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PALAEOLITHIC LOESS-SITE YEZUPIL ON DNISTER  (UKRAINE) - STRATIGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURES

 Andrey Boguckyj ¹, Krzysztof Cyrek ², Krystyna Konecka-Betley ³, Maria Łanczont ⁴, Teresa Madeyska ⁵, Jerzy Nawrocki ⁶,  Oleksandr Sytnyk⁷

 ¹ Faculty of Geomorphology, National L'viv University, Dorošenka 41, 290 000 L'viv, Ukraine

² Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of Nicolaus Copernicus University, Podmurna 9/11, 87-100 Toruń, Poland, e-mail: paleo@his.uni.torun.pl

³ Department of Soil Environment Sciences, Warsaw Agricultural University, Rakowiecka 26/30, 02-528 Warszawa, Poland

⁴ Department of Physical Geography and Paleogeography, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland, e-mail: lanczont@biotop.umcs.lublin.pl

⁵ Institute of Geological Science, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warszawa, Poland, e-mail: tmadeysk@twarda.pan.pl

⁶ Polish Geological Institute, Rakowiecka 4, 00-975 Warszawa, Poland, e-mail: jnaw@pgi.wa.pl

⁷ Archaeological Museum, Institue of Ukraine, Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Vinničenka 24, 290 009 L'viv, Ukraine

 Abstract

Yezupil is the first Middle Palaeolithic site discovered in upper part of the Dnister River valley. It is situated in a set of sediments composed of loess and fossil soils lying on alluvia.

The results of geological and palaeopedological investigations are presented. They contain lithological and geochemical analyses (main components and trace elements), as well as micromorphological study.  Palaeo- and petromagnetic record is presented too. Horohiv

pedocomplex developed from the older, Wartanian  loess. It is composed of luvisol originated during the Eemian interglacial and chernozem soil - during the Early Vistulian interstadials. An subarctic brown Dubno soil dated to the Interplenivistulian (Middle Vistulian interstadials) separates two parts of the younger loess. Older assemblage of Middle Palaeolithic - Mousterian culture with Levalloisian technique was found in the E horizon of the luvisol and therefore it could be dated to the Eemian interglacial. Younger Middle Palaeolithic - Micoquian-type materials were situated in partially redeposited by solifluction, Early Vistulian chernozem. Scanty and uncharacteristic Upper Palaeolithic assemblage was found in interstadial Dubno palaeosol.

Key words: Loess, paleosols, Palaeolithic, Ukraine