LUMINESCENCE DATING OF THE LOESS PROFILE AT DOLNI-VESTONICE, CZECH-REPUBLIC

Thermoluminescence (TL) and Infra-red Stimulated luminescence (IRSL) studies were carried out on 21 samples from loess profiles at Dolni Vestonice. The IRSL measurements gave systematically lower equivalent doses (EDs) than the TL measurements; this could be due to inadequate preheat being applied to the former. Dose rate intercomparisons confirm the view that alpha counting should be carried out on finely ground material. Comparison of ED determination by regeneration and additive dose methods did not suggest sensitivity increases on bleaching, but for the older samples the TL ages were underestimated compared with the expected ages based on the correlation of palaeosol stratigraphy with the framework provided by the deep sea oxygen isotope record. Using the hypothesis of luminescence decay with a Lifetime of 150 ka suggests that the previous ages assigned to the palaeosols may not be correct.