Geophysical processes and biosphere: article

Аnnotation: Multidisciplinary studies of the Paleolithic sites allow to identify all main stadials (Heinrich 1-6) in the Late Pleistocene history of the North Caucasus. Most of the coolings are correlated with volcanic events. There are published for the first time results of geochemical and microprobe research of deposits and volcanic glasses from cave sites in the North-Western and North-Central Caucasus. During the Middle Paleolithic, modern data allow to identify stadials Heinrich 6 (ca. 63-60 kyr) и Heinrich 5 (ca. 48-47 kyr). In some multi-layered sites, changes in lithic industries towards the end of Middle Paleolithic are identified. Genetic research of the Neandertal individual from layer 2 in Mezmaiskaya cave and several late Neandertals from Europe showed that a large-scale genetic turnover of Neandertal population likely occurred towards the end of Middle Paleolithic. A global cooling of Heinrich 4 become the edge, after which the Middle Paleolithic industries disappeared and the evidence of penetration of the Upper Paleolithic industries associated with Homo sapiens first appeared in the North-Western Caucasus. These industries appear as a completely formed cultural tradition. The modern human migration to the Caucasus from the Near East is confirmed by results of research of obsidian transport. The Last Glacial Maximum is the main climatic event during the Upper Paleolithic era. Paleoclimatic events of this period had great impact on human settlement of the Caucasus. After the Last Glacial Maximum, the Epipaleolithic culture of the Caucasus shows numerous innovations in technology. The important result of multidisciplinary research of the Late Pleistocene sites in the North Caucasus is understanding the impact that climatic stresses and coolings associated with activation of volcanizm had on ecological niches of ancient population.