A biostratigraphycal base for dating Palaeolithic sites

The age of Palaeolithic sites is often a matter of debate. Absolute dating is problematic for the older records with an age beyond the limit of radiocarbon dating (>50 ka) and hence, other methods have to be applied. A classical method is the use of biostratigraphical data, using knowledge of the changes in flora and fauna that are caused by the evolution, extinction and migration or dispersal of species. The Quaternary larger and smaller mammal records are subdivided into a number of biozones that form a biostratigraphical framework that is widely applied among Quaternary continental stratigraphers. The Quaternary biozonation, described in this paper, plays an important role in Palaeolithic research.