Rapid climate shifts in the southern African interior throughout the Mid to Late Holocene

Abstract

A detailed climate proxy record based on δ 18 O, δ 13 O, and grey index of a well‐dated stalagmite from Cold Air Cave in the Makapansgat Valley of north‐eastern South Africa suggests that regional precipitation, temperatures and vegetation oscillated markedly and rapidly over the last ∼6500 years on centennial and multi‐decadal scales. The mid‐Holocene prior to 5200 years ago was humid and warm. A fundamental transition occurred 3200 years ago, leading to drier and cooler conditions that culminated at 1750 AD. Comparisons with ice core records suggest synchronous changes implicating rapid global teleconnections.