Multidisciplinary study as a source of information about the Palaeolithic oecumene in the peri- and meta-Carpathian zone of Poland and Ukraine

A Polish-Ukrainian project researching Pleistocene environments and the stratigraphy ofPalaeolithic sites in the peri- and meta-Carpathian zone of Poland and Ukraine has been undertaken since 2010. The Palaeolithic sites in the eastern part of this area are associated with palaeosols within loess profiles, whilst those in the western part are mostly in caves and rock shelters (Fig. 1). Rich geological material shows both similarities and differences between loess and cave sites, and between the Polish and Ukrainian sites. These differences result from the diverse paleogeographical and geological situations of the sites as well as differences in the investigative methodologies used. Environmental studies at these two types of site used different but, as they concern similar periods, complementary methods (Table 1). Fig. 2 presents the very generalized results of the environmental research at the most important of these Palaeolithic loess and cave sites − and its interpretation. These data are compared with currently defined Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) and chronostratigraphy. The picture of environmental changes shows the state of knowledge at the beginning of the “Oecumene” project

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