Teresa Madeyska

Evidence of climatic variations in loess and cave Palaeolithic sites of southern Poland and western Ukraine

Abstract Two main types of Palaeolithic sites in southern Poland and western Ukraine: caves or rock shelters and loess sites, offer different evidence concerning former climatic variations. The most characteristic cave deposits for cold climatic conditions are angular, cryoclastic limestone rubble and loess in cave entrances. In loess profiles, arctic conditions are clearly marked by the presence of ice wedge casts and soil wedges. In cold and humid conditions, solifluction and cryoturbation features characteristic of active layers and ground ice structures developed. During periods of warm and humid climatic conditions, cave loam and chemically weathered limestone rubble originated in caves. Intensive chemical weathering formed mineral crusts on surfaces of limestone particles. The most distinct indicators of temperate climate in loess profiles are fossil soils: forest or steppe ones, depending on humidity. Remnants of animals, especially those of stenothopic taxons, provide very important evidence of environmental and climatic fluctuations. The data from both types of sites complement each other. Precisely documented profiles of cave and loess sites cover the time span from the decline of penultimate glaciation to the end of Vistulian time. Older cultural layers corresponding to the penultimate interglacial were found recently.

Late Middle Palaeolithic occupations in Ciemna Cave, southern Poland

Recent excavations in Ciemna Cave in the Prądnik valley near Ojców, southern Poland have brought to light new stratigraphic and techno-typological evidence concerning Late Middle Palaeolithic groups and their cultural affinities. In 2007, excavations began in the hitherto-unexplored main chamber of Ciemna Cave, with the goal of clarifying the results of previous work in other parts of the cave. During excavation the rocky floor of the cave was reached. About 1000 stone artifacts have been collected to date. Three cultural traditions have been documented: Mousterian, Taubachian, and Micoquian. Within the Micoquian tradition, three cultural levels were observed, which enriches the previous understanding of occupational phases at the site. These findings permit revision of the traditional terms “Prądnik industry” and “Prądnik technique.”

PROBLEMS OF TL DATING OF THE MESOPLEISTOCENE LOESS DEPOSITS IN THE PODILLYA AND POKUTTYA REGIONS (UKRAINE)

In many papers different authors was described problem of systematic underestimation of TL ages for sediments older then 100 ka. We presented the results which probably are not significantly rejuvenated. This is another example of the TL dates made in Lublin laboratory which are likely in agreement with the stratigraphic interpretation. In 2002 Kusiak et al. published the TL ages ranging from 200 to 800 ka for the Zahvizdja loess profile in Ukraine. These first promising results of TL dating of so old deposits encouraged us to undertake further studies. In next years were discovered other Ukrainian loess profiles with the Middle and Lower Pleistocene deposits, among others in the Skala Podils’ka, Mamalyha and Vendychany sites. The thermoluminescence dating made for these profiles in the Lublin laboratory gave the next, after Zahvizdja, series of 15 TL ages ranging from 200 to 700 ka. This way we confirmed the possibility of TL dating of the deposits older than 400 ka BP.