Age, origin and climatic controls on vegetated linear dunes in the northwestern Negev Desert (Israel)

► 35 aeolian sections were sampled for 97 OSL ages in the NW Negev dunefield. ► Dunes were not present in the Negev prior to ∼23 ka. ► The main dune mobilization episodes are; 18-11.5 ka, 2-0.8 ka, and 150-8 years. ► Strong Late Pleistocene winds transported the dune sands into the Negev. ► Negev vegetated linear dune stratigraphy records episodes of enhanced windiness.