ARTICLE IN PRESS

Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52

Chronology of Pleistocene sedimentary cycles in the Carmel Coastal

Plain of Israel
Manfred Frechena,*, Alexander Neberb, Alexander Tsatskinc, Wolfgang Boenigkc,
Avraham Ronenc
a
Leibniz Institute for Applied Geosciences (GGA), Geochronology and Isotope Hydrology, Stilleweg 2, Hannover D-30655, Germany
b
. zu Koln,
Geologisches Institut, Universitat . Zulpicher
. . D-50674, Germany
Str. 49a, Koln
c
The Zinman Institute of Archaeology, The University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, Israel

Abstract

The Eastern Mediterranean Coastal Plain of Israel is composed mainly of loam and sand and gravel of Pleistocene to Holocene
age, supplemented by an Upper Pleistocene beach rock horizon, indicating an alternation of marine, coastal and continental
environments. Owing to the complexity of the numerous exposures of aeolianites (‘‘kurkar’’) and soils (‘‘hamra’’) in the elongated
ridges along the coastal plain, it is difficult to set up a reliable stratigraphy. A systematic luminescence dating study was carried out
on loose sand, kurkar and hamra deposits in the coastal plain between Netanya and Haifa. In this study, 33 samples were
investigated from key sections along the Carmel coast. The chronological results are in excellent agreement with the geological
estimates. Five periods of sand accumulation and kurkar formation can be distinguished at about 140, 130, 90 and around 60 ka and
between 60 and 50 ka. Hamra formation took place between 140 and 130 ka, around 80, 65 and 60 ka and between 20 and 12 ka. The
beach rock is correlated with the sea level maximum during OIS 5e. The luminescence dating results indicate that neither kurkar nor
hamra formation correlates with glacial and interglacial periods of the Northern Hemisphere. However, the chronological
succession of these climate-related cycles is in good agreement with marine and terrestrial archives in the Eastern Mediterranean.
r 2004 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction (‘‘hamra’’, Arabic word for ‘‘red’’) including Mousterian

The coastal plain of Israel is characterized by
development of sand dune fields and aeolianite ridges
locally termed ‘‘kurkar’’ running parallel to the coast
line (Issar, 1968) (Fig. 1). Kurkar ridges are built of
several sedimentary cycles (Ronen, 1975a, b; Gvirtzman
et al., 1984; Neber, 2002), which are intercalated by red
sandy loam soils locally termed ‘‘hamra’’ (Arabic word
for ‘‘red’’) (Yaalon and Dan, 1967). These kurkar ridges
are designated to represent typical longitudinal sand
dunes formed synchronously parallel to the coastline by
dominant wind direction perpendicular to the coast, as
described by Gvirtzman et al. (1998). Archaeological
and geological studies of sections along the Haifa–Tel-
Aviv highway (Farrand and Ronen, 1974; Ronen, 1977)
indicate that the upper part of exposed Quaternary
sediments in the Carmel Coastal Plain contain two
major kurkar units separated by a red paleosol
*Corresponding author.
E-mail address: m.frechen@gga-hannover.de (M. Frechen).
artifacts. In addition, Boenigk et al. (1985) described the
presence of a beach rock at the section at Highway km
95. At the same elevation, a kurkar is exposed but there
is no physical contact between these two units. This
kurkar is covered by a re-deposited Mousterian hamra
soil including artifacts. Ronen et al. (1999) and Tsatskin
and Ronen (1999) documented a Mousterian pedocom-
plex at the section at Habonim, which includes several
pedogenic episodes apparently separated by both phases
of sedimentation and erosion. Neber (2002) and Neber
et al. (in press) distinguished several major sand
transgression events, which led to the development of
the highway ridge in the Carmel Coastal Plain. The
sedimentology and petrography of the exposed aeolia-
nites revealed distinct facies characteristics for each
kurkar unit. The different facies are related to changes
in the environmental setting, including changes in the
vegetation cover and distance from the sediment source,
the Mediterranean beaches. Current studies attempt to
detail the stratigraphic relations among kurkar, hamra
and beach rock, as this coastal sediment sequence is an

1040-6182/$ - see front matter r 2004 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2004.01.022
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
42 M. Frechen et al. / Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52
Fig. 1. Map showing kurkar ridges between Netanya and Haifa and
the location of the sections along the Carmel and Sharon Coastal Plain
in Israel.
important archive of climate change and environment in
the study area.
In a recent paper, Tsoar (2000) suggested that the
foredune-type is formed parallel to the coast line. In this
paper, Tsoar claims that successive foredunes can form
with shore progradation accompanied by some oscilla-
tions of sea level.
However, measurements of strata dip directions and
the macroscopic structure of cross beds indicate that
these deposits derived from an initial sand encroach-
ment of barchanoid-like transgressive dunes, triggered by
on-shore winds with a dominant wind direction similar to
the recent wind regime, as described in detail by Neber
(2002) and Neber et al. (in press). Successive multiphase
aeolian sand accretion processes and subsequent surface
stabilization periods led to the development of the present
morphology as an elongated ridge. The later periods of
sand accumulation resulted in a vertical growth of the
dune system, as a persisting vegetation cover hampered
sand migration and hindered slipface accretion.
The sand along the Israeli beaches is transported from
the Nile delta by Eastern Mediterranean currents east-
wards and northwards along the coast of Sinai and Israel
and subsequently blown inland. The mineral spectra of
the sands and aeolianites are dominated by quartz and
some minor feldspar (Goldsmith and Golik, 1980; Gold-
smith et al., 1990). The source of the silt-sized material is
located in the deserts of the Sinai, Sahara and Arabia.
Owing to the complexity of the numerous exposures
of kurkar and hamra deposits in the elongated ridges
along the Carmel Coastal Plain, it is difficult to set up a
reliable stratigraphy. Ronen (1975a, b) distinguished
eight paleosols, which are intercalated into the kurkar
deposits of the Mediterranean Coastal Plain. Five
paleosols furnish artifacts covering Lower Paleolithic
to Mesolithic assemblages.
In order to improve the chronological framework, 33
samples were taken from sections along the Carmel
coast and investigated by luminescence dating methods.
This study is part of a high-resolution systematic
luminescence dating study carried out on kurkar and
hamra deposits in a north–south transect between
Netanya and Haifa (Engelmann et al., 2001; Frechen
et al., 2001, 2002).
2. Lithology: sedimentology and pedology
The Quaternary sediments were studied in the
following sections along the Haifa–Tel-Aviv highway
(Fig. 1): Highway km 93 (km 93), Atlit Railroad Bridge
site (ARB) (Highway km 90), Atlit Junction Bridge
(AJU) (Highway km 90), Highway km 85, Habonim
quarry (Highway km 82) and En Ayyala (EAY)
(Highway km 80). Sedimentological, pedological char-
acteristics, as well as the spatial relationships of kurkar,
hamra and beach rock are exemplified in detail at the
section at Highway km 93 (Fig. 2), supplemented by
kurkar descriptions of the section at ARB, Highway km
90 (Fig. 3). The nomenclature of the exposed aeolianites
follows the lithological descriptions established by
Neber (2002), distinguishing the sandstone in:
* kurkar A type aeolianites, appearing to be massive,
cross-bedded and well-structured, resulting from
initial barchanoid-like transgressive dunes,
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M. Frechen et al. / Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52 43

Fig. 2. Idealized sketch of the section at Highway km 93 showing lithology and position of the samples (km93).

Fig. 3. Idealized sketch of the section at Atlit Railroad Bridge showing lithology and position of the samples (ARB).

* kurkar B type aeolianites, with a nodular appearance
characterized by abundant rhizolithes which origi-
nate from an extensive vegetation cover, resulting in
vertical growth of the dune system,
* kurkar C1 and C2 type aeolianites, which appear in
general nodular, resulting from vertical sand accre-
tion during periods of enhanced vegetation cover.
Paleosols were described following the Soil Survey
Staff (1975) and The Classification of Israel Soils (1979).
The soil color was described from dry surfaces using the
Munsell Soil Color Charts. The sediments were studied
by petrographic methods and infrared spectrometry, as
published in Neber (2002). Petrographic thin sections
were analyzed by a polarizing transmitted light micro-
scope after impregnation by polyester resin (Hillquist,
Scotland). Thin sections were described according to
Gavish and Friedmann (1969), Bullock et al. (1985) and
Adams and McKenzie (1998). Infrared spectra have
been obtained by a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectro-
meter (Midac Corp., Mesa, CA), using KBr pellets at
4 cm
1 collection resolution.
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44 M. Frechen et al. / Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52
3. Section at Highway km 93
The spatial relationships between kurkar, hamra and
beach rock are exemplified in the section at Highway km
93 (Fig. 2). The base of the visible Quaternary sequence
is represented by beach rock (Unit 1) and a cross-bedded
aeolianite with kurkar A type characteristics (Unit 2).
The beach rock is exposed in the section at the same
elevation like the lower kurkar but no physical contact
of the two units is visible. Both sediments are covered by
hamra (Unit 3). The uppermost sediment layer consists
of a calcareous sandstone with kurkar C type attributes
(Unit 4) indicating a period of renewed sand migration.
Solution cavities in the beach rock (Unit 1) indicate a
relatively high permeability. The main rock forming
components (60–90%) are shells and skeletal fragments
of foraminifera (particularly Miliolidea), corals, coral-
line algae, red algae, echinoidea and mollusks (mainly
Glycymeris and Oysters). Most skeletal fragments show
signs of aragonite dissolution. Intraclasts of reworked
kurkar can be recognized. Microsparitic cement is
developed at grain-to-grain boundaries as meniscus
cement, maintaining porosity. In rare cases, sparitic
cement is growing into open pore space. Calcite was
identified as the major mineral in the infrared spectra.
The lower kurkar, an A type aeolianite (Unit 2), is an
indurated calcareous sandstone about 2 m thick showing
cross-bedding with an unimodal range of north-north-
east dipping directions. Petrographic studies show well-
sorted subangular to subrounded quartz with corrosion
embayments, carbonate fragments, minor amounts of
feldspar and accessory heavy minerals. All grains are
rimmed by brownish micritic envelopes, sometimes
formed of needle-like calcite, most likely precipitated
in an at least temporarily water saturated environment
(Neber, 2002; Neber et al., in press). The quartz partly
shows corrosion embayments owing to peripheral
replacement of quartz by calcite according to Gavish
and Friedman (1969). Former interparticle pore space
has been mostly occluded by microsparitic to sparitic
cement, either developed as roughly isopachous rim
cements or meniscus cements at grain-to-grain bound-
aries. Both cement types precipitated in a vadose
environment (Neber, 2002). Skeletal fragments, and
clasts include mollusk shells, coralline algae, red algae,
echinoidea and benthic foraminifera. Shell fragments
are in general filled by a drusy calcite mosaic. According
to infrared spectrometry, aragonite and low Mg-calcite
are the major carbonate minerals.
The hamra (Unit 3) is composed of two subunits: an
upper, strongly cemented part (Subunit 3b) and a lower
weakly cemented part (Subunit 3a). The sediment of
Subunit 3a shows in thin sections a closely packed sandy
matrix (80% of subrounded and subangular sand of
0.10–0.15 mm in size including quartz, feldspars and few
heavy minerals; feldspar grains are strongly weathered).
The matrix is basically decalcified. Sand grains are
bound with reddish argillic plasma forming anisotropic
coatings up to 20 mm thick. These coatings are found
often in embayments on sand grains and recognized as
clay illuviation features. Clay argillans are sporadically
embedded within the matrix resulting from weathering.
Carbonate and amorphous pedofeatures are abundant,
sometimes found in a juxtaposed occurrence. Carbonate
nodules exhibit features of recurrent dissolution and
precipitation, with dense micrite at the rim and micro-
sparite, occasionally brown-stained, in the core area
around a void. Micromorphological features allow to
relate this paleosol to quartzic red-brown sandy soil,
termed hamra or Rhodoxeralf (Dan and Yaalon, 1971;
Wieder and Yaalon, 1982). This paleosol was obviously
formed in situ.
Subunit 3b has a different microfabric structure. The
matrix is strongly heterogeneous owing to juxtaposition
of shells and products of their eventual dissolution with
brown clayey material. Quartz sand constitutes only
about 15–20% of the slide. Sparitic cement has grown to
occupy almost all porosity. Within the sparitic matrix,
brown clayey pellets or spongy aggregates with weak
micritic cementation are embedded. The upper part of
the hamra reflects strong diagenetic reworking, appar-
ently by erosion of calcareous littoral sediments from
the adjacent areas.
The uppermost, indurated sandstone in the section
under study is of kurkar C1 type characteristics (Unit 4).
Most parts of this layer are without preserved bedding
structures showing nodular carbonate and rhizolithes as
well as patches of weakly cemented quartz sand. In thin
sections, the consolidated parts of Unit 4 show well-
sorted, subangular to subrounded quartz, carbonate
fragments and minor amounts of feldspar and heavy
minerals. In slides, the kurkar C1 type aeolianite is
characterized by abundant superficial ooids of up to
three concentric rims around the nucleus. These
carbonate cements most likely originate from a period
of marine reworking of older aeolianites, prior to
renewed aeolian sedimentation (Neber, 2002; Neber
et al., in press). In rare cases, quartz grains show roughly
isopachous rim cements. In parts, microsparitic to
sparitic cement of a drusy mosaic completely fills former
pore space, whereas meniscus cement formed in areas
where interparticle porosity is preserved. Micritic
envelopes around grains are less expressed and corro-
sion embayments on quartz are less common than
in the kurkar A type aeolinaite of Unit 2. In parts,
microsparitic to sparitic cement completely fills former
pore space. The fossil species are similar to those of Unit
1 but less abundant. In the Infrared spectra, Mg-calcite
and aragonite could be distinguished.
The data described above supplements that given by
Boenigk et al. (1985), who described a reworked hamra
overlying a beach rock at Highway km 95. Additionally,
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M. Frechen et al. / Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52
an underlying, in situ developed hamra (Subunit 3a) is
exposed at the section at Highway km 93, currently
under investigation. The complexity of events
after hamra formation and before a renewed sand
migration is displayed by the strongly reworked upper
part of the hamra (Unit 3b) including kurkar and beach
rock material. The reworking might be caused by
colluviation.
4. Atlit railraod bridge section, Highway km 90
The section at ARB, Highway km 90 (Fig. 3), is
composed of nine lithological units, which display a
complex geological history, described in detail by Neber
(2002) and Neber et al. (in press). The base of the
exposed site displays a massive kurkar A type aeolianite
(Unit 1) with preserved cross-bedding structures and
foresets dipping in westerly directions. This kurkar is
covered by a carbonated reddish, sandy hamra (Unit 2).
This soil formed in situ and in the southern part of the
section is covered by a massive grayish, nodular kurkar
B type aeolianite (Unit 3). The basal aeolianite (Unit 1)
is truncated by a vertical transition resembling a ‘‘paleo-
cliff’’. Beach rock (Unit 4) has been deposited along the
suggested abrasion platform at an elevation of approxi-
mately 9 m above the present sea level. The kurkar B
type aeolianite (Unit 3) in the southern fringe of the site
is covered by a sandy and weakly cemented reddish
hamra (Unit 5). The morphological negative form of the
‘‘paleo-cliff’’ in the northern part of the section is filled
with a calcareous sandstone of kurkar C1 type
characteristics (Unit 6). This grayish, partly nodular
kurkar shows weakly preserved tabular planar beds
dipping to the northwest. Reduced sand accumulation
after the deposition of Unit 6 is documented by a
carbonaceous, caliche-like hardpan (Unit 7), which is
covered by a massive grayish, nodular kurkar C2 type
aeolianite (Unit 8), characterized by abundant rhizo-
lithes and weakly preserved bedding structures. Cavities
on top of the Unit 8 kurkar are filled by brownish sandy
loam (Unit 9). Two caves (Unit 10) developed within the
aeolian sandstone of Unit 1.
Petrographic studies of the exposed aeolianites
showed similar characteristics for the beach rock, the
Fig. 4. Idealized sketch of the section at Atlit Junction Bridge showing lithology and position of the samples (AJU).
45
kurkar A type and the C1 type aeolianite between the
sediments of the section at Highway km 90 and 93. Thin
sections from the kurkar B type aeolianite (Unit 3)
display the same major rock forming components.
Former interparticle pore space is mostly completely
infilled by roughly isopachous rim cement and drusy
mosaic cement. Open pore space is rounded off by
meniscus cement. In contrast to the other investigated
aeolianites, the kurkar B type aeolianite is characterized
by abundant rhizocretions, documented by fine-grained
quartz fragments in a brown micritic matrix surround-
ing former roots. This cement most likely precipitated in
the water saturated plant root rhizosphere. The upper-
most aeolian unit in this section, the kurkar C2 type
aeolianite (Unit 8), is in general composed of the same
minerals and biogenic clasts and fragments like the
kurkar C1 type aeolianite described for the section at
Highway km 93. In contrast, superficial ooid rims are
significantly more abundant in the kurkar C2 type
aeolianite, whereas the latter specimen have a much
lower content in fossil fragments and clasts.
5. Description of other sites under consideration
The visible base of the lower kurkar at the section at
AJU, Highway km 90 (Fig. 4), consists of a massive
whitish indurated kurkar A type aeolianite (Unit 1) with
an unimodal range of dipping direction to the north-
west. The exposed hamra (Unit 2) is separated into a
lower part with dominant carbonate concretions, a
middle part of brown reddish sandy loam with prismatic
structures and an upper part of reddish sand. The
covering kurkar C2 type aeolianite (Unit 3) is grayish
and weakly cemented, with nodular carbonate and
patches of unconsolidated sand. Cavities in this kurkar
are filled with a brownish sandy loam, from a second
hamra (Unit 4), nowadays only preserved in patches on
top of this kurkar unit.
At the section at Highway km 85 (Fig. 5), three
different kurkar units are exposed intercalated by two
and covered by one hamra. The lower kurkar (Unit 1) is
of kurkar A type characteristics, an indurated, whitish,
and massive aeolianite with weakly preserved bedding
structures. The lower of the two hamras (Unit 2) is a
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46 M. Frechen et al. / Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52
Fig. 5. Idealized sketch of the section at Highway km 85 showing lithology and position of the samples (km85).
carbonated reddish sandy loam. The upper hamra (Unit
4) shows no signs of carbonatization. A nodular kurkar
B type aeolianite with abundant rhizolithes and patches
of weak cemented sand is sandwiched between these two
paleosols and covered by an indurated kurkar of C2
type characteristics, which is composed of grayish
nodular carbonate.
The Habonim quarry is located at Highway km 82 on
the eastern ridge about 1.5 km from the present shore-
line and about 4 km from the foothills of Mount Carmel
to the east. The site has an altitude of about 25 m asl. A
detailed description of the Habonim section is provided
by Ronen et al. (1999) and Tsatskin and Ronen (1999),
so the kurkar/hamra sequence is only summarized here.
Four major units can be distinguished, a kurkar A
type aeolianite at the base of the site, succeeded by a
kurkar B type aeolinite, overlain by a pedocomplex,
which itself is covered by a kurkar C2 type aeolinaite.
The uppermost about 4 m thick sandstone is super-
imposed by a thin hamra.
The 4.50 m thick pedocomplex is exposed in a shallow
interdune depression about 100 m long. The pedocom-
plex can be subdivided into four different units. The
upper unit consists of a loose sandy clay (Subunit Ia)
including shells of land snails. A calcrete pan with a
carbonate content of about 40%, compared to 16.6% in
the adjacent layer, formed at the top of the unit. The
loose sandy clay covered a paleosol with abundant gley
features (Subunit Ib).
Unit II consists of dark-colored (5Y 3/1–2.5Y 3/2)
carbonate-free, sandy clay loam similar to surface
vertisols, as evidenced by a complex juxtaposition of
blocky and prismatic structure by slickensides, as well as
iron–manganese and carbonate concretions stained with
black manganese material. Mousterian artifacts are
restricted to this unit, as evidenced by intermingled flint
implements of Levallois technique related to Middle
Paleolithic assemblages (Ronen et al., 1999).
Unit III is a partly truncated paleosol formed under
conditions of better drainage. The paleosol consists of
an AB horizon, a brown to yellowish-brown (10YR 4/6)
sandy loam with a blocky structure. The amount of
carbonate concretions is substantially less than in
Unit II.
Unit IV consists of a well-developed paleosol mor-
phologically similar to surface hamra. The upper A(B)
horizon has a thickness of about 1 m and consists of a
reddish-brown to strong brown sandy loam. The BCca
horizon about 0.70 m thick is a brownish sand (10YR 6/
6-6/8) with abundant burrows of earthworms 1–3 cm
thick filled with red soil material.
At the base of the section at EAY, Highway km 80
(Fig. 6), an indurated whitish kurkar A type aeolianite
(Unit 1) is exposed. This kurkar shows preserved
bedding structures and has a northwest dipping. The
hamra of Unit 2 shows the same genetic features as the
one from the section at AJU. The top of the sequence is
composed of a kurkar C2 type aeolianite (Unit 3), which
is in general grayish and nodular. The kurkar consists of
structured cross-beds with a southwest dipping direc-
tion.
6. Luminescence dating
Luminescence dating methods have proved to be
successful to determine the time elapsed since the last
exposure to sunlight and so the deposition age of the
aeolian sediments. Comprehensive reviews of lumines-
cence dating methods are provided by Wintle (1997),
Aitken (1998) and Huntley and Lian (1999). This study
follows the methodological and experimental conditions
applying the multiple aliquot additive dose method
(MAAD), as described by Frechen et al. (2001, 2002) for
similar deposits from further south, the Sharon Coastal
Plain in Israel. Comparison between the MAAD
protocol and the single aliquot additive dose protocol
for alkali feldspars and the single aliquot regenerative
dose protocol on quartz showed that the OSL ages on
quartz obtained by Porat et al. (2003) are too old for
aeolian deposits from the Ashkelon K20 off-shore core.
In this study, most of the alkali feldspar IRSL ages agree
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M. Frechen et al. / Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52
Fig. 6. Idealized sketch of the section at the section at En Ayyala showing lithology and position of the samples (EAY).
better with independent geological estimates. MAAD
and single aliquot additive dose protocols yielded IRSL
age estimates, which are in agreement within 1-sigma
standard deviation.
Dosimetry has been carried out applying gamma
spectrometry, as described by Frechen et al. (2001).
However, the counting time was extended for three
samples from the section at ARB (2, 4 and 5) to 48 h to
investigate whether there is a relation between the low
dose rate and the measuring time. Results are in
agreement for both measurements (Table 1). Further-
more, uranium, thorium and potassium content of six
samples (ARB1-6) were studied by ICP-MS (U.
Kaspers, Geological Institute, Cologne). Comprehensive
fading experiments were carried out on the sediments of
the Carmel Coastal Plain. These tests did not show
significant fading of the IRSL signal over 14 months.
The aeolianites under investigation were well-bleached
prior to deposition, as described by Frechen et al. (2001,
2002) and Porat et al. (2003).
7. Results
The uranium content ranges from 0.45 to 1.13 ppm
(mean value: 0.8470.22; n ¼ 23) and from 0.68 to
1.74 ppm (mean value: 0.9770.32; n ¼ 13) for the
kurkar and hamra deposits, respectively. The thorium
content is between 0.38 and 0.93 ppm (mean value:
0.5770.13) for the kurkar and between 2.53 and
5.01 ppm (mean value: 3.4370.87) for the hamra
indicating a major difference in thorium content
between kurkar and hamra (Table 1). The potassium
content ranges from 0.12 to 0.30% (mean value:
0.1970.05) and from 0.41 to 0.71% (mean value:
0.5570.10) for kurkar and hamra deposits, respectively,
indicating also a significant difference between kurkar
and hamra deposits. The total dose rate ranges from
0.95 to 1.18 and 1.39 to 2.01 Gy/ka for kurkar and
hamra, respectively. The mean total dose rate for kurkar
is 1.0770.08 Gy/ka and for hamra 1.6770.20 Gy/ka.
Hamra and kurkar can be distinguished by thorium and
potassium content and by the total dose rate. These
47
differences are most likely related to weathering
processes resulting in an increase of the clay content
and a decrease of the carbonate content. However, a
different sediment source, accumulation of ‘‘dust’’ from
the deserts, cannot be excluded (cf. Gvirtzman and
Wieder, 2001). The higher thorium content is most likely
related to higher clay content and/or to lower carbonate
content. The mean values, as determined by gamma
spectrometry and ICP-MS, are in agreement within the
standard deviation (Table 1).
The equivalent dose values range from 37 to 297 and
from 52 to 231 Gy for IRSL-ADD and TL-ADD,
respectively (Table 2). TL shows a greater scattering
of equivalent dose values with depth. The IRSL
equivalent dose results increase with depth and show a
better agreement with stratigraphy than the TL results
(Table 2). Equivalent dose results are systematically
lower for TL compared with IRSL. The reason for this
difference could be dose-dependent sensitivity changes
owing to second glow normalization. No normalization
was applied for IRSL.
The chronological age interpretation is done for IRSL
age estimates only. Sediments from below the beach
rock are not exposed in the section at Highway km 93.
The chronologically oldest sample was taken from the
lower part of the hamra (Unit 3), which formed within a
depression between kurkar and beach rock deposits, and
yielded an IRSL age estimate of 6579 ka. Brown clayey
pellets or spongy aggregates indicate strong reworking.
Furthermore, the clayey pellets indicate a near-distance
transport after heavy rain fall and so an age over-
estimation is likely owing to insufficient bleaching of the
feldspar grains. The stratigraphically older kurkar A
type aeolianite (Unit 2), however, yielded IRSL ages of
57711 and 51710 ka. IRSL age estimates of 59714
and 4779 ka were determined for the upper kurkar C
type aeolianite (Unit 4), covering the hamra.
IRSL age estimates of samples from the section at
ARB increase with depth. The lower kurkar was
sampled at the northern end of the exposure (Fig. 3).
The kurkar A type aeolianite (Unit 1) from below the
duplicate hamra yielded an IRSL age estimate of
153731 ka indicating a deposition period during the
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48 M. Frechen et al. / Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52

Table 1
Dosimetric and chronological results for section under investigation

Sample Uranium Thorium Potassium Cosmic dose Total dose

(ppm) (ppm) (%) (NGy/a) (Gy/ka)

Highway km 93
Km93-1 1.1070.10 0.7070.10 0.1870.01 150715 1.1770.17
Km93-2 0.7070.10 0.4270.03 0.1670.01 150715 1.0470.17
Km93-3 0.6370.04 0.5470.04 0.3070.01 120712 1.1470.17
Km93-4 Beach rock — — — —
Km93-5 0.7970.06 2.9670.21 0.6770.03 8078 1.7670.17
Km93-6 0.6370.04 0.4670.03 0.2370.01 8078 1.0370.17

Atlit Junction Bridge (Highway km 90)

AJU1 0.6770.05 0.6570.05 0.2770.01 7077 1.0570.17
AJU2 0.8170.06 3.5670.25 0.5270.03 115712 1.5970.17
AJU3 0.9370.06 4.6470.33 0.6070.03 110711 1.8170.17
AJU4 1.7470.12 5.0170.35 0.5770.03 135713.5 2.0170.17
AJU5 0.8670.06 0.3870.03 0.1470.01 150715 1.0670.17
AJU6 0.8370.06 2.5770.18 0.4470.02 135713.5 1.3970.17
AJU7 0.9570.07 0.6170.04 0.1570.01 150715 1.0670.17
AJU8 1.1370.08 0.6870.05 0.1670.01 135713.5 1.1670.17
AJU9 0.5970.04 0.6570.05 0.2770.01 7077 1.0670.17

Atlit Railroad Bridge (Highway km 90)

ARB1 1.5270.11 3.1870.22 0.6370.03 120712 1.8470.17
ARB2 0.6770.05 0.7270.05 0.1270.01 7577.5 0.9570.17
ARB2a 0.7070.05 0.6670.05 0.1370.01
ARB3 1.1470.08 3.4370.24 0.5470.03 120712 —
ARB4 1.0770.07 0.4270.03 0.2570.01 7577.5 1.1570.17
ARB4a 1.0470.07 0.4470.03 0.2670.01
ARB5 1.1070.08 0.5070.04 0.1470.01 150715 1.1470.17
ARB5a 1.0970.08 0.4670.03 0.1470.01
ARB6 0.8670.06 2.5370.18 0.4570.02 150715 1.5370.17
ARB6a 0.7870.05 2.6370.18 0.4570.02
ARB16 1.1370.08 0.4870.03 0.1770.01 3075 1.0570.18
ARB17 0.7370.05 0.4670.03 0.1370.01 150715 1.0370.18

Highway km 85
KM85-1 0.5870.04 0.5270.04 0.1470.01 110711 0.9670.17
KM85-2 0.9170.06 2.6070.18 0.4170.02 135713.5 1.4670.17
KM85-3 1.0870.08 0.5170.04 0.1770.01 150715 1.1670.17
KM85-4 0.8270.06 0.9370.07 0.2070.01 8578.5 1.0970.17

En Ayyala (Highway 80)

EAY1 0.9770.07 0.7170.05 0.2170.01 135713.5 1.1870.17
EAY2 0.6870.05 2.8270.20 0.5270.03 120712 1.4770.17
EAY3 0.8070.06 4.5270.32 0.7170.04 115711.5 1.8370.17
EAY4 0.7970.06 4.1270.29 0.6670.03 110711 1.7270.17
EAY5 0.4570.03 0.7170.05 0.2070.01 9079 0.9670.17
EAY6 0.6570.05 0.5970.04 0.1670.01 4075 0.9770.17

ICP-MS results
Sample U (ppm) Th (ppm) K (%) Rb (ppm)
ARB1 1.12 3.51 0.67 25
ARB2 0.54 0.75 0.10 4.9
ARB3 1.04 4.16 0.70 31
ARB4 0.67 0.43 0.27 6.5
ARB5 1.18 0.54 0.14 5
ARB6 0.92 3.16 0.54 21

Moisture: Kurkar (K): 973%

Hamra (H): 571.5%
Internal potassium content: 12.571.5%
Alpha efficiency: 0.0870.008
a
Gamma spectrometry for 48 h.
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
M. Frechen et al. / Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52 49

Table 2 The kurkar A type aeolianite (Unit 1) from the section

Equivalent dose and luminescence age results at the AJU (Fig. 4) yielded a deposition age of
Sample Equivalent dose in Gray Age in 1000 years 93715 ka. The intercalated hamra (Unit 2) gave IRSL
age estimates ranging from 5777 to 4678 ka. The C2
TL-ADD IRSL-ADD TL-ADD IRSL-ADD
type aeolianite is intercalated by a lens, most likely
Highway km 93 solution pockets filled by reworked hamra material
km93-1 75.2712.2 69.4712.0 64.0714.2 59.3713.7
(Unit 4). Stratigraphically the pedosediment belongs to
km93-2 66.174.0 49.473.0 63.3711.6 47.478.8
km93-3 87.7710.0 58.276.7 76.7715.0 51.0710.0 a younger soil formation, as evidenced by an IRSL age
km93-4 Beach rock — — estimate of about 2073 ka.
km93-5 75.970.6 113.5710.9 43.074.2 64.578.9 The section at Highway km 85 is stratigraphically an
km93-6 — 58.374.9 — 56.7710.7 equivalent of the section at ARB. The lowermost
(km93-6=km93-3)
exposed kurkar is an A type aeolianite (Unit 1) and
Atlit Junction Bridge (Highway km 90) gave an IRSL age estimate of 126720 ka. The kurkar B
AJU1 79.2719.3 48.871.0 75.4722.5 46.678.1 type sandstone of Unit 3, exposed between two hamras,
AJU2 81.572.2 72.8710.9 51.475.6 45.978.4 yielded a deposition age of 120723 ka. An IRSL age
AJU3 75.470.5 95.577.9 41.674.0 52.976.7 estimate of 67710 ka was determined for the uppermost
AJU4 17.870.6 40.075.8 )8.870.8* 19.973.4
part of the hamra (Unit 4), which is in agreement with
AJU5 57.576.4 37.272.4 54.3711.0 35.376.5
AJU6 69.9711.5 41.675.0 50.2710.4 30.075.3 an age of 65712 ka determined for the kurkar C2 type
AJU7 78.4712.0 78.472.4 73.9716.8 74.2712.8 aeolianite (Unit 5) covering this hamra.
AJU8 61.1713.4 56.770.7 52.5713.8 48.777.1 The section at Habonim includes one of the most
AJU9 88.474.6 97.871.1 83.3714.2 92.5715.0 detailed pedocomplexes intercalated in kurkar deposits
(AJU9=1; AJU8=6)
exposed along the Carmel Coastal Plain. So far, only
Atlit Railroad Bridge (Highway km 90) radio-thermoluminescence ages, as reported by Ronen
ARB1 113.378.5 140.375.1 61.777.2 76.477.4 et al. (1999) and Tsatskin and Ronen (1999), are
ARB 2 96.379.6 135.977.2 101721 143727 available for this key section. Unfortunately, the RTL
ARB 3 — — — — ages were published as preliminary RTL dates and final
ARB 4 132.578.2 176.2724.3 115718 153731
age estimates have not been published since then. As no
ARB 5 61.478.4 67.7711.4 53.8711.2 59.5713.7
ARB 6 8.970.5 18.372.8 5.870.7 11.972.3 methodological background information is available
ARB16 46.477.1 48.670.7 44.1710.1 46.277.8 about dosimetry, equivalent dose values and age
ARB17 115.8710.7 76.4711.0 112.6722.5 74.3716.9 estimates, the RTL dates have to be regarded with care
and should not be included into the final chronological
Highway km 85
interpretation. However, a correlation is possible by
KM85-1 87.473.8 115.377.2 90.7716.8 120723
KM85-2 74.570.3 97.2710.1 51.175.9 66.7710.3 means of lithology.
KM85-3 57.577.0 75.079.1 49.579.4 64.6712.3 At the section at EAY, Highway km 80, two kurkar
KM85-4 117.1714.4 137.6722.9 107721 126729 units are exposed and intercalated by a hamra. The
luminescence age estimates increase with depth. The
En Ayyala (Highway km 80)
lower kurkar A type, aeolianite (Unit 1) yielded an
EAY1 47.172.6 75.475.1 39.976.4 64.1710.7
EAY2 85.077.0 124.879.4 57.578.4 84.8717.1 IRSL age of 134730 ka. The hamra (Unit 2) yielded
EAY3 101.6711.4 145.3718.0 55.578.1 79.4712.2 deposition ages ranging from 95718 to 80712 ka. The
EAY4 164.1739.5 163.3725.0 94.9724.8 94.8717.5 upper kurkar C2 type aeolianite (Unit 3) gave a
EAY5 109.6711.5 128.5716.0 114725 134730 deposition age of 64711 ka (Fig. 7).
EAY6 104.2713.0 102.4715.5 107724 106726

8. Discussion

penultimate glaciation. An age of 143727 ka was
determined for the kurkar B type aeolianite (Unit 3)
intercalated between the two hamras. Samples AJU 1
and 7 (Tables 1 and 2) were excluded from the age
interpretation owing to problems during an earlier field
session, which could not be excluded. The kurkar C2
type aeolianite (Unit 8) yielded IRSL age estimates of
60714 and 74717 ka. A sample from the uppermost
part of the sequence, where hamra is exposed in
weathering pockets (Unit 9), gave an IRSL age estimate
of 1272 ka.
In the Carmel Coastal Plain, at least five major
periods of increased sand accumulation and kurkar
formation can be distinguished, separated by hamra
formation or beach rock deposition. The stratigraphi-
cally oldest exposed kurkar, an A type aeolianite, was
accumulated during the penultimate glaciation (OIS 6).
This kurkar gave deposition ages between 153 and
126 ka and is exposed at the sections at ARB, Highway
km 85, Habonim and EAY (Fig. 1). These sections are
all exposed along the easternmost ridge, the so-called
highway ridge along the Carmel Coastal Plain.
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
50 M. Frechen et al. / Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52

Fig. 7. Summary of results including the sections at Highway km 93 (km93), Atlit Railroad Bridge (ARB), Atlit Junction Bridge (AJU), Highway km
85 (km85), Habonim (HAB; including RTL dates, as published by Ronen et al., 1999 and Tsatskin and Ronen, 1999) and En Ayyala (EAY). Kurkar
type aeolianites A, B, C1 and C2, as described in the text.

At the sections at ARB and Habonim, this kurkar is
covered by hamra or a kurkar B type aeolianite. The
IRSL age estimates range from 143 to 120 ka (pre-
liminary RTL date of 160 ka for the lowermost kurkar
at the section at Habonim), and so it is not possible to
define a clear chronological boundary between the two
different type of aeolianites and the intercalated hamra.
A second and younger kurkar A type aeolianite is
exposed at the base of the section at AJU and at the
section at Highway km 93 covering the beach rock
deposits, which are most likely contemporaneous with
the sea level maximum during oxygen isotope substage
5e. The IRSL ages of this younger kurkar A type
aeolianite range from 93 to 57 ka and so a deposition
age between 90 and 60 ka is most likely. A kurkar C1
type aeolianite is exposed at the sections at Highway km
93 and at ARB yielding IRSL ages between 59 and
46 ka. The youngest kurkar deposits, a C2 type
aeolianite is exposed at the sections at ARB, AJU,
Highway km 85, Habonim and EAY. The IRSL ages
range from about 74 to 35 ka and so a deposition during
OIS 3 is most likely. It is difficult to calculate exact
accumulation rates from the present data set owing to
the amount of samples under consideration and the
relatively large standard deviation. Therefore no sys-
tematic age increase with depth was determined for
individual kurkar deposits along the Carmel Coastal
Plain. The chronological results from the Carmel
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
M. Frechen et al. / Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52
Coastal Plain indicate that sand migration and accretion
occurred within short periods of time with high
accumulation rates. This result is in agreement with
those from the Sharon Coastal Plain (Frechen et al.,
2002). At the section at Netanya South, the lowermost
kurkar with a thickness of more than 25 m was
deposited rapidly, most likely in less than 5 ka. A similar
rapid accumulation rate is expected for aeolianites from
the Carmel Coastal Plain.
The stratigraphically oldest hamra is exposed at the
section at ARB and Highway km 85. This hamra formed
in situ and separates the kurkar A and B type aeolianites,
which were most likely deposited during OIS 6. The
hamra horizon at the Atlit Railroad Railroad Bridge
formed in situ during part of OIS 6, as the subsequently
deposited beach rock is designated to be an equivalent of
OIS 5e. The most complete hamra sequence is exposed at
the section at Habonim. Although the reliability of the
preliminary RTL dates is still under discussion, it is likely
that the lowermost part of the pedocomplex formed
between 130 and 100 ka before present. The sections at
EAY, Highway km 85, ARB and AJU represent several
hamra formation periods between about 95 and 67 ka. A
younger in situ hamra is exposed at the section at AJU.
The IRSL ages range from 57 to 46 ka. This hamra is
most likely exposed at the section at Habonim, too. The
hamra is also exposed at the section at Givat Olga in the
Sharon Coastal plain, characterized there by a brownish
paleosol horizon, which is the lowermost of two
successive soil horizons in the sequence (Frechen et al.,
2001, 2002). IRSL ages indicate deposition ages between
56 and 33 ka.
At the section at ARB remnants of reworked hamra
material yielded an IRSL age estimate of about 12 ka,
which is in agreement with an age of about 20 ka
determined for reworked hamra within a lens interclated
in kurkar deposits at the section at AJU. The reworked
hamra material is most likely an equivalent of the Upper
Red Paleosol exposed at the section at Givat Olga in the
Sharon Coastal Plain, which gave luminescence ages
ranging from 19 to 12 ka. The age range is in agreement
with results from the section at Netanya South
(Engelmann et al., 2001; Frechen et al., 2002) and
Ga’ash (Porat and Wintle, 1994; Ritte et al., 1997) and is
defined by Gvirtzman et al. (1998) as Netanya Hamra.
Further chronological and stratigraphical correlations
between the Carmel and the Sharon Coastal Plain
emerge, as the uppermost kurkar along the Carmel
Coastal Plain is chronologically most likely an equiva-
lent of the oldest kurkar exposed along the Sharon
Coastal Plain, as investigated by Porat and Wintle
(1994), Ritte et al. (1997) and Frechen et al. (2002). The
oldest kurkar exposed on-shore along the Sharon
Coastal Plain gave a mean IRSL age of 53.979.1 ka
indicating a deposition age between 60 and 50 ka before
present. Interglacial deposits were described from the
51
section at Highway km 93, where beach rock is exposed
designated to represent OIS 5e indicating sea level
transgression over the shelf.
The presented chronological results suggest that more
climate variations are indicated in the terrestrial record
of the Carmel Coastal Plain and so, the terrestrial
sequences would be expected to record local and
regional climate variations versus homogenized climate
signals in deep marine cores of the Eastern Mediterra-
nean. Sand encroachment, subsequent accumulation
and early diagenetic lithification of the kurkar type
aeolianites along the coast occurred in an at least semi-
arid environment (Neber, 2002; Neber et al., in press),
whereas soil formation periods are generally attributed
to more humid episodes (e.g. Yaalon and Dan, 1967).
Summarizing the Late Pleistocene to early Holocene
sequences in the Carmel and Sharon Coastal Plain, the
sediments show five major periods of sand migration
which lead to the formation of the elongated kurkar
ridges. These semi-arid phases are interspersed and
succeeded by six soil formation episodes under more
humid conditions. The chronological succession of these
climate-related cycles is in good agreement with marine
and terrestrial archives in the Eastern Mediterranean,
discussed in detail in Neber (2002) and a forthcoming
paper by Neber et al. (in preparation).
9. Conclusion
Five periods of sand accumulation and six of soil
formation and one beach rock can be distinguished in
the sections under investigation along the Carmel
Coastal Plain. The two oldest kurkar deposits were
formed at about 140 ka and at about 130 ka and so most
likely within OIS 6. These two kurkars are intercalated
by hamra indicating soil formation during that period.
The beach rock most likely formed during the sea level
maximum at OIS 5e. Furthermore, it is likely that the
beach rock is an equivalent of the lowermost paleosol at
the section at Habonim yielding preliminary RTL dates
of about 130 and 107 ka. The third kurkar formation
took place around 90 ka successively followed by hamra
formation around 80 and 65 ka. In the north of the
Carmel Coastal Plain, kurkar formed around 60 ka
superimposed by hamra formation immediately after-
wards. The latter two units cannot be distinguished by
chronological means owing to the relatively high
standard deviation and too few dating results. A very
prominent kurkar deposited between 60 and 50 ka, the
mean age is 58714 ka (n ¼ 6). This kurkar can be
correlated with the oldest exposed kurkar along the
Sharon Coastal Plain (Porat and Wintle, 1994; Ritte
et al., 1997; Frechen et al., 2001, 2002). The uppermost
hamra deposits gave IRSL ages between 20 and 12 ka
and so represent the youngest deposits.
 ARTICLE IN PRESS
52 M. Frechen et al. / Quaternary International 121 (2004) 41–52
Kurkar sediments accumulated rapidly in a few
hundred to a few thousand years. However, in order
to calculate the chronological boundaries of the sand
accumulation periods more reliable, more precise age
estimates are required.
Acknowledgements
We thank the German–Israeli Foundation for fund-
ing (Project-No. I132-301.02/95).
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