Paleoenvironmental Malakofaunistic Records of Late Pleniglacial on the Upper Paleolithic Site Doroshivtsi 3 (the Middle Dniester Basin)

Abstract

Fauna of molluscs is one of the most important paleoenvironment indicators, which is very sensitive to environmental conditions. It relatively quickly and accurately reflects changes in characteristics and structure of landscapes, their types, etc. The importance of this method in the study of Pleistocene sediments is determined by few factors: 1) shellfish, especially terrestrial, are quite sensitive to environmental conditions (heat, humidity, etc.) and pretty good indicate them in sediments; 2) among fossil faunal remains the molluscs are the most common group of organisms; 3) the features of fine-grained sediments contribute to the good preservation of shells, facilitating their study.