Abstract

Quaternary studies in Poland require an improved integration of lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, geochronology, magnetostratigraphy, climatostratigraphy and isotope stratigraphy. The former Polish loess stratigraphic schemes are of historical significance and should be verified using new research methods and implementation of the international unified loess labelling system. Arbitrary stratigraphic correlations should be avoided and a reliable stratigraphic subdivision of the Quaternary of Poland should be based on recognized international standards as well as stratotype sections and areas. This is essential both for the Quaternary sciences themselves and for the needs of the society.

Keywords: Quaternary in Poland, stratigraphic classification, loess stratigraphy, stratigraphic chart

Leszek Marks, Faculty of Geology University of Warsaw Żwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089 Warsaw: Poland
Zdzisław Jary [zdzislaw.jary@uwr.edu.pl], Department of Physical Geography, Institute of Geography and Regional Development University of Wrocław Cybulskiego 34, 50-205 Wrocław: Poland

Abstract

Palaeobotanical reconstruction of the Eemian Interglacial vegetation and climate, revealed differences resulting from panregional and local factors. Lithostratigraphic analyses documented changes in sediments associated with evolution of three fossil Żabieniec lakes. Special attention was paid to Mid-Eemian, for which records of thermophilic taxa were found. During the next phase the eutrophic lake shallowed, and a peatbog was formed. These processes were asynchronous and suggesting three separate lake basins. Sediments recording the longest phase of the interglacial revealed a long pause in sedimentation caused probably by a combination of factors (drop in the water level and increase in climate continentality).

Keywords: Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e), sedimentation gaps, climate changes, palaeobotanical analysis, Central Poland

Anna Hrynowiecka [ahry@pgi.gov.pl], Marine Geology Branch Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute Kościerska 5, 80-328 Gdańsk: Poland
Dorota Brzozowicz, Faculty of Geographical Sciences University of Łódź Narutowicza 88, 90-139 Łódź: Poland
Marcin Żarski, Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute Rakowiecka 4, 00-975 Warszawa: Poland
Renata Stachowicz-Rybka, Palaeobotany and Palaeoenvironment Group W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences Lubicz 46, 31-512 Kraków: Poland
Irena Agnieszka Pidek, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences Maria Curie-Sklodowska University Kraśnicka 2d, 20-718 Lublin: Poland

Abstract

The question of the outflow from the Warsaw ice-dammed lake in Central Poland through the Warsaw-Berlin ice-marginal spillway during the Vistulian (Weichselian) Glaciation is discussed. Many years’ research and published concepts expressed in numerous publications since the beginning of the 20th century are presented. A runoff in the Warsaw-Berlin ice-marginal spillway was treated as impossible during the LGM, because ofa high watershed zone close to Łęczyca. The floor of this ice-marginal spillway is filled by silt and sand series correlated with the Late Vistulian and sand with peat of the Late Vistulian and Holocene. However, a relation of the glaciolacustrine sediments and the spillway floor indicates that the latter is masked by deposits that postdate the outflow episode. Proglacial and extraglacial waters were collected in the Warsaw ice-dammedlake and were drained westwards through the Warsaw-Berlin ice-marginal spillway.

Keywords: Weichselian, Warsaw-Berlin ice-marginal spillway, Warsaw Basin, proglacial drainage, Last Glacial Maximum

Jacek Forysiak [jacek.forysiak@geo.uni.lodz.pl], Department of Geology and Geomorphology University of Łódź Narutowicza 88, 90-139 Łódź: Poland
Aleksandra Majecka, Faculty of Geology University of Warsaw Żwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089 Warsaw: Poland
Leszek Marks, Faculty of Geology University of Warsaw Żwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089 Warsaw: Poland
Łukasz Bujak, Faculty of Geology University of Warsaw Żwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089 Warsaw: Poland
Juliusz Twardy, Department of Quaternary Studies, Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, University of Łódź, ul. Narutowicza 88, 90-139 Łódź, Poland

Abstract

A number of 125 open-air localities from Wielkopolska documented presence of 18 species (3 carnivores,4 proboscideans, 3 perissodactyls and 8 artiodactyls). Most of species are cold-adapted members of mammothfauna from the Late Pleistocene, such as Ursus arctos priscus, Mammuthus primigenius, Coelodontaantiquitatis, Equus ferus, Rangifer tarandus, and Bison priscus. The few species like Ursus arctos taubachensis,Palaeoloxodon antiquus and Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis represent an older, thermophilic fauna dated toMIS 5e. The vast majority of bones are accidental finds, without a stratigraphic context. Most artiodactyls werefound in alluvial sediments, in bogs or swamps, while carnivores are represented only by isolated remains.

Keywords: open-air, biostratigraphy, taxonomy, Late Pleistocene, Eemian, proboscideans

Adrian Marciszak [adrian.marciszak@uwr.edu.pl], Department of Palaeozoology University of Wrocław Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław: Poland
Wiktoria Gornig, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates University of Wrocław Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław: Poland
Krzysztof Stefaniak, Department of Palaeozoology University of Wrocław Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław: Poland
Katarzyna Zarzecka-Szubińska, Department of Palaeozoology University of Wrocław Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław: Poland
Dagmara Frydrychowicz, Regional Museum in Konin Muzealna 6, 62-505 Konin: Poland
Zuzanna Maciejewska, Department of Palaeozoology University of Wrocław Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław: Poland
Arkadiusz Gośka, Department of Palaeozoology University of Wrocław Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław: Poland
Aleksandra Kropczyk, Department of Palaeozoology University of Wrocław Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław: Poland

Abstract

Although the first numerical dating of Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites in Poland was applied at the beginning of the second half of the 20th century, it has only been in the last two decades that a data increase has been recorded, making it possible to discuss both the development of human behaviour and cultural phenomena in time perspective. This paper aims to show the chronological diversity of sites dating from the beginning of the Weichselian glaciation (MIS 5a – MIS 5d, GI-19 – GI-23, Greenland Interstadials) to the middle part of MIS 3 (GI-8 – GI-10). We considered sites dated mainly by thermoluminescence dating (OSL) and radiocarbondating. We relied on a series of recent datings. We attempted to analyse the stratigraphic integrity, the archaeological finds and the numerical dating results. Through OSL dating, we could establish the chronology of Micoquian sites, previously regarded as middle Pleistocene, to the last glaciation. The dating compilation also shows that the Late Middle Palaeolithic and Early Upper Palaeolithic (EUP) sites are unlikely to overlap, or if they do, it is only over a small period. Unfortunately, this period is poorly interpreted because it spans the limit of the radiocarbon dating reliability and goes beyond the bounds of the calibration curve. Confronting the datings of the Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician (LRJ) complex and the oldest finds associated with Aurigniacian sites in Poland lead to the conclusion that these sites may have co-occurred for some time.

Keywords: Middle Palaeolithic, Early Upper Palaeolithic, optoluminescence, radiocarbon dating, Poland

Andrzej Wiśniewski [andrzej.wisniewski@uwr.edu.pl], Institute of Archaeology University of Wrocław Szewska 48, 50-139 Wrocław: Poland
Dariusz Bobak, Institute of Archaeology University of Rzeszów Hoffmanowej 8, 35-016 Rzeszów: Poland
Marta Połtowicz-Bobak, Institute of Archaeology University of Rzeszów Hoffmanowej 8, 35-016 Rzeszów: Poland
Piotr Moska, Institute of Physics Silesian University of Technology Konarskiego 22B, 44-100 Gliwice: Poland

Abstract

The article highlights the importance of medieval churches with embedded millstones as geocultural objects with a great geotouristic and educational potential. In the lowland areas of Northeastern Poland, 79 millstones and their semi-finished products were inventoried. Their sizes ranged from 70 to 100 cm in diameter. The majority of them were made of erratic boulders, mainly granitoids of Fennoscandian origin. Additionally, gneisses, sandstones, pegmatites, and basaltoid were also identified. An attempt was made to determine the degree of weathering of the millstones over several hundred years of exposure to external conditions. Measurements of moisture content and salinity of the walls surrounding 10 millstones embedded in the walls of 8 churches were taken three times (in spring, summer, and winter). Lower wall moisture was observed in the vicinity of the millstones, but only in the case of three walls, the salinity of the mortar binding the bricks and stones was at a low level. A weak but statistically significant negative correlation was found between the age of the churches and the hardness of the millstones measured with a Schmidt hammer.

Keywords: geoheritage, millstones, medieval churches, petrography, weathering

Piotr Czubla [piotr.czubla@geo.uni.lodz.pl], Department of Geology and Geomorphology Faculty of Geographical Sciences, University of Lodz Narutowicza 88, 90-139 Łódź: Poland
Dariusz Brykała [darek@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Maciej Dąbski, Chair of Physical Geography Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw Krakowskie Przedmieście 30, 00-927 Warszawa: Poland
Piotr Gierszewski [piotr.gierszewski@geopan.torun.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Mirosław Błaszkiewicz [mirek@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Zachariasz Mosakowski [zachary@twarda.pan.pl], Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Research into the Anthropocene Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Polish Academy of Sciences Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
Piotr Lamparski [piotr.lamparski@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń, Poland