CHANGES OF CLIMATE AND PREHISTORIC SETTLEMENT RECORDED IN DEPOSITS OF THE WISŁOK PALEOCHANNEL IN GRODZISKO DOLNE, SANDOMIERZ BASIN (Zapis zmian klimatu i osadnictwa prahistorycznego w osadach starorzecza Wisloka w Grodzisku Dolnym...)

The authors present the results of the geomorphological drilling and the other analyses, confronted with archaeological exploration, which serve as the basis for several important conclusions: (1) the analysis of deposit layers in the Wislok paleochannel system has revealed changes in vegetation caused by climatic changes taking place from the late Glacial (Alleröd-Younger Dryas) to the humidization of the climate at the Atlantic/Sub-Boreal, and by anthropopression which increased in the Sub-Boreal and the Sub-Atlantic, and was related to multistage settlement and activity of archeological cultures (settlement phases) in the area of Grodzisko Dolne, (2) the presence of usual agricultural indicators (shown in the palynological diagram) dated at approx. 5200 BP (the 4th millennium BC) harmonizes with the Funnel Beaker culture documented at Site 22 and in the whole region as the first Neolithic culture present in that part of the Sandomierz Basin, (3) Late Vistulian deposits (organic silts and over 2-meter-thick redeposited eolian sands) point to natural accumulation processes taking place in the bottom of the valley without human participation, (4) accumulation of deposits due to frequent flooding after approx. 3000 BP (1440-980 BC) changed the original landform features in the bottom of the valley, reducing the denivelation between the Vistulian terrace (where the archaeological site is located) and the surface of the floodplain, (5) the youngest settlement phases (after the Roman period) identified at Site 22 may be synchronized with sandy deposits accumulated during floods at the mouth of the Leszczynka in the Wislok paleochannel system, dated to approx. 1800 BP and indicating a climatic fluctuation towards greater humidity.