Leszek Marks

Chapter 23 - Quaternary Glaciations in Poland

Abstract Poland was occupied by ice sheets during eight Scandinavian glaciations in the Pleistocene. Their maximum extent is indicated by the occurrence of Scandinavian erratics. Limits of two glaciations only can be fully identified at the land surface, those of the other two are partly buried by deposits of younger glaciations

Pleistocene glacial limits in Poland

Abstract The limits of four major ice sheets can be traced in the present landscape of Poland. Glacial deposits and ice-dammed lakes indicate a stream-like pattern of advancing ice bodies, dependent both on ice dynamics in the marginal zones and on the pre-existing landscape in their forefields. The southernmost extent of the Pleistocene glaciers is indicated by the limit of Scandinavian erratics. In most areas this limit was formed by the South Polish Glaciations (Elsterian), partly replaced in the west by the Odranian of the Middle Polish Glaciations (Saalian I). The subsequent Wartanian Glaciation of the Middle Polish Glaciations (Saalian II), and the Vistulian Glaciation (North Polish Glaciation, Weichselian) were limited to areas further to the north. During the Middle Vistulian in Poland, the ice sheet could locally move further to the south than the limit of the Late Vistulian Glaciation.

Heavy and light minerals as a tool for reconstructing depositional environments: an example from the Jałówka site (northern Podlasie region, NE Poland)

Abstract Part of northern Podlasie (NE Poland), shaped during the Wartanian stadial of the Odranian glaciation (Saalian), was situated in the periglacial zone during the Vistulian (Weichselian) glaciation. Both landforms and sediments were affected by the periglacial conditions. This is recorded at the Jałówka site, at the floor of a dry valley, where mineral deposits of 4.13 m thick, overlying organic deposits from the Eemian interglacial, were examined. These mineral deposits form four units, from bottom to top: a fluvial unit (I), a loess-like unit (II), a solifluction unit (III), and an aeolian unit with ice wedges (IV) on top of unit III. The heavy and light minerals were analysed, as well as the geochemistry, in order to find out about the parent material and to reconstruct the climatic conditions during deposition. The mineral analysis indicates that the Saalian till was predominantly derived from shallow-marine deposits; erosion accompanied by sorting of the heavy minerals took place on the basis of their mass and grain size. The original material of the till seems therefore to be sedimentary rocks from the eastern Central Baltic Basin. This material became strongly weathered under the periglacial conditions, resulting in the destruction of the quartz grains, as well as in leaching, leading to complete decalcification of the deposits. Aeolian activity resulted in infilling of ice wedges and the creation of thin layers. The intensity and the duration of these processes was limited, so that the effects of the aeolian abrasion are insignificant. Neither resulted the aeolian activity in significant reshaping of the landscape.

Pleistocene Stratigraphy of Poland and Its Correlation with Stratotype Sections in the Volhynian Upland (Ukraine)

Pleistocene Stratigraphy of Poland and Its Correlation with Stratotype Sections in the Volhynian Upland (Ukraine) Recent stratigraphic subdivision of the Pleistocene of Poland presents 4 complexes: Preglacial, South-Polish, Middle-Polish and North-Polish ones. Each complex comprises a set of stratigraphic units, corresponding to the previously distinguished 8 glaciations/coolings and 7 interglacials/warmings. Three younger complexes and corresponding extents of Scandinavian ice sheets in Poland are described in more detail. Three older interglacials in Poland (Augustovian, Kozi Grzbiet and Ferdynandovian) are characteristic for their bi-optimal climatic sequences but so far, they have no equivalents in loess sections of the Volhynian Upland in the Ukraine. Coolings between the optima of these interglacials are occasionally considered as small glaciations, during which the ice sheet could occupy only a northern part of Poland. All younger interglacials are mono-optimal in Poland and as such, they are also reflected by single palaeosols in loess sections of both countries. Till occurrences in key loess sections of Poland and Ukraine enabled precise delimitation of ice sheet extents, especially within the Middle-Polish Complex with the glaciations Liwiecian, Krznanian and Odranian ascribed to OIS 10, 8 and 6, respectively. During the youngest (Vistulian, Valdai) Glaciation, 3-4 loess deposits were formed in the Lublin and Volhynian Uplands; they are separated by palaeosols that developed during interstadial-rank warmings.

Middle and Late Pleistocene fluvial systems in central Poland

Abstract This reconstruction of the fluvial palaeogeography of central Poland is based on an exhaustive and critical review of the published and archival data for the Middle and Late Pleistocene sediments of the area. The Warsaw Basin in central Poland was a major confluence area during the Middle and Late Pleistocene. The fluvial watersheds have been only slightly modified since that time. The past river systems resembled the contemporary one, therefore indicating rebuilding during successive interglacials, at least since the Holsteinian when the sea undoubtedly occupied the southern Baltic Basin. The Weichselian fluvial system was strongly influenced by the Scandinavian ice sheet, especially by meltwater runoff in the extraglacial area and ice-damming in the Warsaw Basin where a large proglacial lake developed. The Weichselian fluvial sediments form up to three terraces in the valleys of the Vistula and its tributaries. The most contentious issue is the mutual relation of the ice-dammed lake and ice marginal spillways in the Warsaw Basin, both being important fragments of a widespread drainage network in the Central European Lowland.

Preliminary report on unique laminated Holocene sediments from the Qarun Lake in Egypt

Abstract The Lake Qarun (Faiyum Oasis, northern Egypt) is a relic of the much larger Holocene lake. Past lake levels and extensions were reconstructed, based on setting of archaeological sites scattered along northern paleoshores of the ancient lake. However, geoarcheological works did not yield enough data to establish continuous environmental history of the lake. A deep drilling FA-1 on the southeastern shore of the lake, performed in 2014, supplied with a core, 26 m long that is the one of the longest lake sediment cores in northeastern Africa. The basal section of the core consisted of thin-laminated diatom marly deposits, underlain at the Late Pleistocene/Holocene boundary by coarse-grained sands. The sediment lamine were quite well developed, especially in the lower part of the core. Preliminary results indicated annually deposited sediment sequence with seasonality signals provided by microlamine of diatoms, calcite, organic matter and clastic material. Early Holocene varved sediments from the Faiyum Oasis supplied with exceptional paleoenvironmental data for northeastern Africa, which enriched a record from previous logs drilled at the southwestern margin of the Qarun Lake.

Paleoclimatological and Geoarchaeological Significance of the Holocene Loess – Soil Successions of the Tien Shan Foothills of Uzbekistan

Abstract Scenario of climate changes in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene in Central Asia is very fragmentary and inconsistent. Therefore, interaction between the development and decline of ancient cultures and the climate fluctuations are difficult to be traced. To resolve this problem, the key role can be played by multidisciplinary studies of unique Late Pleistocene and especially Holocene loess – soil succession of the Tien Shan foothills in Uzbekistan. This area yields unique successions of paleosols interbedded with loesses that are particularly useful for paleoclimate analysis. They are represented by continuous and uninterrupted sedimentary sequences with a highly varied record of magnetic susceptibility. As such, they contain a full sequence of short-term climatic oscillations of the Holocene in high resolution and therefore, in this case, they are exceptional on global scale. The correlation of Late Pleistocene and Holocene climate changes scenario with stages of development and collapse of the past human settlement in Central Asia seems at present one of the most promising research directions, in line with the substantial course of interdisciplinary research on the interaction between humans and the natural environment.

Preliminary Remarks on Enigmatic “White Casing Limestone” from Saqqara Archaeological Site in Egypt

Abstract Saqqara is one of the famous archaeological sites in the world. There is the oldest stone pyramid build by pharaoh Djoser from the Third Dynasty (around 4600 yrs BP) The components of his funerary complex were constructed of a characteristic creamish-white limestone of relatively great solidity, connected in archaeological literature with the white casing limestone from Saqqara. A source of this stone has remained so far a mystery. An extensive geological survey and other research has failed to identify any outcrops of such limestone in the vicinity of Saqqara. Preliminary results of examination of fossils from relevant rock samples of the white Saqqara limestone are presented, supplemented with discussion of current opinions concerning its origin and probable stratigraphic setting.

Diatom Stratigraphy of FA-1 Core, Qarun Lake, Records of Holocene Environmental and Climatic Change in Faiyum Oasis, Egypt

Abstract This study evaluates changes in the environmental and climatic conditions in the Faiyum Oasis during the Holocene based on diatom analyses of the sediment FA-1 core from the southern seashore of the Qarun Lake. The studied FA-1 core was 26 m long and covered the time span ca. 9.000 cal. yrs BP. Diatom taxa were abundant and moderately to well-preserved throughout the core sediments. Planktonic taxa were most abundant than the benthic and epiphytic forms, which were very rare and sparsely distributed. The most dominant planktonic genera were Aulacoseira and Stephanodiscus followed by frequently distribution of Cyclostephanos and Cyclotella species. The stratigraphic distribution patterns of the recorded diatoms through the Holocene sediments explained five ecological diatom groups. These groups represent distinctive environmental conditions, which were mainly related to climatic changes through the early and middle Holocene, in addition to anthropogenic activity during the late Holocene. Comparison of diatom assemblages in the studied sediment core suggests that considerable changes occurred in water level as well as salinity. There were several high stands of the freshwater lake level during humid, warmer-wet climatic phases marked by dominance of planktonic, oligohalobous and alkaliphilous diatoms alternated with lowering of the lake level and slight increases in salinity and alkalinity during warm arid conditions evident by prevalence of brackish water diatoms.

Sediment magnetism of Faiyum basin (Egypt) and its implications for the Holocene environment change

Sediment magnetism, integrated with organic carbon, grain⁃size and ostracods analyses were conducted on a sediment core (FA⁃1) retrieved from Faiyum basin, north Egypt. The time sequences of sediment magnetism were established on the AMS14 C⁃dated chronology. The result showed that grain⁃size and secondary alternation had minor effects on the characteristics of the sedi⁃ ment magnetism, and changes in sediment magnetism basically reflected the relative proportion of different sources contributing to the basin. Prior to the Holocene, weak sediment magnetism featured by incomplete antiferro magnetic minerals, together with the