emirates and its implications for southeast Arabia's Neolithic populations

“…8). Farrant et al (2015) suggest that the aeolian record in the Gulf region is preservation limited, recording dune stabilisation and cementation at the onset of humid episodes. Determining why the lower Gulf region appears to have been outof-phase with other areas of Arabia is complicated by the continuing uncertainty surrounding the different climatic systems influencing the Peninsula during the earlyto mid-Holocene (Berger et al, 2012).…”

“…In this study lf is used as a proxy for stability in the surrounding dune-fields, with values primarily controlled by the accretion of Fe-rich quartz during periods of dune remobilisation Preston et al, 2012), and may in turn be linked to variations in vegetation cover, precipitation, sediment supply and/or wind strength (Tsoar, 2005;Yizhaq et al, 2009). Reduced detrital input is also inferred by below average Al, Fe, and Ti values, which correspond to the abundance of quartz, feldspars and sheet silicates, all of which are common components of the dune sands in the northern Emirates (El-Sayed, 1999;Garzanti et al, 2003;Farrant et al, 2013Farrant et al, , 2015. It is proposed that these minerals are largely inert with respect to the lake system and thus can also be used to monitor stability in the surrounding dune-fields.…”

Middle and Late Pleistocene mammal fossils of Arabia and surrounding regions: Implications for biogeography and hominin dispersals

“…Notwithstanding its geographical proximity, Arabia has largely been excluded from these discussions owing to a dearth of archaeological and palaeontological research in the region. However, new palaeoenvironmental (Rosenberg et al, 2013;Breeze et al, 2015;Farrant et al, 2015;Hoffmann et al, 2015;Jennings et al, 2015b;, archaeological (Armitage et al, 2011;Groucutt and Petraglia, 2012;Hilbert et al, 2014;Scerri et al, 2014;Shipton et al, 2014;Jennings et al, 2016) and palaeontological (Stimpson et al, 2015(Stimpson et al, , 2016 studies have begun to shed light on this region, highlighting its importance for a holistic understanding of faunal (including hominin) exchanges between Africa and Eurasia. The importance of Arabia has also been specifically stressed in the study of hominin dispersals (Groucutt et al, 2015b).…”

Green Arabia: Human prehistory at the Crossroads of Continents

“…Most remarkably, the presence of the mussel Unio provides indirect evidence for the presence of fish in the lakes, thereby indicating the presence of both freshwater and aquatic resources for humans who travelled into the desert interior . The complementary article by Farrant et al (2015) zeros in on the northeastern part of the Empty Quarter, with the aim to examine dune accumulation during the Late Pleistocene. On the basis of a comprehensive database of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) samples, the authors demonstrate that dune stablisation occurs during humid periods (i.e., MIS 5e, 5c, 5a; MIS 4/MIS 3 transition; Early Holocene) and that conversely, aridity is indicated by the lack of dates during most of MIS 2e4 and at intervals during MIS 5.…”