The aim of this study was to develop an independent luminescence chronology for the upper part of the important Loess Palaeolithic site at Kuldara (Khovaling Loess Plateau, Tajikistan). We applied high sampling-depth resolution (n = 85) luminescence dating to the upper similar to 26 m of the sequence from loess L4 to pedocomplex PC0. Luminescence characteristics of the post-IR200 IRSL(290)signal from coarse-silt polymineral grains are satisfactory (reproducible growth and good dose recovery). Comparison with quartz OSL for samples <50 ka and results from modern analogues (Challier et al. these proceedings) shows that the pIRIR(200,290) signal is, as expected, sufficiently bleached at deposition. The luminescence chronology extends back to similar to 250 ka and shows distinct erosional hiatuses ranging in duration from similar to 15 ka to a full glacial-interglacial cycle (similar to 100 ka); some of these breaks were not identifiable in the field. We suggest an upper dating limit of 2.5xD(c); this yields minimum ages of similar to 300 ka for this material. Dust Accumulation Rates (DAR) are reconstructed for the Late Pleistocene (from similar to 100 to similar to 40 ka) and reveal, next to several minor dust accumulation peaks, two major peaks at the end of MIS5 (similar to 75 ka) and at MIS3b (similar to 40 ka). We conclude that detailed post-IR200 IRSL290 dating of loess-palaeosol sequences in Tajikistan is necessary to exploit fully the potential of this important terrestrial (dust) record.