MIS 5 speleothem growth phases in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt

This data set presents Th/U ages from a speleothem deposit in the Eastern Desert of Egypt at Saqia Cave and mean values of δ13C and δ18O for the respective speleothem growth phases. The presence and absence of speleothem deposition in (hyper-) arid environments can be regarded as an on-off situation. Deposition take place during phases of sufficient water availability and vegetation growth (“on”), whereas speleothem growth is absent under an arid climate (“off”). δ13C and δ18O isotope composition of each dated section is used for insights into the moisture source in the Eastern Desert and possible changes in the dominance of C3/C4 type vegetation. […]