y2020m01b6550 20200129094500 assa nadine@assaf.org.za assa South African Journal of Science S. Afr. J. Sci 1996-7489 01292020 116 1/2 Hugo G. Nami CONICET-IGEBA, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina Carlos A. Vasquez CONICET-IGEBA, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina Common Basic Cycle, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina Lyn Wadley Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Paloma de la Peña Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9731-7001 Palaeomagnetic data from a sedimentary section spanning the Holocene and terminal Pleistocene (~13 kya) from Rose Cottage Cave, eastern Free State (South Africa), are reported. The palaeomagnetic analysis took into account rock magnetism and directional analysis. The former reveals that most samples show stable single domain and superparamagnetic particles of Ti-poor magnetite and haematite. Natural remanent magnetisation directions were determined by progressive alternating field demagnetisation methodology. Directional analysis shows normal directions between samples 18 to 39 and 85 to 92; however, during the Early and Late Holocene in samples principally from RC40 to 84 ‘anomalous’ directions occurred. There is a significant westward shift in declination of ~80°, and a conspicuous fluctuating inclination in the lower part of the section during the Early Holocene at ≥9.5 kya and before ~12.0/13.0 kya. This palaeomagnetic record might become a chronostratigraphical marker for latest Pleistocene/Holocene sedimentary deposits in South Africa. Our two new accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dates for the sampled deposit are 9500±50 BP and 1115±30 BP. 01292020 1 10.17159/sajs.2016/crossmark sajs.co.za false 2019-07-08 2019-09-10 2020-01-29 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 10.17159/sajs.2020/6550 20200129094500 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6550 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6550/9704 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6550/9704 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6550/9704 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6550/9704 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6550/9704 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6550/9704 https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/6550/9704