OSL dating of quaternary deposits associated with the parietal art of the Tassili-n-Ajjer plateau (Central Sahara)

The Tassili-n-Ajjer plateau is famous for its tens of thousands of pictographs discovered in the mid-XXth century. Despite extensive studies aimed at preserving this art inscribed on the World Heritage List, the antiquity of these paintings remains hotly debated. Because recent attempts at dating with radiocarbon failed to provide reliable results, an OSL dating study focused on Quaternary deposits preserved at the feet of painted walls and which can be connected to them was undertaken. Thirteen sediment samples were collected from below and above the palaeosol where the painters might have lived. The OSL results indicate that the paintings are younger than ∼9–10 ka, but unfortunately they do not allow us to narrow the time interval during which they were made.

► The Tassili-n-Ajjer plateau is famous for its tens of thousands of pictographs. ► The antiquity of these paintings remains hotly debated. ► OSL dating results were obtained on 13 sediment samples. ► The ages indicate that the paintings are younger than ∼10 ka.