Search

The aim of the present study was to estimate the range of climate variability in Central Poland during the Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e). High resolution pollen records are available for all seven RPAZs typical of this interglacial in Central Europe. These pollen records were used to estimate total annual precipitation and mean annual temperature, as well as the mean temperatures of the warmest and the coldest months based on the plant indicator method and the modern analogue technique. The reconstructions indicate that the combination of these two methods provides a much clearer insight into the climate changes of the Eemian optimum. The results confirmed no drastic drop in temperature in the Middle Eemian, with high total precipitation in the hazel phase, and that this was followed by a decrease in temperature in the Late Eemian (fir-spruce and pine phases). A drop in precipitation occurred during the youngest part of the Carpinus phase, while coincided with a marked lowering of the water level in lakes and their transformation into peatbogs. The last part of the Eemian is characterized by decreasing temperature, particularly during the coldest month, rising water levels due to a combination of lower evaporation and higher air humidity, and a transition to glacial conditions. Principal Component Analysis found all investigated sites to follow the same pattern of changes. Mean winter temperature, annual temperature and precipitation were found to have a strong positive correlation with the occurrence of thermophilus temperate broadleaved trees (hazel, linden, and ash) typical for the mid-Eemian optimum. These three factors also have a negative correlation with the presence of cold tolerant boreal trees (birch and pine) and open land taxa characteristic of the beginning and end of the interglacial. Mean July temperature was found to be positively correlated with the occurrence of temperate broadleaved trees (oak, ash and elm) typical for early stages of the Eemian and negatively with that of coniferous trees (fir and spruce) characteristic for later stages of the interglacial.

The lowest section of the Upper Dniester River Valley (DRV), located between the uplands of Opillia and Eastern Subcarpathians, was a separate and specific Pleistocene geoecosystem, interesting for the hunter-gatherer communities. This is evidenced by three main (Yezupil, Mariampil and Halych), and a dozen or so additional Palaeolithic open-air sites. They occur as cultural layers within the loess-palaeosol sequences (LPSs) and represent semi-permanent settlement (except for the periods with the maximum intensity of the loess sedimentation); the oldest occur in the Eemian palaeosol. All sites are located on both sides of the river. In the past, the DRV was characterized by local environmental diversity changing with time. In consequence, it has very individual features, so the analysis of environmental changes is a local case study. In order to obtain information about the changes of climate and environment, the multi-proxy analyses were carried out. Chronology was based on the luminescence and radiocarbon dating. The diversity of habitats was local. Its degree was changing with time: it was minimal in the periods with extreme climatic conditions, such as the climate optimum and pessimum, and clearly greater in the climatically intermediate periods with fluctuations. Based on the materials indicating the mesoclimate and local vegetation diversity during the human occupation episodes as well as the location of the Palaeolithic sites, we found that generally the possibilities of choosing a warmer or sheltered place for a camp were not significant for hunters representing different cultures of different ages. Palaeolithic groups very often occupied the same places in the DRV. The camps had a hunting function, the choice of places was dictated primarily by the need to find a good place to observe game animals and to organize hunting – first of all – in the mouth sections of the tributaries of the Dniester River, regardless of the situation of localities relative to riverplains. The settlement attractiveness of such places was essentially timeless.

We present the results of geochemical investigations, including stable isotope, of the Eemian (MIS 5e) and Vistulian (Weichselian, MIS 5a–d, MIS 3–4) sediments of the palaeolake horizons from Gorzow Wielkopolski site (NW Poland). Our analyzes comprised two profiles from different parts of lake basin, each approximately 11-m long. The deposits represent two cycles of lake accumulation (two limnic layers), each ended by peat deposition, separated by mineral fluvial deposits. The lower and upper limnic layers, despite several similar geochemical features, are records of two separate phases of the lake's functioning. The palynological data suggest that the mineral deposits separating them are not continuous succession, but contain a stratigraphic hiatus. We characterized six geochemical zones (GZ), which correspond well with lithological features of deposits and climatic changes, and reflect the changing environmental conditions (redox conditions, variability and intensity of denudation, biological productivity, and fertility of the environment). In the first phase of lake's development, some influence of the surface material supply is visible, indicated by the increased content of lithophilous elements, (e.g. potassium), as well as closely correlated with them copper and zinc. Slow accumulation of carbonates dominated the limnic layers due to their abundant supply from the catchment area. The greatest variations of isotopic values of carbonates occur in the bottom and at the top of the stratigraphic profile and are related to the changing environmental conditions in the lake's basin (water level and temperature variations). The differences in carbon and nitrogen isotope values suggest different sources of organic matter accumulated in the studied basin and varying trophy of the environment. The higher mercury content is related to the course of climate change and is the highest in cold periods. We identified five main phases of evolution of the palaeolake at Gorzow Wielkopolski site. The lake accumulation began during the final phase of the Wartanian (Late Saalian) Glaciation (MIS 6). Initially the palaeolake harmonically developed and reached its maximum depth (Early and Middle Eemian, MIS 5e). Next the palaeolake became shallower and transformed into the peatbog (Late Eemian, MIS 5e). In the Early Vistulian period (or Early Weichselian, MIS 5a–d), the lake re-existed, initially as a flow-through lake. Finally in middle Vistulian (or Middle Weichselian – Pleniglacial, MIS 3–4), the palaeolake declined and mire developed.

For the palaeo-ecological development and interpretation of the macrofauna (Bivalvia and Gastropoda) of the Eemian Sea in the southwestern Baltic Sea region (NE Germany), up to date studies and summarising assessments are largely missing. With the main goal of revising the Eemian marine fauna, the authors have undertaken numerous new samplings in recent years. This study begins by focusing on the Warnow Bay in today's Warnow valley near Rostock. In addition to examining older data from the literature, the sandpit at Schwaan and drillings of the State Geological Survey from Boitin, Reez and Rostock were studied. Parallel to this, was also undertaken pollen analyses. Despite hundreds of drillings from the region of the former Warnow Bay, evidence of the marine Eemian was relatively rare. Apparently the sandy sediments were reworked and redistributed by glaciotectonic, glaciofluvial and fluvial processes during the Weichselian glaciation. There is as yet no definite proof of autochthonous marine sediments. They are predominantly shallow-marine sands several meters thick which are found mostly at a depth of about 30–20 m b.s.l. but more rarely also relatively close to the surface in opencast mining or cliff sections. The sands are rich in marine mollusc fauna of which 29 species have been identified so far and which also include Lusitanian specimens such as Acanthocardia paucicostata, Lucinella divaricata or Polititapes senescens. Account was also taken of accompanying marine fauna such as barnacles and echinoderms. In addition, the sediments contain fresh water molluscs also including the interglacial indicator species Belgrandia germanica.

The Lithuanian onshore section of the south-eastern Baltic Sea region, or the so-called Lithuanian Maritime Region (LMR) – a belt several tens of kilometres wide along the Baltic Sea coast – is characterised by a complicated Quaternary structure and many of unsolved problems related to stratigraphy and palaeogeography. The inter-till lacustrine sediments widespread in the middle part of the Pleistocene thickness play a key role in solving the mentioned problems. The primary inter-till sediments were attributed, as a single lithostratigraphic unit, to the late Saalian Glaciation (MIS 6, Pamarys Sub-Formation; according to the Lithuanian Quaternary Stratigraphic Scheme). Subsequent detailed investigations show that the investigated inter-till succession represents a more complicated sediment complex formed over a wide time interval from the Saalian ice sheet decay at the very end of MIS 6 to the beginning of severe climate cooling during MIS 4. This standpoint is confirmed by the results of a few series of OSL and IR-OSL datings of inter-till sediments, as well as by data of pollen and diatom analysis. The more detailed stratigraphic subdivision of the inter-till sedimentary complex offers a new significant insight into the regional stratigraphic scheme of the Quaternary. As a result of the mentioned investigations, a new original reconstruction of the palaeogeographic situation in the LMR during the MIS 6 – MIS 3 time span was carried out. The lowermost part of the investigated inter-till sediments, attributed to MIS 6, could be correlated with the third MIS 6 warming in Northern Eurasia about 155 ka ago. The reconstruction of the palaeoenvironmental changes starting from MIS 6 and lasting to MIS 3 shows that the Eemian Sea MIS 5e in age was absent in the LMR, while part of the south-eastern Baltic Sea region was covered by a continental ice sheet during MIS 4 and, possibly, the very beginning of MIS 3.

An analysis of voluminous data on the European fossil small mammals datable to the Dnieper (Saale) Glaciation (MIS 6) allowed establishing the main characteristics of the species composition in the faunas, their distribution and diversity. As is shown by the analysis, the faunas of small mammal underwent cardinal changes within the subcontinent boundaries at that time, with the exception of the faunas of the southern peninsulas. Some subarctic species are proved to penetrate southwards as far as 48° N in Western Europe and up to southern France and the British Isles in Western Europe. The steppe species enlarged their ranges to the north and to the west (up to the British Isles). This fact suggests the disappearance of the continuous forest zone. Occasional forest mammal species persisted in Eastern Europe; in most localities of Western Europe, however, forest mammal remains are present along with those of steppe and subarctic mammals. A structural stability of mammal faunas was preserved on the southern peninsulas that had not been heavily influenced by the glaciation. The transition to the Mikulino (Eem) Interglacial (MIS 5e) was marked by changes in the structure of mammal assemblages on the subcontinent. The ranges of subarctic mammal species shifted northwards, the forest zone was restored gradually, which was served to the restoration of forest species populations. Steppe species ranges shifted to the east of Europe. Unlike the faunas of the Dnieper (Saale) Glaciation, noted for “mixed” composition of mammals belonging to ecologically different groups, the faunas of Mikulino (Eem) Interglacial acquired the zonal structure approximately. The paper was primarily aimed at estimating general regularities in the small mammal fauna distribution beginning from the level of individual species to regional faunal complexes. We concluded that the small mammal fauna of the late Dnieper (Saale) ice age responded to the Mikulian/Eemian warming in a way not unlike the Late Pleistocene “Mammuthus–Coelodonta Faunal Complex” response to the Holocene warming, though with a lesser loss of the species richness.

Data on litho- and biostratigraphy of major sedimentary sequences and their geochronological records were compiled and summarized to describe the Late Pleistocene–Holocene marine and glacial events in the Kola-Northern Karelia region. In the coastal Kola Peninsula and its inner part, three marine units and two glacial events were identified in the Upper Pleistocene sequences. The first marine unit (Ponoi Beds in the regional stratigraphy) can be definitely referred to the significant Late Pleistocene transgression known as the Boreal in northern Eurasia. Data on the Kola Peninsula show that the warm-water Boreal transgression was longer than the Eemian one in western Europe, comprising at least MIS 5e-d (from 130–120 to 105–100 ka BP) in the White Sea depression and MIS 5e-c (earlier at least 90 ka BP) in the Barents Sea. Forested environments dominated on the Kola Peninsula at that time. The second Interglacial marine unit (Strelna Beds) attributed to the subsequent Belomorian transgression was deposited in relatively cold settings at the final phase of the Mikulinian Interglacial (MIS 5), about 100 to 70–80 ka BP. Adjacent areas were covered with open forest and tundra. The third marine unit referred to the Interstadial Leningrad Group was formed 60–40 ka BP in rather a cold marine reservoir, when the environmental conditions were more severe than now. The Late Pleistocene glacial events are correlated to the Podporozhie and Ostashkov Groups (MIS 4 and 2). The Podporozhian glacial unit seems to be associated with the Barents-Kara Ice Sheet and its melting caused the glacioeustatic transgression in the White Sea during the Leningradian Substage (MIS 3). During the Late Glacial and Holocene, a periglacial freshwater lake, brackish-water basin and marine reservoir successively appeared in the White Sea depression successively. Two marine events are suggested here based on the key sedimentary sequences from the coastal isolated lake, i.e. the Late Glacial transgression and the early-middle Holocene (Tapes) transgression.

This article presents data on the enamel characteristics (thickness, enamel differentiation coefficient (SDQ)) of the first lower molars of the European water vole (based on the conditional groups “juvenile” and “adult”) from fossil and modern samples from the Perm Pre-Urals (Russia). Among the “adult” group teeth, samples from the Eemian (Mikulino) interglacial deposits had the highest mean SDQ values (91.5–94.8), while samples from the end of the Bryansk Interstadial, the Late Glacial, the Early Holocene deposits had the lowest (76.3–84.9).

Climate instability in the Eemian Interglacial is gaining more and more evidence. One of such oscillations in the Beckentin record is indicated by the disappearance of the Cladocera and changes in macroremains at the beginning of E4a (Corylus phase). They confirm the shallowing of the reservoir, probably caused by climate changes, but not reflected in the palynological record. However, a significant oscillation observed in the first half of the E5 (Carpinus phase), ~5860 years after the boreal forests subsided and ~6290 years after the onset of interglacial forestation, suggests that, although not being an analogue of the OHO (Older Holsteinian Oscillations) in MIS 11c and the 8.2 ka cold event in the Holocene, it is very similar to these oscillations. The Eemian oscillation was noted also in the Bispingen profile in northern Germany, ~6500 years after the interglacial forestation. However, the course of vegetation changes there differs from that in Beckentin. The analysis of macroremains and Cladocera confirms the disappearance of rush and water vegetation in the water reservoir at that time in Beckentin. These results confirm that numerous climatic oscillations could have occurred in the Eemian Interglacial.

This article examines the interpretation and implications of Ipswichian (Eemian) Stage temperate deposits discovered by the British Geological Survey east of the Lincoln Gap in eastern England. The fluvial deposits underlie the Southrey Terrace at Coronation Farm, Southrey and The Hermitage, Stainfield in the River Witham valley. Previously unpublished palynological analyses indicate that the temperate deposits compliment published pollen, mollusc and coleopteran assemblages from the same localities. The deposit at Southrey represents Ipswichian (=Eemian) substages Ip IIb and III, whilst that at Stainfield represents the Ip IIb Substage. The combined sequences are compared to those at neighbouring localities in the Witham and Bain-tributary valleys at Tattershall Castle and Tattershall Thorpe. The implications of the correlation of the interglacial deposits provide a re-evaluation of the River Trent-Witham terrace sequence, demonstrating that the Southrey Terrace deposits are not the equivalent of the Late Wolstonian (=Saalian) Balderton Member, but the Middle Devensian (=Weichselian) Substage Fulbeck Member, upstream of Lincoln. This implies that the River Trent was potentially aligned northwards towards the Humber before the Ipswichian Stage interglacial. The revised correlation indicates that glaciation of the region did not occur in the Middle Wolstonian (MIS 8) but during the Late Wolstonian (MIS 6) Substage.

In the region of 20 newly-found fossil lakes in the Garwolin Plain (Central Poland), formed during the Eemian interglacial (MIS 5e), the Kozlow site is considered one of the longest examples of sequences of palaeolake deposits. Pollen investigations have revealed an entire Eemian interglacial (MIS 5e) with a very long hornbeam phase. Repeated coring allowed for high-resolution pollen and diatom analysis to be used in tracing climate-driven palaeoenvironmental changes during the mid- and late-Eemian. The resulting thick series of organogenic deposits from Kozlow joins the collection of existing high-resolution long records of this interglacial in central-eastern Europe. It should be emphasized that a very good correlation was found between palynological and diatom data, which allows for drawing consistent conclusions. The warm and humid climate of the Corylus phase at the onset of the mid-Eemian was marked by a great abundance of planktonic Cyclotella sensu lato species, which indicate a rising water level, increased water temperatures, thermal stratification and a warm-wet climate. In the diatom zones correlated with the Carpinus phase, a distinct change was observed, from an assemblage dominated by planktonic species to one composed of benthic ones, including Fragilaria sensu lato taxa. The greater frequency of oceanic air masses must have affected the humidity and thermal conditions in lake and its surroundings in the first part of the interglacial optimum. Climate changes are very clearly visible at the transition between Carpinus and Picea-Abies zones, which were caused by increased influence of continental air masses. However, in the Middle Eemian no drastic changes were observed in both the pollen and diatom records. In the upper part of the core, represented by Pinus pollen, the presence of cold-loving diatom species, and an increase of green algae Pediastrum spp. point to a drop in temperatures at the close of the interglacial. The pollen results were compared to the well-recognized mid-to late-Eemian successions from Poland and West Europe.

An extinct thermophile European water buffalo Bubalus murrensis was recorded in the interglacials of the Middle and Late Pleistocene in Central and Western Europe. The species was unknown after the Eemian Interglacial (c. 123 ka) there and have never been found in Eastern Europe. Here we report on an unexpected record of this exotic species in the center of East European Plain near the Kolomna town (Moscow Region) more than 110 millennia later, in the Bolling – Allerod warming of the Last glacial. The unique paleontological discovery of the last European water buffalo in the center of Eastern Europe occupied mainly by a cold adapted so-called ‘Mammoth fauna’ allow us to discuss this unusual occurrence in paleoenvironmental context and suggest the model of dispersal and final extinction of the species. Based on recent integrated studies, we show that the species could persist in the Ponto-Caspian region and then spread northwards during the last Late Pleistocene warming. Main factors of its extinction could be the rapid global climatic changes and strong regional paleoenvironmental instability as well as increasing activity of Upper Paleolithic hunters. The discovery is important in the context of the late Quaternary megafaunal extinctions and a recent phenomenon of global warming.

The studied Radymno loess section is located in the large, fore-Carpathian San River valley (Sandomierz Basin, SE Poland) and shows the sequence building the Pleistocene cover of middle terrace of the San River. Such sequence is quite rare in loess deposits because it combines different depositional environments: subaqueous – the late Eemian-Early Vistulian alluvial-swamp facies of loess with inserts of gyttja type, and subaerial – the Plenivistulian aeolian loess. The main goal of the study was to reconstruct the Late Pleistocene paleoenvironmental changes recorded in this section. For this purpose, pollen and fossil Ostracoda analyses were conducted. These data were supplemented with sedimentological and pedo-lithological analyses. Additionally, the results of earlier investigations published so far have been used: lithological and malacological analyses as well as luminescence (IRSL and TL) dating. Based on the analysis of many indicators, the paleoenvironmental changes have been correlated with those recorded in pollen diagrams obtained from other regions. This correlation indicates that in the Radymno section there is evidence of the vegetation succession typical of the Eemian Interglacial with climatic optimum and of the short-term oscillations in the Early Vistulian and then in the Lower Pleniglacial of Vistulian. The analysis of fossil Ostracoda, which were found in some parts of the profile, provided information about short-term paleohydrological changes, and especially about the functioning of surface water bodies in changing periglacial conditions of the bottom of the San River valley in MIS 5d – MIS 2. High humidity in the environment was caused mainly by floods and high groundwater level, which indirectly conditioned the formation of water bodies in the valley bottom. Correlation with palynological data indicated that these water bodies existed also under dry climate conditions. This proves that the local conditions of the studied area strongly modified the environmental changes dependent on paleoclimate.

Loess-paleosol sequences preserve information that can be used to reconstruct paleoenvironments. A dense network of reliably analyzed sequences from different geographic locations is crucial to address ecological and climatic trends, which occurred during the Pleistocene. This paper focuses on a loess-paleosol sequence in Bůhzdař, situated 9 km NW of Prague, Czech Republic. Geochemical approaches (total organic carbon, XRF elemental analyses, XRD mineralogy, 13C and 18O stable isotopes) are combined with grain-size distributions and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) to assess the climatic conditions at the time of formation of the strata. The oldest loess at this location was formed circa 200 ka ago (MIS 7), making it the oldest loess in Central Bohemia for now. The Bůhzdař loess-paleosol sequence was highly affected by several erosion events, Eemian paleosols (MIS 5e) being completely missing. The partly relocated paleosols situated at the lower part of the Bůhzdař sequence represent a period of increased humidity during late MIS 7 and MIS 6. Despite the fact that the Bůhzdař profile is not particularly thick (5 m), significant changes in paleoclimate reconstructions have been detected.

Remains of Bubalus murrensis, a thermophile bovid, are very rare in the Pleistocene interglacial faunas of Europe. The new specimen collected from the Atlantic shoreline in the Medoc (France) extents the realm of this genus far into the West, whereas the most eastern occurrence is in Romania. The fossil fragment of a horn core most probably originates from exposed interglacial deposits that are attributed to the Holsteinian (MIS 11). The Pleistocene remains of Bubalus are reviewed. All of them represent the same species B. murrensis. Sites that are well stratified belong to the Middle Pleistocene (MIS 9 and/or 11). The Upper Rhine Basin yielded about 20 cranial fragments with an assumed Eemian age. It is, however, possible that these finds predate the Eamian, hence, there is no indisputable evidence for the occurrence of Bubalus in Europe during the Eemian.

The isotopic studies of atmospheric precipitations, snow surveys, surface and groundwaters, which were conducted in 2005–2017 in the Baltic Sea – White Sea region, are presented. Groundwater formed during the last cold period under the influence of the Eemian Sea and the Baltic Ice Lake, and also cryogenic metamorphism was discovered. It was discovered that some relatively small rivers pose as regional drains for groundwater of a significant age. Such reaction of groundwater on the geographic and climatic changes is a consequence of the specific geological and tectonic structure of area, where the Baltic shield is contact with artesian basins and fractured crystalline rocks begins to be covered by the platform sediments.

Proxy data from pollen and mollusc indicator species, periglacial phenomena, changes in geometry of mountain palaeoglaciers and based on selected lithological and geomorphological features enabled reconstruction of the Late Pleistocene climate characteristics in Poland and adjacent areas. Climate during the Eemian was generally stable but with a distinct west-east gradient in summer. Strong influence of the Atlantic air masses moving to the east resulted in the annual precipitation over 600 mm. Climate instability in the late Eemian as well as during stadials and interstadials of the Early Weichselian was expressed by progressive cooling and increasing temperature difference between winters and summers, reflecting stronger continentalism towards the west, accompanied by decreased precipitation. Periglacial frost crackings and polygonal patterns indicated occurrence of permafrost in Poland already at about 49 ka BP and its occurrence until the termination of the last glaciation. These periglacial structures have developed at mean annual temperatures from −9 to −4 °C, with winter extremes up to about −25 °C. Mean summer temperature reached likely around 10 °C as suggested by palaeobotanic record. Palaeoglaciological studies of mountain glaciers across Europe allowed inferring their activity and sensitivity to climatic fluctuations during the Late Weichselian. The Weichselian of central Europe was controlled mostly by the southerly and easterly circulation dominated by climate cyclones and anticyclones, respectively. An inflow of air masses from the west was significantly limited and concentrated mainly within the so-called periglacial corridor between the Scandinavian ice sheet and the Alps. Such circulation pattern determined serious reduction of precipitation during the Last Glacial Maximum that reached 60% in relation to modern conditions. The following Late Pleistocene cold phases (Oldest and Younger Dryas) were slightly warmer and wetter with increasing contribution of the westerlies that were strongly dependent on progressing shrinkage of the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets.

Small closed-drainage depressions are a common element of the landscape of Central Poland. Their origin is mainly connected to the melting of blocks of dead ice in the phase of advanced recession of the ice-sheet in the Wartanian Stadial of the Odranian Glaciation. In the Łodź Upland, an analysis of four sites containing sets of depressions has been conducted to determine the lithological properties of their infillings. The analysis revealed that the frequently deep, steep-walled basins are filled in with deposits of various age and origin. Four lithological units, containing sediments ranging from a glacial base to the mineral sediments of the Vistulian, were formed. Many of the depressions do not contain biogenic sediments of the Eemian Interglacial. The lithological suggestions of the age of the deposits allowed to determine two types of depressions - fossil depressions of melting origin, and genetically complex ones that underwent deposition prior to the Eemian Interglacial and with a secondary deepening, most likely as a result of melting of ground ice under thermokarst conditions, during the Vistulian Glaciation (=Weichselian). The dominant views that connect the origin of the multiple depressions solely to the end of the Wartanian should be verified.

Over recent decades a growing number of well-documented records from terrestrial last interglacial sites across central Europe have substantially improved our understanding of Eemian climate and landscape dynamics. Despite this progress, there are also large areas from which little information is available, thus constituting significant paleo-geographic gaps in the last interglacial record. Among the regions with still inadequate paleo-environmental information is the maritime-influenced area of NE-Germany at the southern margin of the Eemian (Baltic) Sea. Here we present first results from a geological investigation of a new last interglacial site, recently discovered during archaeological excavations near Beckentin (SW-Mecklenburg). The study area is located approximately 25 km to the south of the maximum MIS-2 ice limit of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet in NE-Germany, and thus lies outside the Weichselian belt of glaciation. Based on lithostratigraphic and sedimentological logging, complemented by geochemical (XRF) and palynological investigations, we divide the local succession into three sections: (1) a basal facies comprising Saalian till and associated glaciofluvial sand, overlain by section (2) consisting of a fen peat which grades into laminated organic to minerogenic mud. The organic deposits of section (2) preserve a near complete Eemian pollen inventory, encompassing pollen zones (PZ) I to VI (Menke and Tynni 1984). Above this rest poorly sorted periglacial sands (section 3) with ventifacts and evidence for cryogenic deformation. Geochronological results from 230Th/U dating of the buried organic-rich deposits at Beckentin, show that these units accumulated in a former dead ice depression between 118 ± 7/6 ka and 114 ± 6/5 ka during the Eemian Interglacial. High-resolution optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) profiling, undertaken with a portable luminescence reader, reveals a significant hiatus between the lacustrine fines and overlying periglacial cover sand. Five OSL ages obtained from these cover sediments and the sand-filling of an ice-wedge cast show that these strata formed between during the last glacial - interglacial transition.

In order to reconstruct the environmental conditions of marine isotope stage (MIS) 5 in the coastal area of northern South China Sea, a sediment core was collected from the south coast of Hainan Island (18°16′57″N, 109°42′38″E), from which a thick marine mud unit (39 m) is found to be the deposit of MIS 5. According to the high abundance of alkenones, the thick mud sequence was deposited under marine conditions. The high TOC and n -alkanes concentrations (as normalized to TOC) suggest this was a period of high organic matter (OM) production, and the majority of OM came from terrestrial vascular plant sources. Comparatively, short chain n -alkanes (C 18-22 ) and proportion of aquatic plant index ( P aq) in the lower sub-unit appear higher than those in the middle and upper sub-units, suggesting a gradual increase in terrestrial OM supply throughout MIS 5e. The carbon preference index in long-chain n -alkanes (CPI 25-33 ) implies high precipitation and/or temperature in this interval, whilst the average carbon length index in long-chain n -alkanes (ACL 25-33 ) indicates a warm climate during MIS 5e.

The Radom Plain is a region with numerous fossil palaeolakes that formed a palaeolakeland. Lacustrine sediments of thickness varying from 0.5 to 18 m were encountered in numerous boreholes. Pollen analyses of the sediments filling the palaeolakes have proven that their sedimentation began after the retreat of the Saalian ice-sheet (MIS 6), continued during the Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e), and terminated at the beginning of the Weichselian Glaciation (MIS 5d). Climate and palaeoenvironmental changes have been recorded in different deposits: muds, peats and gyttja. Local factors, such as reservoir depth, and geological conditions have influenced the type of the accumulated sediments. Eemian sites occur in two geomorphological positions: in small depressions on the glacial plateau and in small valleys in ox-bow palaeolakes. Eemian lakes were formed from the melting of dead-ice blocks. Pollen data obtained from the palaeolake sediments document climate and vegetation changes characteristic of the Late Glacial period, the Eemian Interglacial, and the beginning of the Weichselian Glaciation. In many sites, a record of a complete Eemian succession is present, whereas in others it is fragmentary. Comparison of pollen data between the Radom region and other localities in Poland shows local and regional differences in the development of forest communities in the Eemian. In the Eemian sequences of the Radom Plain, a considerable contribution of Tilia , Picea and Abies pollen is distinct in the forest communities, often higher than in other Eemian sites of Central Poland. The particularly high percentage of Tilia (exceeding 30%), Picea (up to 67%) and Abies (30%) pollen are recorded in the Babin site. This phenomenon may indicate favourable environmental and climate conditions, facilitating further propagation of these trees. In the pollen record from the Babin site, three distinct abrupt/cool climate oscillations have been noted, with the oldest one recorded in the Saalian Glaciation. The two younger oscillations have been distinguished at the very beginning and at the very end of the Last Interglacial, respectively. Eemian sites from the Radom Plain are important for the reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimate changes in the Eemian Interglacial in Poland and Europe.

The article presents the early results of research of sediments from a palaeolake in the Kleszczow Graben, central Poland. A total of 190 samples were collected and then ca 10–30 samples were botanically (diatoms, pollen and woody macrofossils), zoologically (Cladocera, Mollusca and Ostracoda) and geochemically (elemental content, carbon and nitrogen isotopes) tested. The results of muliproxy analysis of the Eemian (Aleksandrow Formation) and Vistulian (Weichselian; Piaski Formation) deposits helped to reconstruct the environmental changes occurring in the studied palaeolake. Palynological diagram of individual spectra “Parchliny 2014” was divided into five zones that represent local sets of pollen zones (E3−E7; PA-1−PA-5). This diagram, although incomplete, reveals the distinct Eemian features. Lithological, Cladocera and diatom analysis supported by geochemical studies indicate the existence of at least three main stages of the lake developed in the part of the basin. The lake originated from a post-Saalian melt-out kettle hole where the deposition of peats and organic, and mineral silts of different thicknesses to 10–12 m occurred (the first stage). In the second stage, initially existed a closed fairly deep Eemian lake under relatively warm conditions. The lower part of the section records an event of water body shallowing, consisting in its eutrophication, from oligotrophic to a lake of higher trophic status. Subsequently, in a cooler climate of Early Vistulian (Weichselian), the lake became shallower, and then open, flow and better oxygenated (flow-trough). Low frequency of ostracods and the absence of molluscs indicate slightly alkaline pH in the lower part of the water body, and neutral or slightly acidic pH in its upper part. At the bottom, the dominant organisms were diatoms, whereas toward the top, phytoplankton disappears and benthic taxa become predominant. Finally, in the third stage, in Plenivistulian, it was completely covered by mineral-organic and mineral sediments.

The lithological and palaeobotanical research conducted in a closed-drainage depression located in the watershed zone between the Mroga and Mrozyca Rivers (Central Poland) allowed for the reconstruction of its palaeogeography in the period subsequent to the retreat of the last ice sheet (Wartanian Stage of the Odranian Glaciation). The purpose of this article is to gather and synthesise the obtained results, as well as to reconstruct the processes of development and filling in the studied depression over the last 135,000 years. The post-glacial evolution of the relief was recorded in the mineral and biogenic sediments deposited on glacial formations. The modern closed-drainage depression is a trace of a fossil extensive glacial meltout depression. The post-glacial development of the land relief within the depression involved three stages, dominated by different types of morphogenesis, i.e. the deglaciation stage during the Wartanian Stage of the Odranian Glaciation, the Eemian Interglacial-Early Vistulian aggradation stage, and the Vistulian aggradation-denudation stage. High thickness of the identified biogenic sediments suggests considerable transformations of the relief of the watershed during the two cycles of temperate climate – the Eemian Interglacial and the Holocene. The thickness of the mineral sediments suggest low dynamics of the environment during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and undermine the hypotheses on the determining effect of periglacial conditions on the character of the relief of Central Poland. The obtained results constitute an inspiration and starting point for another research project concerning the reconstruction of the watersheds in Central Poland.

One of the longest (above 7 m thick) uninterrupted Eemian-Vistulian (Weichselian) pollen successions in Poland is known from Kublowo (central Poland). The huge importance of this succession is manifested in the possibility of study the evolution of the lake environment under the influence of changing, from interglacial to glacial climatic conditions. The reconstruction of the environmental changes at Kublowo and its surroundings show the short climate fluctuations and a detailed picture of the natural conditions prevailing in central Poland (central Europe) during the period from approximately 126,000 to 55,000 years BP. Based on the results of multi-proxy analysis, four lacustrine stages linked with a higher water level and three boggy stages (low water level) of evolution of the Kublowo paleolake were observed. The pollen diagram from Kublowo reveals a succession of eighteen local pollen assemblage zones (K1-K18 L PAZ). The K1 to K7 LPAZ zones record the interglacial succession correlated with the Eemian. The next pollen zones, K8 to K18, are linked with the Vistulian. The pollen sequence shows, between the Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e) and the last glaciation (second stadial of the Plenivistulian (MIS 4-3), four cold intervals that are interpreted as stadial phases: Herning, Rederstall, Schalkholtz and Ebersdorf separated by three temperate intervals (interstadials): Brorup, Odderade and Oerel. In the studied sediments, 25 species of subfossil Cladocera were identified, and ten zones of fauna development were distinguished. The unique feature of this profile is the good preservation of above 100,000-year-old Cladocera remains and a high diversity of species, which are primarily littoral. The Middle and Late Eemian were periods convenient to Cladocera development due to high temperatures, high water levels, high trophy and occurrence macrophytes. A deterioration of fauna living conditions started in the Late Eemian and next took place in the Vistulian cold events. The results of isotopic and geochemical analyses of organic matter from Kublowo have enabled the reconstruction of varying environmental conditions and the origin of organic matter. The organic carbon content (TOC) changes from 1% to 40% and is closely related to climatic conditions. During the Eemian, the amount of TOC systematically increased. The lowest values are recorded in the coldest periods during the Herning, Rederstall and Schalkholz Stadials. The C/N atomic ratio fluctuates from 13 to 34 and the highest values occur in the Brorup Interstadial. The values of δ 13 C change from −27.9 to −12.9‰, and δ 15 N values oscillate between −1.6 and +5.3‰.

This paper presents the results of palinological studies of the sediments from the site of Szklarka (Silesian Lowland, SW Poland). The pollen sequence from Szklarka records the longest continuous succession of vegetation covering the Late Saalian, Eemian Interglacial and Early Weichselian in SW Poland. The results of pollen analysis show phases with forest and open vegetation communities in response to climate changes. The pollen zones distinquished represent cool phases of the Late Saalian, a complete Eemian interglacial succession (E1-E7 R PAZ) and two cool intervals (Herning and Redestall) and one warm one (Brorup) from the Early Weichselian. Two main phases have been distinguished in the Brorup Interstadial, an older birch phase and a younger pine phase. During the Brorup Interstadial, towards the end of the birch phase, a cooling event has been recorded.

Nowadays Najas flexilis is believed to be extinct in Poland, Germany, and Switzerland, while in other European countries it is classified as endangered or vulnerable. During the Early and Middle Holocene the species occurred throughout much of Europe, but in the Late Holocene it underwent a significant decline and reduction in range following, as it is believed, the gradual cooling of the climate and/or the eutrophication and acidification of lakes caused by human activity. The article recognizes the existence and disappearance of slender naiad in the palaeolake at the Hieronimowo site, NE Poland, during the Eemian Interglacial and at the beginning of the last glaciation (Vistulian, Weichselian), when lake transformations were caused solely by natural factors without human impact. Results of palynological and macrofossil analyses reveal that the appearance of slander naiad in the studied water body was probably triggered by the change of its pH and trophic status, resulting from the start of spruce and pine expansion stimulated by climate worsening during the younger part of the hornbeam phase (E5 R PAZ) in the middle Eemian. The appearance of spruce and pine in the area of the lake led to its acidification and oligotrophication, and that caused the strong and rapid development of N. flexilis. The species existed in the palaeolake at the Hieronimowo site through the spruce (E6 R PAZ) and pine (E7 R PAZ) phases, until the end of the Eemian Interglacial. These observations suggest that regressive transformations of the environment typical for the late part of the interglacial cycle, ‘unsupported’ by human activity, do not lead the extinction of N. flexilis. Quite the opposite, these processes promote this species. Its disappearance started only at the beginning of the Early Vistulian (Weichselian), and it was probably caused by a drastic decrease in temperatures and/or by the development of green algae, which limited light availability on the bottom of the water body.

Seventy samples of lacustrine sediments from a palaeolake at the Hieronimowo site, NE Poland were investigated by pollen analysis method. The obtained results indicate that the examined sequence spans the whole Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e), the beginning of the Early Vistulian (Weichselian; MIS 5d) and some undefined period of the Plenivistulian (Middle Weichselian; MIS 2-4). The specific feature of the studied profile is the great thickness of deposits representing the hornbeam phase of the Eemian Interglacial (E5 R PAZ), which was the younger part of the climatic optimum of this interglacial, and the very well developed pollen record of this phase, that is absent in other profiles in NE Poland. Due to this, our study allowed, for the first time in NE Poland, the detailed reconstruction of changes in the vegetation and in the mean January and July temperature during the middle part of the Eemian Interglacial. This reconstruction unequivocally rules out the existence of an abrupt short-lasting cold event at that time. Only a gradual slight increase in temperature was apparent during the older part of the hornbeam phase (to >21 °C for July, and to >0 °C for January) and gradual decrease during its younger part (to >17 °C for July, and to > -5 °C and

The studies were conducted in a dry valley in NE Poland. They were aimed at determining the origin of this structure and tracing the processes that have shaped the dry valley in a time span of about 130 ka. The research included detailed geological mapping, including piercing of a number of boreholes and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys. The obtained material was pollen analysed, OSL dated, and the grain size distribution and the morphoscopy of sand quartz grains were investigated; additionally the organic matter (OM) content was determined. Based on the obtained results it was concluded that the structure currently occupied by sediments of the dry valley was formed during the Warta Stadial of the Odranian Glaciation (Saalian; MIS 6) as a glacial tunnel valley. Small, probably isolated depressions functioned in the dry valley bottom after the ice sheet retreat. The sediments record a full succession of climate oscillations from the Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e) (pollen zones E1 to E7) through the Early Vistulian (MIS 5a-5d) to MIS 4. In the Early Vistulian, the depressions functioned as lakes, or got shallower and were replaced by peat-bogs, depending on the climate conditions. During MIS 4, the bottom of the dry valley was subjected to erosion as a result of concentrated water flow. This caused draining of the existing depressions and their incorporation within the flow. Probably during MIS 3, solifluction was activated on the slopes of the dry valley. During LGM, permafrost aggradation occurred in the study area, recorded by two generations of epigenetic sand wedges and development of aeolian processes. In contrast to analogous processes within the European Sand Belt, the latter processes acted for a short time and only locally. The final record are Holocene soils. It seems that the analysed valley is a good example of palaeoenvironmental conditions in Eastern Europe.

Fossil nutlets of Tilia tomentosa Moench were found in the Eemian sediments from the Hieronimowo site, NE Poland. They come from the hazel (E4 R PAZ) and hornbeam (E5 R PAZ) phase of the last interglacial. Currently, this species occurs only in southern Europe and in Asia Minor. Its presence in NE Poland during the Eemian Interglacial shows that its northern range limit was at that time about 1000 km further north than today. This also proves that mean July temperatures in this area were significantly higher than during the Holocene (above 21 °C). The finding of T. tomentosa nutlets confirmed the previously reported detectability of pollen of this species.

The directions of the post-Wartanian (post-Saalian) migration of some thermophilous trees and shrubs into the territory of Poland was reconstructed on the basis of isopollen maps, prepared for the Eemian Interglacial based on the palynological data from 187 Polish pollen profiles. Isopollen maps clearly demonstrated, that all thermophilous trees, which appeared in this area in the early Eemian (Quercus, Ulmus, Fraxinus), migrated from the east or north-east. Also Tilia and Alnus, which arrived in the area of Poland in the middle part of the Eemian Interglacial migrated from the east. Picea, which colonized the territory of Poland twice: first at the very early stage of the interglacial, and then in the younger Eemian, migrated from the east and north-east. Only Corylus, Carpinus betulus and Abies alba migrated from other directions (from the south, from the south-west and from the south-west, respectively). Domination of the western and south-western directions of migration routes clearly differentiates the Eemian Interglacial from the Holocene, during which the majority of trees and shrubs migrated into territory of Poland from the south, south-east, south-west and west, and only a few, such as Ulmus and Picea, also from the east and north-east. We assumed that the most probable reason of this difference was a presence of the Wartanian (Saalian) refugia of many trees, including thermophilous taxa, in the Eastern Europe (west Russia or Black See region). From those regions, together with the decay of the ice sheet, these trees migrated directly into Central Europe along the northern slopes of the Carpathians, or at first migrated to the north via regions which were beyond the maximum range of the Saalian, and from there to the west after the ice sheet melted in this part of Europe.

This paper presents vegetation and climate reconstructions for Eemian Interglacial in Pomerian Lakeland based on detailed pollen data of the Buntowo site. The pollen succession from the depth of 30.60–30.50 m comprises the end of the Late Saalian with the development of open grass communities and shrub communities. The vegetation picture obtained confirms the significant role of Hippophae rhamnoides in shrub communities in northern Poland around the beginning of the Eemian Interglacial. The pollen succession from the depth of 30.45–25.40 m comprises the Eemian Interglacial from E-1 R PAZ to the beginning of E-6 R PAZ. In northern Poland, Ulmus became a significant component of forest communities as late as in Middle Eemian. Continuous presence of Taxus baccata over the entire Middle Eemian and higher significance of Picea abies in forest communities of the younger period of Middle Eemian confirm the higher influence of oceanic climate than in Central and Eastern Poland.

The Eemian-Vistulian developmental history of the Ławy paleolake (Eastern Poland) has been studied by analysing records of micro- (pollen, Cladocera, Ostracoda), macrofossils (molluscs, mammal remains), the lithological record and radiocarbon dating from a 5.30 m sediment core. At Ławy, in the Paterebo stream valley, well-preserved mammal fossil remains accompanied by organic deposits have also been investigated. The results of the multi-proxy analyses suggest explicitly that the climate was the main driving force of the changes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and in the geomorphological processes in the catchment. However, we propose that the water level fluctuations were also an important factor in the modification of the aquatic assemblages. Pollen, cladocerans, molluscs and ostracods from Ławy indicate the existence of a small, shallow, well-vegetated paleolake during the warm Eemian climate optimum. In the final phase of the Eemian the lake was transformed into a mire. In the Early Vistulian, the variable hydrological conditions were the main driver force for the development of the study area. Finally the existence of the basin at Ławy was closely associated with periodic coexistence of limnic, telmatic and river environments.

Through a detailed analysis of seismic profile and vibra-/drilling-core sediments (up to 25.5 m long) with AMS 14 C ages from a tidal flat in the mid-western coast of Korea, we reconstruct development of coastal sedimentary sequences in response to sea-level changes for more than about 150 ka, and reveal effect of irregular, complex underlying topography in the Holocene coastal sedimentation. Unit I overlying rock basement and the lower part of Unit II consist of fluvial sediments deposited during sea-level lowstands prior to interglacial period of Eemian Stage (MIS 5e). During the sea-level highstand of MIS 5e, muddy tidal sediments between 7.40 and 10.76 m deep below the present tidal-flat surface were deposited in the upper to middle part of Unit II. The study area had been subaerially exposed for a long duration from MIS 5e to ca. 10 ka. During this period, the muddy tidal sediments in Unit II had been underwent oxidization and significant erosion by fluvial process, forming irregular and complex morphology of the upper boundary of Unit II with a large topographic relief (up to ca. 7 m) even over a short (ca. 560 m) distance. On the upper boundary of Unit II, topographic highs could act as barriers for weakening wave effects from ca. 8–9 ka to 3–4 ka (period of relatively rapid sea-level rise), depositing muddy tidal sediments (Unit III-B). As the muddy tidal sediments (Unit III-B) filled the irregular, complex underlying morphology, surface topography was nearly flat without barriers around about 3–4 ka. Since then, the nearly flat surface morphology without barriers, together with relatively slow sea-level rise and direct exposure of strong onshore winter waves/storms, could promote to deposit wave-/storm-driven sandy sediments (Unit III-A). This study suggests that change in surface morphology could affect stratigraphic evolution of the Holocene coastal sequence by variation in depositional regime.

Obstacles to our understanding of Neanderthal land-use patterns during the Last Interglacial (130kya-116kya, Marine Isotope Stage 5e) include not only the scarcity of sites in Europe but also a lack of knowing what the landscape may have looked like during this time. This research explores the influence of climate on Neanderthal land-use. Recently developed global climate models are capable of simulating past climate variables (e.g., precipitation and temperature), and geographic information system (GIS) tools can then be used to interpolate these data to model the niches of past organisms into paleoclimate zones. This study uses Maximum Likelihood Classification analysis in GIS to create a mosaic landscape of 22 paleoclimate zones to reconstruct what Europe may have looked like during the Last Interglacial Eemian. When overlain with the location of Last Interglacial archaeological sites, it is possible to visualize Neanderthal landscape use with respect to these climate zones. The modeled paleoclimate zones show there was a preference for site locations in Warm Temperate and Mesic climates. It also shows that Neanderthals did not commonly live near climate zone margins, preferring to stay in their “home” climate zone. The Warm Temperate and Mesic climate regime may have been preferred as a more climatically stable region, resulting in less biological stress related to thermoregulation.

Loess-palaeosol sequences are highly resolved archives for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and build an important link to correlate European and Central Asian loess sequences. For the loess palaeosol sequence at Toshan, Northern Iran, a luminescence-based chronological framework was established. The timing of dust accumulation and soil formation was investigated and thereby information on changes in palaeoenvironmental conditions in the region obtained. For luminescence dating, the 4e11 mm grain size fraction was used and the pIRIR290 approach was applied to polyminerals. Tests concerning bleachability, dose recovery and anomalous fading were conducted. The results show that residual doses have only minor influence on the determination of the equivalent dose. The Eemian (MIS 5e) soil seems to be preserved but a chronological classification based on luminescence ages for this soil remains difficult. The pIRIR290 age estimates from the lower part of the profile range from 104 ± 9t o 127± 8 ka. Lumi- nescence ages from the central profile-part point to an increase in dust accumulation starting around the MIS 4/MIS 3 transition. Furthermore, a chronological framework for interstadial soils was developed indicating e.g. soil formation at around 40 ka during MIS 3 and 26 ka during MIS 2. The top part of the profile was dated to about 22 ka. The age estimates show that the Toshan loess profile is a highly resolved loess record providing a valuable climate archive for the last glacialeinterglacial cycle reflecting several climatic shifts represented by dust accumulation or enhanced degrees of soil formation (stadials and interstadials).

The saiga antelope ( Saiga tatarica ), which today is a specialist steppe herbivore adapted to long-distance migrations in massive herds, appeared at irregular intervals in the Late Pleistocene Europe. Its special ecological requirements limited the number and timing of dispersal events. In the Eemian the saiga was absent on the continent. During MIS 5d-a, MIS 4 and MIS 3 its range was restricted to steppe areas north of the Black Sea. In MIS 2 and the Late Glacial (MIS 1) this species was able to colonize Central Europe at least three or four times and Western Europe at least twice. The most successful second migration dates to part of GS-2c, GS-2b and part of GS-2a, from ca. 19.5 to 15.3 cal ka BP when the saiga reached southern France. During GI-1d (Older Dryas), ca. 14.0 cal ka BP, the saiga reached England. The first migration during the GI-2 warm phase (ca. 23.7–23.3 cal ka BP) and the last one (ca. 13.5 cal ka BP) in the GI–1c 2 cool phase were probably restricted to Central Europe.