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A correlation of stratigraphic subdivisions of the late Middle Pleistocene (MIS 12-6) in central Europe is extremely difficult, because of abundant hiatuses. Therefore, the site Rechitsa in western Belarus is extremely important for a regional stratigraphy, because of its well documented sediments of the Alexandrian Interglacial (Holsteinian; MIS 11) and a crucial palaeoclimate and palaeoenvironmental record of the Middle Pleistocene. The sequence starts with proglacial delta deposits formed at the termination of the Berezinian Glaciation (Elsterian; MIS 12), overlain by organic deposits of the Alexandrian Interglacial (Holsteinian; MIS 11) and the early glacial cooling of the Pripyatian Glaciation (Saalian). The hiatuses in MIS 10, 9 and 7 are interrupted by occasional occurrence of a periglacial lake, accompanied with open vegetation communities in MIS 8, characteristic by alternate temperate and cold episodes with significant climate-induced environmental transformations with extremely cold and dry conditions recorded by huge frost wedges with primary infilling. Extremely severe climatic conditions of MIS 6 favoured development of huge frost wedges with primary infilling, overlain by sediments of a periglacial lake. The Rechitsa section was overbuilt by glaciofluvial and aeolian deposits during the Pripyatian Glaciation (Saalian). The recorded huge hiatuses in MIS 10, 9 and 7 are common in central Europe represent presumably arid conditions and lack of deposition. The sedimentary sequence at the site Rechitsa is an important link of central and eastern European stratigraphic subdivisions of the Middle Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geological investigations in the southern part of the Polish-Belarusian cross-border area were focused on correlation of main Middle Pleistocene stratigraphic units and on extent of the ice sheet of the Saalian Glaciation. Determination of regional stratotype horizons, establishing new key sites and sections of regional significance for Central Europe were based mostly on vegetation and paleoclimate changes recorded in glacial and interglacial lake deposits. Results of stratigraphical investigations abolished a predominant palaeogeographic image on ice sheet limits in this area. The Saalian maximum ice sheet limit was similar or even less extensive than during the subordinate Warta Stadial. Most of the area between the Middle Vistula in Poland and the Middle Dnieper in Belarus and the Ukraine was ice-free during this glaciation. On the other hand, immense glacial lobes during Saalian in the Middle Vistula and the Middle Dnieper valleys have not advanced presumably in the same time and were fed by ice moving from different parts of Scandinavia. Diversified Pleistocene tectonic uplifting in the area influenced much dynamics of the penultimate ice sheet in this part of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]