Radiocarbon Dating and Faunal Stable Isotopes for the Galeria Principală, Peştera Muierii, Baia de Fier, Gorj County, Romania

Abstract

Radiocarbon dates and stable isotope signatures are presented for six faunal samples from the Galeria Principală, Peştera Muierii. Despite stratigraphic incertainties, the samples should date from the earlier Upper Paleolithic of this portion of the site to ~ 30,000 14C BP and the Middle Paleolithic levels to ~ 41,000 to ~ 47,500 14C BP, with the deeper levels being beyond radiocarbon age (> 52,000 14C BP). These dates therefore imply that the Pleistocene human occupation of the site consists of a relatively late Early Upper Paleolithic (or very early Middle Upper Paleolithic) and a fairly late Middle Paleolithic. Stable isotope analysis of the dated samples reinforces the ecological flexibility of Late Pleistocene cave bears.