Abstract
Karst caves in the Ukrainian Carpathians are not numerous due to the limited extent of karst rocks in the region. Most known caves are concentrated in the Uhlja karst district, associated with the Marmarosh Klippen Zone. The known cavities are relics/fragments of ancient, probably Pre-Quaternary, hypogenic karst aquifer systems, partly destroyed and partly modified by infiltration and condensation water during Pleistocene. Clastic cave deposits in few caves were examined. The palaeontological records in these sediments are represented mainly by Vertebrate faunal remains: Ursus spelaeus, U . arctos, Panthera leo cf. spelaea, Martes martes , Meles meles , Vulpes vulpes , Felis silvestris , Rangifer tarandus , Bison priscus, Ochotona sp . Well stratified fine clastic sediments are quite rare, as well as the speleothems available for radioisotope examination
Highlights
Determining of the age of relief underlies the morphogenetic analysis and is one of the fundamental problems in theoretical and applied geomorphology (Vakhrushev, 2002)
Cave sediments, which are accumulated inside karst massifs, are more protected from denudation processes, and they can be preserved over millions of years
According to AMS 14C dating, the age of cave bear fossils from the Perlyna Cave is 45,7 +2,5 / -1,9 ka BP (VERA 3736), and a few other dates exceeded the capabilities of radiocarbon analysis
Summary
Determining of the age of relief underlies the morphogenetic analysis and is one of the fundamental problems in theoretical and applied geomorphology (Vakhrushev, 2002). Cave sediments, which are accumulated inside karst massifs, are more protected from denudation processes, and they can be preserved over millions of years. Unlike other parts of the Carpathian Ridge, the Ukrainian Carpathians are built mostly of flysch series and the karst rocks have a very limited extent there The latter are represented by separate limestone blocks, scattered along the south-western macro-slope of the folded structure, and as small limestone and marble islands in the Rakhiv Crystalline Massif. Despite their limited distribution, these pieces of limestone sometimes are intensely karstified and penetrated by underground cavities, both active and fossil. The Quaternary cave sediments, preserved in some of these underground cavities, contain valuable paleogeographic records
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