First application of OSL dating to a chalcolithic well structure in Qulban Bani Murra, Jordan

This study presents the first OSL dates for a well structure presumed to have been built by pastoralists in Qulban Bani Murra, Jordan. The site is assumed to belong to the Chalcolithic culture (5th millennium BC). It includes partly megalithic burial fields connected to a water management system. Two sediment samples, composed from reddish silty material used as a hardened lining material for the well structures, were dated using OSL (quartz OSL and feldspar post IR-IRSL).

The good agreement between the two chronometers confirms that the sediment was fully reset at the time of burial, and so gives confidence in the reliability of the chronology. The average age derived from quartz of the two samples is 4.6 +/- 0.2 BC and 4.77 +/- 0.27 BC for ages derived from feldspar.

Both ages are in agreement with earlier assumptions. These dates represent some of the first instrumental ages for this widespread water-using culture.