A holocene sea surface temperature record in mollusc shells from the South African coast

This thesis describes the construction of a Holocene history of sea surface temperatures in coastal regions of the southern Benguela and eastern Agulhas Bank of South Africa, using marine mollusc shells preserved in archaeological middens. Two independent palaeothermometers were employed: the traditional oxygen isotope technique and a new, alternative technique based on temperature-dependent changes in structure and mineralogy of the shell of a South African limpet species, Patella granularis. The relationship between the isotopic and structural aspects of shell composition, and habitat temperature was confirmed through examination of living populations.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Archaeology

Year dc:date.issued

1993

Author dc:creator

• Cohen, Anne Louise

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Van der Merwe, Nikolaas
• Branch, George

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22468

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/22468