Early Paleolithic of Korolevo site (Transcarpathia, Ukraine)

Abstract

The most ancient in situ Palaeolithic industries in Ukraine are known from the multi-layer Palaeolithic site of Korolevo in Transcarpathia, along the Tisza River. The Korolevo site was excavated from 1974 to the early 1990s. The Palaeolithic artefacts were related to a complex loess–palaeosol succession on top of a volcanic mount above the present-day alluvial plain. In the eastern sector (Beyvar), abundant lithic implements were collected in various excavation areas, but the loess–palaeosol succession was often limited or discontinuous. In the northern sector (Gostry Verkh) the loess–palaesol sequence reached a total thickness of 14 m, although the Palaeolithic assemblages were poorly documented. Huge Middle and Early Palaeolithic collections were mainly produced on local raw material (andesite). At Gostry Verkh, the reference stratigraphic sequence of Korolevo encompasses a complex succession of loamy units alternating with seven palaeosols. The Brunhes–Matuyama boundary was fixed at the base of palaeosol VII. The 15 cultural-chronological complexes were further positioned within the pedosedimentary sequence, taking into account their inferred stratigraphic background as well as the degree of weathering of the lithics. The earliest assemblages were distributed respectively in the upper part of palaeosol VII (complex VI) and within the alluvial deposits prior to the Brunhes–Matuyama boundary (complexes VII and VIII). A new section opened at Gostry Verkh has allowed a complementary reading of the sequence. In this way, the reproducibility of the main pedosedimentary units previously described could be tested, as well as the presence of reversed magnetisation. Palaeoclimatic analysis of the sequence has been improved by micromorphological analysis of the main pedological units. The new research also aimed at providing better control of the stratigraphic positioning of the cultural assemblages. Consequently, five Middle and Early Paleolithic assemblages were discarded, including complex VIII, as their situation regarding the local pedosedimentary context is poorly documented. At present in Korolevo, only levels VI and VII were determined to be Early Paleolithic.