6, 7 and 8; and second, on square lines 10 and 11. The first area measures roughly 60 m2 on the surface and 20 m2 at its base (-11,5 m elevation on Fig. 1-2, 2). The lowest point of the first area is 14,10 m on the squares 4H, 4O and 4П. The second excavation area consists of 12 m2 both on the surface and at the base of the pit.
     All archaeological levels were excavated following the angle of inclination of the exposed sediments.

  The most common type of occupation to be observed in Kabazi II is the co-called "carpet floor" or "carpet level" which is characterised by a thin level of archaeological material (usually with the thickness of a single bone or artefact). The "carpet levels" are subdivided by sterile sediments of varying thickness. The excavation of "carpet" levels in lithologically monotonous sediments requires an exact documentation of elevation. No less than 10

    elevations were taken in each square metre excavated. All finds, including the limestone blocks, were mapped at a scale 10:1. The faunal remains and the limestone blocks were plotted in the same scale and actual shape. Artefacts were mapped in conventional signs according to class or tool type. The sediments surrounding fauna or artefact clusters were sieved using a 1,5 mm screen. Additionally, water screening was employed for selected squares to recover snails and the rests of rodents.

lenses. The limestone debris is concentrated on square lines Г, Д, E and Ж (Fig. 1-3). On square lines Д, E and Ж the sediments of this stratum are disturbed by animal tunnels (Fig. 1-3 and 1-4). The gradient of Stratum 7 is 5-6° from north to south. The upper boundary of Stratum 7 was truncated by latter erosion. Whilst the lower boundary of Stratum 7 is clear and runs horizontally on square lines 8, 7, and for part of square line 6 (Fig. 1-3), it exhibits the pronounced traces of earlier erosion on square lines 4, 5, and - to a certain degree - also on square line 6 (Fig. 1-4). Stratum 7 covers the entire excavation.
     Stratum 8 comprises the limestone block which was found on squares 11Б, 10Б,11B, 10B, 11Г, 10Г", 8Г", 7Г, 6Г, 5Г, 4Г, 7Д, 6Д,5Д, 7E and 6E (Fig. 1-2,1-4 and 1-5). Taking into account the unexcavated line of squares 9, the total area covered by the limestone block is about 20 m2. The surface of this block is heavily weathered and dissolute. This block was the source of angular and sub-angular limestone cobbles and eboulis found in Strata 6 and 7 on square lines Г, Д, E and Ж. The visible lower boundary of this block corresponds to the boundary between Strata 8 and 9 (Fig. 1-4).

     Stratum 14B - a light-grey compacted loam with a granular structure and filled with different size

Stratum 17A - the dissolute part of the limestone block - Stratum 17 (Fig. 1-3 and 1-4).

At least 4 natural processes were responsible for the deposition of the stratigraphical sequence of Kabazi II:

accumulation was characterised by the surface erosion (Fig. 1-4). The formation of Stratum 7 was cased by the number of agents: the colluvial from up-slope area, the soil formation process and the exfoliation of limestone blocks (Strata 17 and 8). During Stratum 7 formation these limestone blocks (each about 1 m high and more than 10 m long) create the horizontal platform between them, which might be the most comfortable place on the slope of cuesta at that time. However, the stratigraphical trap was filled to capacity by sediments. The accumulation of the next Strata 6 and 5 was opened to the slope erosion. These Strata were found in a more or less preserved condition behind and near the limestone block (Stratum 8), which was the last Pleistocene sediments trap in Kabazi II geological history (Fig. 1-3 and 1-5). The Strata 4 and 3 are represented by the transported from up-slope Pleistocene deposits, while Strata 2 and 1 is the result of modern soil formation process (Fig. 1-3, 1- 4 and 1-5).
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SEQUENCE AND OCCUPATION CHARACTERISTICS
     However, there was also a fifth process responsible for the formation of the Kabazi II stratigraphical sequence - human activity. The sediments of Kabazi II contain the remains of 55 in situ human occupations and 21 further levels comprising re-deposited and transported artefacts (Table 1-1). The archaeological material was found in all strata, except in Strata 14C, 14E, 15 and 16. The in situ occupations are represented by 20 archaeological levels with Western Crimean Mousterian (WCM) industry and 35 archaeological levels with Crimean Micoquian. The archaeological levels constitute 8 Units. Unit I includes four archaeological levels: from I/1 to 1/3. Unit A is represented by 8 archaeological levels: from A to A4. Unit II comprises 14 archaeological levels: from II/1A to II/8C. Unit IIA includes 8 occupations: from IIA/1 to IIA/4B. Unit III is represented by 15 archaeological levels: from III/1A to III/8E. Unit IV is subdivided into 5 levels: from VI/1 to IV/5. Unit V consists of 7 archaeological levels: from V/l to V/6. Unit VI is represented by 15 levels: from VI/1 to VI/17.
There follows a brief description of the previously published archaeological sequence from Units I, A, II, IIA and III (Chabai 1998b, 1998c, 1998d, 1999a), and a detailed analysis of the occupation as found in the archaeological levels forming Units IV, V and VI.
The archaeological sequence of Units I, A, II, IIA and III
     Levels I/I and I/2 comprise re-deposited Middle Palaeolithic artefacts found at different elevations in sediments of Stratum 2. No faunal remains were discovered in this stratum. Level I/2A is represented by a small number of re-deposited Middle Palaeolithic artefacts originating from the sediments of Stratum 3. No bones were found here either. Archaeological material from Level I/3 consists of re-deposited bone and artefact material from Stratum 4. The artefacts from levels I/1, I/2, I/2A and I/3 are patinated, and the faunal material heavily weathered. Some bifacial tools, as well as blade cores, were found in these levels.
     Whilst bone and artefacts originating from levels A, Al, A2 and A3 were found in the eroded part of Stratum 5, those areas of this stratum undisturbed by erosion contained four in situ occupations in levels A3A, A3B, A3C and A4 (Table 1-1). The thickness of these levels is equal to the thickness of one artefact or bone, and in between each of these levels sterile sediments were found. The artefacts from these levels are not patinated, and, although not excellent, bone preservation is good. The artefacts from these levels have been attributed to the WCM industry.
     Level II/1A was found in Stratum 6 (Fig. 1-3; Table 1-1). The thickness of this level corresponds to the thickness of a single bone or artefact. The density of artefacts in level II/l A is 112 per m3. The artefacts show signs of a slight patination. On the whole, bone preservation is good, but some bone surfaces are weathered.The sterile sediments between levels II/1A and II/l are about 20 cm thick.
     Levels II/l, II/2, II/3, II/4, II/5, II/6, II/7, II/7AB, II/7C, II/7D, II/7E, II/8, II/8C were found in deposits belonging to Stratum 7 (Table 1-1). The five upper levels (II/l, II/2, II/3, II/4 and II/5) are concentrated in the northern part of the excavated area (Fig. 1-3). They are separated by sterile sediments, the thickness of which varies from between 10 and 20 cm. The thickness of each of these levels was determined as being equivalent of the thickness of one single artefact or bone. The artefact density in these levels varies from 135 to 150 artefacts per m3. The next six levels (II/6, II/7, II/7AB, II/7C, II/7D and II/7E) were discovered in the southern part of the excavated area (Fig. 1-4). The thickness of the sterile sediments separating them is in each case roughly 3 cm. The thickness of the individual levels varies in thickness from that of a single find to 5 cm. The density of artefacts varies from 80 to 145 artefacts per m3. The main

and fauna transportation was found. It would appear that the levels IIA/2-3, IIA/3, IIA/3A, and IIA/3B represent the extreme periphery of occupational deposits otherwise situated outside of the excavated area. Some bifacial tools and bifacial thinning debiting were found in these levels. It is likely that the artefact assemblages from levels IIA/2-3, IIA/3, IIA/3A, and IIA/3B belong to the Crimean Micoquian.
     The assemblages of levels IIA/4 and IIA/4B were discovered in the lower part of Stratum 10 (Fig. 1-4; Table 1-1). Level IIA/4 is separated by about 50 cm of sterile sediment from the lowermost finds of level «IIA/3B. The artefacts from level IIA/4 can be termed as the "living-floor carpet", which has the thickness of a single bone or artefact. The artefact density is 27 per m3. The artefacts and faunal material from level IIA/4B is spread vertically through the 10 cm thick «sediments of the lowermost part of Stratum 10. The artefact assemblages from both levels are attributed to the Crimean Micoquian.
     The upper part of Stratum 11 comprises the occupational deposits from levels III/1A, III/1 and III/2 (Fig. 1-3 and 1-4; Table 1-1). Levels IIA/4B and III/1A are separated by 15-20 cm of sterile sediment. The thickness of the sterile sediment found between levels III/1A, III/1 and III/2 varies from 9 to 18 cm. The central parts of these occupations were found on the excavated area. The thickness of each level varies from that of a single find up to 15 cm on those squares where the concentrations of faunal remains were excavated. The artefact density in these levels is traditionally low - about 12 per m3. The artefacts from levels II1/1A, III/1 and III/2 belong to the Crimean Micoquian.
     The fauna and artefact assemblages from levels III/2A, III/3, III/4, III/5, III/6,III/7, III/8, III/8A, III/8B, III1/8C, II1/8D, and III/8E were found in the lower part of Stratum 11 (Fig. 1-3; Table 1-1). The levels III/2A and III/3 exhibit two pronounced clusters of bones and artefacts in the central and southern parts of the excavated area, and at about the same elevation. It might well be the case that levels III/2A and III/3 are part of the same occupation. Levels III/2A and III/3 are separated by 20 cm of sterile sediments from the overlying occupation of level III/2, and by 5 cm of sterile material from the underlying level III/4. The thicknesses of the sterile sediments between the levels III/4, III/5, III/6, III/7, and III/8 varies from 5 cm up to 20 cm. Characteristic for each of these levels is a thin "carpet" of bones and artefacts. The individual thickness of such "carpets" corresponds to the thickness of a single bone or artefact. The artefact density for levels III/2A, III/3, III/4, III/5, III/6, III/7, III/8 are between 8 and 27 per m3.
     The levels III/8A, III/8B, III/8C, III/8D, and III/8E did not show any vertical and / or horizontal concentrations. These levels were located in the lowermost 35-40 cm of Stratum 11, lower (Table 1-1). Bones are rare, and those discovered are heavily weathered. The artefacts are rounded, naturally damaged and patinated. One of the most peculiar features of Unit III levels is the increasing number of "colluvial artefacts" . Such artefacts are represented by relatively small flakes, chips and even tools with patinated surfaces, and rounded and naturally damaged edges. "Colluvial artefacts" are found in all levels and sterile sediments. In Units A, II, and IIA "colluvial artefacts" rarely constitute more than 5% of the assemblages. However, between level III/l and IV/2 the ratio of "colluvial artefacts" constantly increases (Fig. 1-8). It is probable that the origin of the "colluvial artefacts" can be linked with a further site which was situated above Kabazi II, and was washed down during the accumulation of the Kabazi II sequence. In levels III/8A, III/8B, III/8C, III/8D, and III/8E the amount of "colluvial artefacts" varies from 43,3 % to 61,7 %. In fact, the "fresh artefacts" comprise very limited samples, mainly of flakes and chips. To some extent, the levels III/8A, III/8B, III/8C, III/8D, and III/ 8E are analogous to levels IIA/2-3, IIA/3, IIA/3A, and IIA/3B, but with the much more pronounced contribution of colluvium.
The archaeological sequence of Units IV, V and VI
    Levels IV/1, IV/2, IV/3, IV/4 and IV/5 were found in Stratum 13 (Table 1-1). The artefacts in these levels show neither vertical, nor horizontal concentrations. The "colluvial artefacts" contribute to between 74 % and 84 % of the total artefact number (Fig. 1-8). In fact, Stratum 13 was subdivided using "artificial" (10-14 cm) levels, on the basis of which artefacts, pieces of bone and other samples for environmental studies were collected. However, no faunal remains, including micro-fauna and snails, were discovered. The only exception is the skull of a horse (Equus hydruntinus) and a few tube bones from level IV/4, squares 4O and 4П. The human role in the accumulation of this bone assemblage is very problematic. Thus, the assemblages from levels IV/1, IV/2, IV/3, IV/4 and IV/5 are considered to be represented by transported colluvium artefacts.
    The levels V/l, V/2 and V/2A were found in the lower part of Stratum 13A and in the upper part of Stratum 14A (Table 1-1). In fact, these levels form the upper part of the soil from Stratum 14A which was disturbed by alluvium from Stratum 13A. Some fauna and artefacts were recovered, as wel

     Level V/3 produces the only fire-place known in Kabazi II (Fig.1-9). The fire-place was found on the squares 6H=-and 7H. The shape of the fire-place is ovoid, and its maximum dimensions are: length - 30 cm, width - 20 cm, thickness - 2,5 cm. The stratigraphy of the fire-place comprises three horizons: 1 - a dark grey horizon densely packed with ash and small fragments of burned bones (length - 18 cm, width - 8 cm, thickness - 0,5 cm); 2 - a grey horizon, not so intensively filled with ash, burned bones fragments and burned limestone pieces (length - 30 cm, width - 20 cm, thickness - 1.5 cm); 3 - a yellow-red horizon with burnt sediments (length - 25 cm, width -16 cm, thickness - 0.5 cm).
    

      In addition, four ashy clusters were studied in level V/6, square 4H  and 5O (Fig. 1-10). The maximum dimensions of the ashy cluster from  square 4H are: length - 38 cm, width - 20 cm, thickness - 0,5 cm. The  dimensions of ashy clusters from square 5O vary and fall within the following ranges: length - 15-20 cm, width -10-16 cm, thickness - 0,5 cm.
     

     Stratum 14B contains the remains of the 15 occupations from Unit VI (Table 1-1). According to stratigraphical peculiarities described above, Stratum 14B is subdivided into two parts: upper and lower. The same is true for the archaeological levels. The levels VI/1, VI/2, VI/3, VI/4, VI/5, VI/6, VI/7, VI/8, VI/9, VI/9 A, and VI/10 were found in the upper part of Stratum 14B (Fig. 1-4). The levels VI/11-14, VI/15, VI/16, and VI/17 comprise the lower part of Stratum 14B. With the exception of level VI/11-14, each of these levels is represented by a thin "carpet" of finds no thicker than a single artefact or bone (Fig. 1-11, 1-12 and 1-13). Level VI/11-14 is represented by a dense concentration of bones on the square lines O and П (Fig. 1-14). The thickness of the bone concentration on square 6O is about 20 cm. At the

the periphery of occupation (square lines M and H), is equal to the thickness of a single bone or artefact. Additionally, there is a pronounced difference in the gradients of the archaeological levels forming the upper and lower part of Stratum 14B.

  The gradients of levels VIA, VI/2, VI/3, VI/4, VI/5, VI/6, VI/7, VI/8, VI/9, VI/9A, and VI/10 vary from 8° to 10° from north to south. On the other hand, the gradients observed for levels VI/1M4, VI/15, VI/16, and VI/17 increases to 35° (Fig. 1-4).

     The latter would suggest the trans¬portation of archaeological material along the slope. However, the amount of "colluvial artefacts" sharply decreases in the lower part of Stratum 14B (Fig. 1-8), and the preservation of bone in the archaeological sequence is much better than in the upper part of the stratum. Sterile sediments were found in between all levels of Unit VI (Table 1-2). The most pronounced sterile sediment is encountered between levels VI/10 and VI/11-14. In other words, the thickest sterile layer

is located between the levels of the upper and lower part of Stratum 14B.

     The distribution of archaeological material in the archaeological levels of Unit VI corresponds to the area covered by Stratum 14B, which reduces sharply to¬wards the south. The upper archaeological levels were found on nearly all squares of the excavated area (Fig. 1-11 and 1-12), although the lowermost are present only on the most southern squares (Fig. 1-13 and 1-14). The artefact densities in all levels of Unit VI are low, but traditional for Kabazi II occupations (Table 1-3).

     Therefore, taking into account the stratigraphi-cal and occupational characteristics proposed for Units IV, V and VI, it is possible to make several conclusions:

2.The artefacts and faunal assemblages from levels V/l, V/2 and V/2A were found in a secondary context.
     These levels were significantly disturbed by alluvium from Stratum 13A.

Interstadial) (Table 1-1). A first attempt to date two samples from level II/7AB produced two ESR, LU ages: 34±2 and 29+3 ka BP (Rink et al. 1998: 333-334). Meanwhile, the same teeth have been analysed again, which has resulted in new ESR, LU results: 38±4 and 36+3 ka BP (Rink et al. in press). The single tooth from level II/8 has been analysed twice. The first ESR, LU result is 39±3, while the second is 44+5 ka BP (Rink et al. 1998: 333-334, Rink et al. in press).
     There are also two U-series dates from levels II/l and II/7 (Table 1-1). Unfortunately, both have considerable standard deviations making them quite useless in furthering our understanding of the chronological position of these levels. Nevertheless, C. McKinney who has analysed the U-series chronology "of Unit II as a single unit", decided that its U-series age is 39,8+5 ka BP (McKinney 1998: 348).
     In sum, the conclusions made by Pettitt, Rink and McKinney concerning the AMS, U-series and ESR ages of the samples from Strata 6 and 7 are not in contradiction with the results obtained from the pollen studies (Table 1-1).
     There are no radiometric dates for the levels from Strata 9,10, and the uppermost part of Stratum 11 which accumulated under the climatic conditions of Vytachiv vtlb, (Hengelo Interstadial), Vytachiv vtib2-bi (Stadial), Vytachiv vtlbl (Moershoofd Interstadial), Uday Stadial and Pryluky p^ (Ognon Interstadial) (Table 1-1).
      Samples of tooth taken from level III/2, in the upper part of Stratum 11 (Pryluky pl]b2 - Odderade Interstadial) have been dated by U-series and ESR methods. Three teeth from level III/2 have produced an average U-series age of 60±3, but using the average error of the samples, it "is equivalent to an age of 54,000±3,000 years BP" (McKinney 1998: 348). Another three samples of tooth taken from the same level have produced U-series ages from 41,1±2 to 117±12/13 (McKinney 1998: 347).
     More successful were the attempts to date three further samples of tooth from level III/2 by ESR method. The average result of these is as follows: ESR, EU, 51±3 and ESR, LU 61±1 ka BP (Rink et al. 1998: 334-335). These same samples have since been reanalysed, and Rink is of the opinion that the best age for level III/2 is 74 - 85 ka BP (Rink et al. in press). This age is not contradict the commonly adopted ages of Pryluky pllb2 - Odderade Interstadial and the assumed chrono¬logical boundary between isotopic Stages 4 and 5 (Table 1-1).
     At least three attempts have been made to date a single tooth from level III/3 using the ESR method. This level was found in the deposits of Stratum 11, lower (Pryluky pllb2_b] (pl2) - Rederstall Stadial - isotopic sub-stage 5b). A first attempt resulted in a date of 82±6,4 ka BP (McKinney, Rink 1996). A few years later the same sample have produced two further dates: ESR, EU, 53+4 and ESR, LU 69±5 (Rink et al. 1998: 333, 335). A final variant is: ESR, EU, 61±6 and ESR, LU, 82±10 (Rink et al. in press). The oldest dates, such as 82±6,4 and 82±10, are close to the commonly adopted age for isotopic sub-stage 5b (Table 1-1).
     The lower part of the Kabazi II sequence, which is represented by the deposits from Strata 1 I/lower, 13, 13A, 14A and 14B, and were accumulated under the climatic conditions of isotopic sub-stages 5c and 5d (Table 1-1), have still not been dated by radiometric methods. Therefore, the chronological investigations of the Kabazi II sequence are still quite far from reaching its conclusion. The present day version might be viewed as the intermediate version of the Kabazi II chronology. At the same time, and taking into account the completeness of the pollen record (Gerasimenko, Chapter 2, this volume) and its good correlation with lithopedological, micro-fauna (Markova, Chapter 3, this volume) and ma-laco-fauna (Mikhailesku, Chapter 4, this volume) data, as well as the absence of dramatic contradiction between environmental and radiometric data, it is possible to state the main temporal framework of the Kabazi II archaeological sequence: