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Peopling of Central Europe by Middle Pleistocene hominids is highly debatable, mainly due to the relatively harsh climatic and environmental conditions that require cultural and anatomical adjustments. At least several archaeological sites certify human occupation in the region dated back to MIS 13-11, but they represent open-air settlements. Based on the new fieldwork conducted in Tunel Wielki Cave, we can date the human occupation traces in the cave to MIS 14-12. Bipolar-on-anvil knapping technique prevails in the lithic assemblage, made exclusively in flint. The obtained results have given ground for studying the frontiers of human oikumene and the required cultural adaptive abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SE Poland - the Carpathian foreland and the northern part of the Carpathian Mountains - is a marginal, easternmost part of the area settled by Magdalenian people. Several sites of this culture were investigated in this area by archaeologists and naturalists during the last decades. Based on the results of those studies, landscape of the surroundings of three Magdalenian camps (within direct penetration range) was reconstructed in detail. GIS spatial analysis was used for 2D and 3D visualization of topographic surface features, both primary (slope and aspect) and secondary ones. The latter (viewshed and insolation) were calculated applying algorithms, based on DEMs (Digital elevation model) and other variables. On the relief maps of the sites' surroundings there were schematically presented the extent of the main types of plant communities (tundra, steppe, meadow, mixed forest, aquatic and peatland vegetation) at the time of settlement. All mentioned communities occurred near each of the investigated sites but in different proportions depending on the site age and altitude. Attractiveness of the studied sites for Magdalenian hunters resulted among others from: good topoclimatic location resulting in favourable insolation of the sites, location in the leeward sides of high relief elements protecting them from the westerly winds. Moreover, a vast view over the surrounding areas enabled hunters to observe migrating animal herds and set traps, especially in the widenings of the valleys closed at both ends by narrowings. Rich dwarf or meadow steppe and patches of dwarf tundra occurring in the valleys, were good pasturage for herbivorous animals hunted by Magdalenian people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polish-Ukrainian project researching Pleistocene environments and the stratigraphy of Palaeolithic 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]