Reassessing stratigraphic and palaeontological interpretations of Middle Dnieper Pleistocene deposits: A commentary on Popova et al. (2024)

Abstract

This commentary addresses the palaeogeographical and stratigraphic interpretations of Pleistocene deposits in the Middle Dnieper Valley as presented by Popova et al. (2024a). The authors proposed a revision of the stratigraphy in this region based on biochronological analyses and vertebrate taphocenoses, highlighting potential changes in the correlation of key sedimentary units. This approach provides intriguing insights into local deglaciation and postglacial processes; however, certain aspects of the applied methodology and data interpretation require further elaboration. The commentary draws attention to challenges related to the limited availability of SDQ index data for the m1 teeth of the genus Arvicola, which may affect the precision of the correlations. Additionally, we emphasise the necessity of incorporating more detailed lithological analyses to complement the proposed stratigraphic conclusions. Assigning key sedimentary units to global chronostratigraphic frameworks, in some cases, necessitates a stronger consideration of regional correlations based on available palaeopedological and malacological data from neighbouring areas. The commentary underscores the importance of integrated, multidisciplinary research methods that can significantly enhance our understanding of the stratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Middle Dnieper Valley and Eastern Europe as a whole.