New geomorphological and archaeological evidence for drainage evolution in the Luangwa Valley (Zambia) during the Late Pleistocene

Colton, D, Whitfield, E, Plater, AJ ORCID: 0000-0001-7043-227X, Duller, GAT, Jain, M and Barham, L ORCID: 0000-0002-5474-4668 (2021) New geomorphological and archaeological evidence for drainage evolution in the Luangwa Valley (Zambia) during the Late Pleistocene Geomorphology, 392. p. 107923. ISSN 0169-555X, 1872-695X

	Text New Geomorphological Revised - final clean3.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (87kB)
	Image Figure 1. Location map of survey area.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (454kB) | Preview
	Image Figure 2. The survey area.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (501kB) | Preview
	Text Figure 3. Valley cross-section.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (37kB) | Preview
	Image Figure 4a. SL8 contour with Blocks.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (359kB) | Preview
	Image Figure 4b. Excavations trenches B1, B2, B3 revised.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (58MB) | Preview
	Image Figure 5. Excavation at SL8, Block 3.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (869kB) | Preview
	Image Figure 6. Pie charts of clast counts.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (653kB) | Preview
	Image Figure 7. SL8 Block 3 Main section.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (700kB) | Preview
	Image Figure 8. SL8 artefact illustrations.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (8MB) | Preview
	Image Figure 9a. Block 3 flake length boxplot.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (1MB) | Preview
	Image Figure 9b. B3 Whole flake raw material.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (1MB) | Preview
	Image Figure 10. SL8 B1 A1 sections.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (920kB) | Preview
	Image Figure 11. Retouched tools bar chart.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (1MB) | Preview
	Image Figure 12. Block 1 Area 1 flake length boxplot.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (1MB) | Preview
	Image Figure 13a. OSL signal intensity and dose response curve.TIF - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (619kB) | Preview
	Image Figure 13b. Dose distribution SL8-1(2).tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (690kB) | Preview
	Image Figure 13c. Dose distribution SL8-2.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (767kB) | Preview
	Image Figure 13d. Dose distribution SL8-3.tif - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (700kB) | Preview
	Text Table 1 Summary of OSL dating results.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (16kB)
	Text Table 2. Fan catchments areas.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (13kB)
	Text SM Table 1. Clast lithology.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (17kB)
	Text SM Table 2. Clast count angularity data.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (17kB)
	Text SM Table 3a. Clast count b-axis data.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (14kB)
	Text SM Table 3b. t-tests of clast size.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (16kB)
	Text SM Table 4. Block 3 whole flakes crosstab.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (18kB)
	Text SM Table 5. Block 1 Area 1 flake abrasion.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (16kB)
	Text SM Table 6. Block 1 Area 1 core type.docx - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (81kB)

Abstract

This is the first systematic investigation of two distinctive geomorphological features recorded in the central Luangwa River valley, Zambia. A series of low hills was found to be capped by thin (~1 m) gravel deposits containing stratified Stone Age artefacts. More widespread gravels occur on the margins of the Luangwa River floodplain lacking stratified artefacts. The previously unreported hilltop deposits are interpreted as remnants of a dissected land-surface, and the valley floor gravels as redeposited clasts from c. 20 m of down-cutting. Clast analysis and drainage basin size analysis support a hypothesis of gravel deposition by unconstrained debris flows from the distant Muchinga escarpment, or from an intermediate zone. Excavation of a perched deposit revealed a coarsely stratified Stone Age record indicating periodic emplacement of artefact-bearing gravels over an extended period. Deposition of these perched gravels continued into the Late Pleistocene (~77 ka), based on OSL dating, after which the current dissected landscape formed. We hypothesize further, based on a regional record of landscape instability and core data from Lake Malawi, that fan formation in the valley was linked to periods of extended aridity and reduced vegetation cover followed by episodic erosional events on the return to wetter conditions. We argue that the subsequent dissection of the land-surface is the end state of a sequence of responses to base-level changes and climate change.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Fan deposits, Landscape dissection, Stone Age archaeology, Late Quaternary, Luangwa Valley, Zambia
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	10 Sep 2021 07:27
Last Modified:	01 Mar 2026 00:15
DOI:	10.1016/j.geomorph.2021.107923
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3136500
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