Radiocarbon ages of bones from Vistulian (Weichselian) cave deposits in Poland and their stratigraphy

Abstract

Twenty-six bone samples from cave sediments mainly of Vistulian (Weichselian) age were radiocarbon (AMS) dated. The material comes from seven localities in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland and in Podhale (southern Poland). These are: the Komarowa Cave, the Deszczowa Cave, the Upper Rock Shelter of the Deszczowa Cave, the cave in Dziadowa Skała, the Sąspowska Zachodnia Cave, the Mamutowa Cave and the Obłazowa Cave. The obtained radiocarbon ages of most of the samples differs from their stratigraphy as formerly proposed. The reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. Also examined were the radiocarbon ages of bones from other caves in the study area. Most of the dated bones are shown to have come from relatively short time periods. The existing data on radiocarbon age of bones from Vistulian cave deposits of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland and Podhale are summarized.