biostudies-literaturevon der Meden JNational Geographic SocietyDST-NRF Centre of Excellence in PalaeosciencesAustralian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research AwardDST-NRF Centre Of Excellence in PalaeosciencesUniversity of Cape TownNational Research Foundatione0270104https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9299332biostudies-literatureUnknown17(7)Detailed, well-dated palaeoclimate and archaeological records are critical for understanding the impact of environmental change on human evolution. Ga-Mohana Hill, in the southern Kalahari, South Africa, preserves a Pleistocene archaeological sequence. Relict tufas at the site are evidence of past flowing streams, waterfalls, and shallow pools. Here, we use laser ablation screening to target material suitable for uranium-thorium dating. We obtained 33 ages covering the last 110 thousand years (ka) and identify five tufa formation episodes at 114-100 ka, 73-48 ka, 44-32 ka, 15-6 ka, and ~3 ka. Three tufa episodes are coincident with the archaeological units at Ga-Mohana Hill dating to ~105 ka, ~31 ka, and ~15 ka. Based on our data and the coincidence of dated layers from other local recordsPloS oneTufas indicate prolonged periods of water availability linked to human occupation in the southern Kalahari.PMC9299332VC2030Competitive Programme for Rated Researchers 120806DE 190100160student bursaryOperations grants - CoE2017-065; COE2018-05OP; COE2019-OP17AOP150924142990Waitt GrantOperations grant - COE2018-10OPResearch Development Grant for Y-rated Researchersvon der Meden JPickering RWeij RWilkins JGreen HGreig ASchoville BJHellstrom JWoodhead JKhumalo WfalseTufas indicate prolonged periods of water availability linked to human occupation in the southern Kalahari.Detailed, well-dated palaeoclimate and archaeological records are critical for understanding the impact of environmental change on human evolution. Ga-Mohana Hill, in the southern Kalahari, South Africa, preserves a Pleistocene archaeological sequence. Relict tufas at the site are evidence of past flowing streams, waterfalls, and shallow pools. Here, we use laser ablation screening to target material suitable for uranium-thorium dating. We obtained 33 ages covering the last 110 thousand years (ka) and identify five tufa formation episodes at 114-100 ka, 73-48 ka, 44-32 ka, 15-6 ka, and ~3 ka. Three tufa episodes are coincident with the archaeological units at Ga-Mohana Hill dating to ~105 ka, ~31 ka, and ~15 ka. Based on our data and the coincidence of dated layers from other local records2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-05T14:07:15.35Z2022-08-08T10:59:41.598ZS-EPMC92993323585776410.1371/journal.pone.0270104