Search

Nowa Biała 1 is a unique site of the Federmesser culture in the area of Carpathian Mountains, and also one of the few Final Palaeolithic sites known from this territory. From taxonomic point of view the artefacts represent the Federmesser culture as an element of Arch-backed points technocomplex (APT) – well known from the European Plain and practically quite unknown from the mountains till now. Hunters' camp, with the dwelling structure and workshop, was situated on a terrace of the Białka River close to its gorge, and in the proximity of a rocky hill (the Obłazowa Rock) – which itself was a great observation spot. The cultural layer found in the site was connected with an initial soil, the presence of which was observed within the aeolian loess-like deposits. Thie age of pedogenic processes (based on OSL dating) was undoubtedly younger than 14.7 ka and older than 11 ka. Radiocarbon dating suggests the Late Allerød age of the site. The present paper contains the results of fieldwork as well as geological and palaeobotanical analyses, provided data on the natural environment at the time when prehistoric hunters settled and also in the preceding period. According to study results, in the Late Glacial, during the time of this settlement in the vicinity of the Białka River gorge the patches of coniferous forests grew, in the valley habitats – alder and willow, and mires formed in the wetlands, rocky hills were covered with open plant communities with steppe and tundra elements. Variability of surrounding environs resulted in diversity of animal species and allowed Final Palaeolithic people to explore differentiated geoecosystems. Access to water and possibility of fishing was provided by the proximity of the river. Image 1 [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]

Abstract: Samples were collected from the outcrops situated in the north and east of the Carpathian Margin, in the transition zone between the area of loess covers of Eastern and Western Europe. The chosen localities include two zones of temperate climate with slightly different prevailing wind directions. These loess–palaeosol sequences formed and develop in different time intervals: Early Quaternary Epoch (Podolia, Ukraine) and Late Quaternary Epoch (Carpathian Foothills, Poland). The isotopic analysis was carried out on many types of authigenic soil carbonates, including nodules, rhizoliths, rhizocretions, calcified root cells and bioclasts. The carbon isotopic compositions (δ13C) of different types vary markedly. These differences seem to be more important than the variations within one type of carbonate at a particular section. The δ13C values for authigenic carbonate cements (rhizoliths, rhizocretions and nodules) vary in a narrow range from about −11‰ to −8‰, suggesting that calcite cements were precipitated under roughly similar conditions, with a considerable supply of CO2 derived from biomineralization of organic matter, predominantly from C 3 plants. The δ18O record of the calcite cements within the upper Quaternary deposits exhibits relatively slight variability, suggesting that δ18O values in soil water were homogeneous. The significant depletion of 13C as well as 18O in calcite from calcified root cells (−12‰ and −7‰, respectively), and to a lesser extent from calcitic globules with respect to calcite cements, points to different environments of formation. The morphology of calcite crystals replacing root cells, and their carbon and oxygen isotopic composition indicate that they may precipitate inside the root cells from fluids with organic compounds. In general, the temperature reconstructions yield an average MAT about 11°C for the upper Quaternary sediments deposited during MIS 2. The estimated MAT for sediments of MIS 3–5 range from 12 to 14°C. Mean annual temperatures estimated for the lower Quaternary of Podolia fall in the range from 9 to 11°C with two single minimums (about 7°C) probably corresponding to short-lived environmental changes. The MAT curve throughout the lower part of lower Quaternary is more variable and shows several local shifts (up to 3°C). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]