The Upper Pleistocene in the Paglicci Cave (Gargano, Southern Italy): loess and tephra in the anthropogenic sequence

Paglicci Cave (SE Italy) represent undoubtedly one of the reference cave sequences for Southern Italy, both for archaeological and paleoenvironmental implications. Aim of the present paper is the paleoenvironmental study of the basal portion of the deposit (Interpleniglacial - first phases of Last Pleniglacial). For this purpose, standard sedimentological methods were applied, together with heavy minerals determination and micromorphology. In lower units, sediments result from transportation of weathered volcanic material from the surrounding areas, connected with the Vulture activity. At ~ 34.000 y BP, Campanian Ignimbrite fresh pyroclastic material is recognized. Above this unit, glacial conditions predominate, as indicating by cryoclastic deposits. Beside gelifraction, arid phases of loess deposition are recognized. Loess exhibits the same mineralogical assemblage of Campanian Ignimbrite deposits, confirming the persistence of western winds in the area.