The loess-palaeosol sequence in the Upper Palaeolithic site at Kraków Spadzista: A palaeoenvironmental approach

The Kraków Spadzista open-air site, situated in the loess belt in southern Poland, belongs to the best-known Gravettian sites of Europe. Many years of archaeological studies revealed a wealth of faunal remains (especially mammoths) as well as numerous Aurignacian, Gravettian and Epigravettian stone artefacts in several cultural layers. Field pedogeomorphological investigations (2011–2012) and laboratory analyses (geochemical, granulometric, micromorphological, palynological and IRSL dating) were the basis for palaeogeographical discussion on the conditions of the loess-soil sequence development. Five independent litho- and pedological units, corresponding to MIS 5 to 2, were distinguished. Primary loess layers are relatively thin and contain many hiatuses. Diverse structure and development of intra-loess palaeosols reflect their origin, age and stratigraphic rank. The cultural layers were found in weakly developed soils with the traces of subsequent periglacial, mainly deluvial–solifluction, transformations of different intensity. The palaeosols represent two periods of interglacial rank (Eemian forest palaeosol and the overlying postglacial “modern” soil; MIS 5 and 1, respectively) and two interstadials (subarctic soils with the Gravettian artefacts; MIS 3). One weakly developed gleyic horizon with the features of tundra soil occurs within the loess corresponding to climatic pessimum of Weichselian Glaciation (MIS 2). In the very local (promontory with the site) and micro-regional (Sowiniec horst) scales, the distinguished soils are undoubtedly important palaeogeographical and archaeological key horizons.