Frontiers of the Lower Palaeolithic expansion in Europe: Tunel Wielki Cave (Poland)

Kot, Małgorzata; Berto, Claudio; Krajcarz, Maciej T.; Hoyo, Magdalena Moskal-del; Gryczewska, Natalia; Szymanek, Marcin; Marciszak, Adrian; Stefaniak, Krzysztof; Zarzecka-Szubińska, Katarzyna; Lipecki, Grzegorz; Wertz, Krzysztof; Madeyska, Teresa

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-20582-0

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…mosbachensis , C. a. priscus and V. vulpes ssp. and show not only the first appearance of dhole in Poland [ 59 ], but also the environment before and slightly during the massive glaciation of MIS 12. The second site, Draby 3 (MIS 11), is similarly intriguing.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…priscus and C . mosbachensis , still occurred together spatially and temporally [ 59 ]. It is also the last time when Lycaones was still widespread across Europe and before the massive glacial age of MIS 12, which was critical and crucial for the disappearance of this species in Eurasia [ 31 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The rich faunal assemblage of Tunel Wielki Cave is characteristic of mixed open grassland, closed woodland and aquatic environments based on the presence of numerous grazer animals. The presence of numerous thermophilus taxa indicate warmer-than-present interglacial conditions [ 59 , 201 ]. The assemblages from the younger Draby are also characterised by temperate conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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History of Polish Canidae (Carnivora, Mammalia) and Their Biochronological Implications on the Eurasian Background

Marciszak

Kropczyk

Gornig

et al. 2023

Genes

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The remains of 12 canid species that date back ca. 4.9 myr have been found at 116 paleontological localities. Among these localities, eight are dated to the Pliocene age, 12 are dated to the Early Pleistocene age, 12 are from the Middle Pleistocene age, while the most numerous group includes 84 sites from the Late Pleistocene–Holocene age. Some, especially older forms such as Eucyon odessanus and Nyctereutes donnezani, have only been found at single sites, while the remains of species from the genus Lycaon, Canis and Vulpes have been recorded at numerous sites from the last 2 myr. Ancient canids such as Eucyon and Nyctereutes had already vanished from Poland in the Earliest Pleistocene, between 2.5 and 2.2 myr ago. Poland’s extant canid fauna is characterised by the presence of two new species, which spread into the territory due to a human introduction (Nyctereutes procyonoides) or natural expansion (Canis aureus). Research indicates a strong competition between dogs, especially between Lycaon, Canis and Cuon, with a strong lycaon-limiting effect on the wolf between 2.5 and 0.4 myr ago. After the extinction of Lycaon lycaonoides, Canis lupus evolved rapidly, increasing in number and size, and taking over the niche occupied by Lycaon. In order to reduce competition, the body size of Cuon alpinus gradually reduced, and it became an animal adapted to the forest, highland and mountain environments. Generally, the history of canids in Poland is similar to that known of Eurasia with some noteworthy events, such as the early occurrence of Canis cf. etruscus from Węże 2 (2.9–2.6 myr ago), Lycaon falconeri from Rębielice Królewskie 1A or one of the latest occurrences of L. lycaonoides from Draby 3 (430–370 kyr). Predominantly lowland or upland in the southern part and devoid of significant ecological barriers, Poland is also an important migration corridor in the East–West system. This 500–600 km wide corridor was the Asian gateway to Europe, from where species of an eastern origin penetrated the continent’s interior. In colder periods, it was in turn a region through which boreal species or those associated with the mammoth steppe retreated.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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History of Polish Canidae (Carnivora, Mammalia) and Their Biochronological Implications on the Eurasian Background

Marciszak

Kropczyk

Gornig

et al. 2023

Genes

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“…In Tunel Wielki Cave, laminated sediments of complex lithology were found in Layer E (sensu Kot et al 2022a), representing Layer 11 sensu Madeyska (1988;see Text-fig. 6).…”

Section: Other Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Variable cave sediments are widely known from caves and rock shelters in this region (Madeyska 1981(Madeyska , 1988Madeyska and Cyrek 2002). The presence of loess and loess-like sediments was commonly noticed (e.g., Krukowski 1939;Madeyska-Niklewska 1969;Madeyska 1981Madeyska , 1988Kowalski 2006;Krajcarz et al 2012Wilczyński et al 2020;Kot et al 2022a). The best preserved and known are loess deposits from around the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), mentioned from numerous sites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pre-LGM loess deposits in caves of Polish Jura – occurrence and stratigraphic importance

Krajcarz

2023

Acta Geologica Polonica

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Loess is an important component of cave deposits. Loess and loess-like strata in caves and rock shelters may serve as stratigraphic correlative units and paleoclimate indicators. For the Polish Jura (southern Poland), one of the key regions of cave deposits studies in Europe, the published information concerning the stratigraphic importance of loess is limited to the sequences from around the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). In this paper, a review of the archival data about loess deposits situated below the LGM strata in caves and rock shelters of the Polish Jura is presented. The paper discusses the occurrence, lithology, stratigraphy, chronology and paleoecology of the pre-LGM cave loess. The most important sites of the pre-LGM cave loess in the region include: Biśnik Cave, Nietoperzowa Cave, Mamutowa Cave, and Ciemna Cave (only the outer zones). The loess strata in these sites correlate with cold Marine Isotope Stages (MIS): mid-3, 4, 5b–d, 6, and possibly 10. They represent all the main facies of cave loess: typical eolian loess, colluviated loess-like deposits, loess with bedrock debris, and loams of complex grain-size composition but with the predominance of a loess component. Stratigraphic correlations with loess-paleosol sequences are proposed.

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New Approaches to the Bipolar Flaking Technique: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Kinematic Perspectives

Yeşilova,

Arroyo,

Vergès

et al. 2024

J Archaeol Method Theory

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The bipolar technique is a flaking strategy that has been identified from 3.3 Ma until the twentieth century, with no geographical or chronological homogeneous distribution. It is represented by the intentional contact of an active percussive element against a core rested on an anvil. This tool composite has been described by some researchers as a sign of low-skill of hominins, unable to perform successfully free-hand flaking or for flaking low-quality raw materials. Based on this premise, our research focused on the following question: Are there any quantitative and qualitative differences in terms of both kinematic parameters and technical skills between knappers with different levels of expertise when flaking using the bipolar technique? To get an answer, we developed a systematic experimental program with 12 volunteer participants with different levels of expertise. Then, to assess potential quantifiable differences and to understand the mechanics of bipolar technology, we did a video motion analysis based on kinematic parameters (including position, velocity, acceleration, and kinetic energy of the hammerstone). In addition, we performed a technological analysis of the experimental lithic assemblages to assess the technological differences between knappers based on their levels of expertise. In kinematic parameters, both statistical analysis and observations from the experiment clearly show that there are differences between the levels of expertise in this technique. Intermediate knappers have been observed to apply more velocity and kinetic energy than experts and novices. Also, differences were observed in the flaking strategies. Expert knappers show a longer reduction sequence, while intermediates show shorter one. Moreover, some of the novice knappers did not even obtain a single flake. The results of our experiment stress the complexity of bipolar flaking and that previous assumptions about it might be reconsidered, especially in terms of reconsidering the negative connotations attributed to this flaking technique.

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Frontiers of the Lower Palaeolithic expansion in Europe: Tunel Wielki Cave (Poland)

Cited by 7 publications

References 89 publications

History of Polish Canidae (Carnivora, Mammalia) and Their Biochronological Implications on the Eurasian Background

History of Polish Canidae (Carnivora, Mammalia) and Their Biochronological Implications on the Eurasian Background

Pre-LGM loess deposits in caves of Polish Jura – occurrence and stratigraphic importance

New Approaches to the Bipolar Flaking Technique: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Kinematic Perspectives

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