When we visit caves and admire their dripstone formations, most of us do not realize how many traces of the distant past might be found in the stalagmites and stalactites, as well as in the very sediments we are walking over.

Geologists' traditional motto - mente et mal/eo, or "by thought and hammer" - remains apt in modern times even though the hammer has been increasingly displaced by state-of-the-art equipment.

Dewiza geologów - mente et mal/eo czyli ,,myślą i młotem" - dziś jest wciąż aktualna, choć miejsce młotka w coraz większym stopniu zajmuje nowoczesna aparatura.

Zwiedzając jaskinie podziwiamy piękno szaty naciekowej zazwyczaj nie zdając sobie sprawy, jak wiele śladów przeszłości znaleźć można w stalagmitach i polewach naciekowych, a także w osadach, po których stąpamy.

Analysis of weathering parameters of bones from cave deposits is presented as a useful tool of palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. As an example, we studied profiles of sediments in two Palaeolithic sites: Nietoperzowa Cave and Deszczowa Cave. Our studies included histological and EDS analyses of bone remnants found in these profiles. This method allowed us to reconstruct the changes of palaeotemperature and palaeohumidity, and finally the climatostratigraphy of sediments. The results presented here put a new light onto the stratigraphy of Deszczowa Cave's filling. In particular, besides the Vistulian sediments (MIS 2-5d), we confirmed the presence oflayers formed during the Penultimate Glaciation (MIS 6) and Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e).

Samples for the study were collected from, known from the literature, outcrop profiles in Zarzecze, Radymno, Dybawka, Tarnawce and Pikulice-Nehrybka, situated at the Carpathian border, in the vicinity of the Przemyśl town, close to the San River valley (SE Poland). They represent the Vistulian loess-palaeosol sequences. Carbonates occur mainly in the loesses representing OIS 2 and 3. Pollen analysis, carried out for two profiles (Tarnawce, Radymno), throws light on palaeoecological conditions of loess cover formation and transformation.Isotopic analysis of authigenic carbonates was carried out on carbonate cemented bodies dispersed throughout the loess in forms of nodule, rhizolith and rhizocretion and on bioclasts, mainly snail shells, ostracod valves, and sparse globules (probably the internal shells of the naked snails).In the successions studied, the upper Vistulian loess deposited in environment with poor vegetation, contains rhizo- liths and rhizocretions mainly, while in the middle and lower Vistulian loess with well developed soils, gley horizons, and intercalations of subaqueous sediments, remains of snail shells and ostracod valves prevail. The two main forms of carbonates differ markedly in isotopic composition from one another. These differences seem to be more important than those between samples of one form of carbonates along particular sections. That is the result of numerous factors affecting the fractionation of carbon and, in particular, oxygen stable isotopes in the environment of precipitation of authigenic calcite. The isotopic composition of carbonates cementing sediments is controlled mainly by biominerali- zation of organic matter and local climatic parameters which were rather slightly differentiated during the formation of the studied sediments. The d13C values for bioclasts vary in a broader range than for calcitic cements. Usually the snail shell carbonate is more enriched with heavier carbon isotope than that from ostracod valves, resulting from the isotopic equilibrium with precipitation and with surface waters, respectively. Basing on our study we can conclude that fluctuations of isotope composition of authigenic carbonates make it hard to apply as a paleoclimatic indicator. However, the general trend of d18O variation in analysed carbonate fractions from leoss-palaeosol sequences displays some connections with climatic fluctuations.

Yezupil is the first Middle Palaeolithic site discovered in upper part of the Dnister River valley. It is situated in a set of sediments composed of loess and fossil soils lying on alluvia. The results of geological and palaeopedological investigations are presented. They contain lithological and geochemical analyses (main components and trace elements), as well as micromorphological study. Palaeo- and petromagnetic record is presented too. Horohiv pedocomplex developed from the older, Wartanian loess. It is composed of luvisol originated during the Eemian Interglacial and chernozem soil - during the Early Vistulian interstadials. An subarctic brown Dubno soil dated to the Interplenivistulian (Middle Vistulian interstadials) separates two parts of the younger loess. Older assemblage of Middle Palaeolithic-Mousterian culture with Levalloisian technique was found in the E horizon of the luvisol and therefore it could be dated to the Eemian Interglacial. Younger Middle Palaeolithic-Micequian- type materials were situated in partially redeposited by solifluction, Early Vistulian chernozem. Scanty and uncharacteristic Upper Palaeolithic assemblage was found in interstadiał Dubno palaeosol