Adam Nadachowski

• professor
• Professor (Full) at Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences

Climatic oscillations are considered primary factors influencing the distribution of various life forms on Earth. Large species adapted to cold climates are particularly vulnerable to extinction due to climate changes. In our study, we investigated whether temperature increase since the Late Pleistocene and the contraction of environmental niche du...

Background The field vole, an abundant and widespread microtine rodent, is a complex comprising three cryptic species. The short-tailed field vole ( Microtus agrestis ) is present over much of Eurasia, the Mediterranean field vole ( Microtus lavernedii ) in southern Europe, and the Portuguese field vole ( Microtus rozianus ) is limited to western S...

In 2019, new excavations were carried out at Doroshivtsi III site, dated to the Last Glacial Maximum. Ten identifiable archaeological levels belong to the Gravettian technocomplex. In the article, detailed data about the faunal remains is presented. The remains of reindeer, horses, mammoths, a wolf, a vulpine, and also a crow have been identified....

The common vole is a temperate rodent widespread across Europe. Phylogeographic studies of its extant populations suggested the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) as one of the main drivers of the species’ population history. However, analyses based solely on extant genetic diversity may not recover the full complexity of Late Pleistocene population dynami...

The family Rhinocerotidae is a key component of the Cenozoic European fauna. It reached its peak diversity during Miocene and began to decline in the Pliocene; the last representatives became extinct in Europe during the Quaternary. The present state-of-the-art review takes stock of the knowledge accumulated on Central and Eastern European Pleistoc...

Taxonomic decisions made by palaeontologists are often based on a few morphological features preserved in the fossil material. This practice may sometimes lead to the description of new species based on single specimens, which are, in fact, extreme or aberrant morphological variants of known taxa. Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis of the Late Pleistocene...

The remains of 12 canid species that date back ca. 4.9 myr have been found at 116 paleontological localities. Among these localities, eight are dated to the Pliocene age, 12 are dated to the Early Pleistocene age, 12 are from the Middle Pleistocene age, while the most numerous group includes 84 sites from the Late Pleistocene–Holocene age. Some, es...

The narrow-headed vole, collared lemming and common vole were the most abundant small mammal species across the Eurasian Late Pleistocene steppe-tundra environment. Previous ancient DNA studies of the collared lemming and common vole have revealed dynamic population histories shaped by climatic fluctuations. To investigate the extent to which speci...

Aim Many species experienced population turnover and local extinction during the Late Pleistocene. In the case of megafauna, it remains challenging to disentangle climate change and the activities of Palaeolithic hunter‐gatherers as the main cause. In contrast, the impact of humans on rodent populations is likely to be negligible. This study invest...

Many species experienced population turnover and local extinction during the Late Pleistocene. In the case of megafauna, it remains challenging to disentangle climate change and the activities of Palaeolithic hunter‐gatherers as the main cause. In contrast, the impact of humans on rodent populations is likely to be negligible. This study investigat...

Aim The common vole is a temperate rodent widespread across Europe. It was also one of the most abundant small mammal species throughout the Late Pleistocene. Phylogeographic studies of its extant populations suggested the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 26.5–19 ka ago) as one of the main drivers of the species’ population dynamics. However, analyses ba...

Settlement processes in Europe during the LGM period are a hotly debated issue. In Eastern Europe we observe several major settlement centres including the camp at Doroshivtsy III located in the Middle Dniester valley. It is one of the very important sites to understand the settlement processes at LGM and the importance of refugia, as well as studi...

Determining the age of late Middle and Late Pleistocene (MIS 8-MIS 3) Neanderthal sites can be difficult as radiometry has limitations. Biostratigraphic methods can be used to overcome these difficulties. A species useful in these analyses is Alexandromys oeconomus (Pallas, 1776), which has a wide modern geographical distribution in the Northern He...

This article discusses the objectives of the Stone Age Man in Caves of the Tatra Mountains project, which aims to explain the mysterious absence of evidence for the Palaeolithic in the Tatra Mountains of Eastern Europe. We present preliminary work from Hučivá Cave, which demonstrates clear traces of Magdalenian settlement within this region.

New research at the Doroshivtsi site in Ukraine has provided data that allow fresh insights into a well-known and important Gravettian site in the Middle Dniester Valley.

This monographic work “Late Magdalenian Campsite at Krucza Skała Rockshelter” presents the results of interdisciplinary research at the rock shelter Krucza Skała. The research, carried out by the team of archaeologists, geologists, palaeozoologists, palynologists, physicist and geneticist, permitted the interpretation of the con­secutive phases of...

Panthera spelaea was recorded in Poland from 18 open-air and 42 cave sites dated in the range 750–28 ka. Most of these records are located in southern Poland (Silesia) and neighbouring areas. Among them, the find of Panthera spelaea in Kozi Grzbiet mentioned here for the first time is one of the oldest European records of the species. Most of the o...

Evidence of mobiliary art and body augmentation are associated with the cultural innovations introduced by Homo sapiens at the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic. Here, we report the discovery of the oldest known human-modified punctate ornament, a decorated ivory pendant from the Paleolithic layers at Stajnia Cave in Poland. We describe the featur...

Grey voles (subgenus Microtus) represent a complex of at least seven closely related and partly cryptic species. The range of these species extends from the Atlantic to the Altai Mountains, but most of them occur east of the Black Sea. Using ancient DNA analyses of the Late Pleistocene specimens, we identified a new mtDNA line-age of grey voles in...

The goal of this paper is to refine the relative and absolute chronology of Epigravettian culture (26.5–15.0 ka) in eastern Central Europe (ECE) and clarify its relation to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and subsequent climatic changes. Epigravettian sites were sorted into three chronological clusters: initial LGM (ILGM) (26.5–24.0 ka), local LGM (...

Muskox Ovibos moschatus is a Pleistocene relic, which has survived only in North America and Greenland. During the Pleistocene, it was widely distributed in Eurasia and North America. To evaluate its morphological variability through time and space, we conducted an extensive morphometric study of 217 Praeovibos and Ovibos skull remains. The analyse...

Microtus is a widespread and species-rich genus which consists of at least 56 species identified, based on morphological and genetic differentiation. Grey voles (subgenus Microtus) are a complex of at least six closely related and partly cryptic species: M. arvalis, M. obscurus, M. mystacinus, M. transcaspicus, M. kermanensis and M. ilaeus. The ran...

The Micoquian is the broadest and longest enduring cultural facies of the Late Middle Palaeolithic that spread across the periglacial and boreal environments of Europe between Eastern France, Poland, and Northern Caucasus. Here, we present new data from the archaeological record of Stajnia Cave (Poland) and the paleogenetic analysis of a Neandertha...

Clupeids are one of the most diverse groups of marine fishes represented by numerous extant genera and species. The diversity of European clupeids was even greater in the past, especially during the Paleogene and early Neogene. Here we present the results of a thorough revision of numerous fish fossils assigned to the subfamily Clupeinae. They come...

The harsh climatic conditions during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) period have been considered the cause of local extinctions and major faunal reorganizations that took place at the end of the Pleistocene. Recent studies have shown, however, that in addition many of these ecological events were associated with abrupt climate changes during the so-...

The harsh climatic conditions during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) period have been considered the cause of local extinctions and major faunal reorganizations that took place at the end of the Pleistocene. Recent studies have shown, however, that in addition many of these ecological events were associated with abrupt climate changes during the so-...

There is a widespread belief that the abrupt warming at 14.7 ka had a profound impact on the environment. However, the direct correlation between the global climatic event and changes in local environments is not obvious. We examined faunal succession in an intra-mountain basin of the Western Carpathians to assess the potential influence of the cli...

During the Late Pleistocene, narrow-headed voles (Lasiopodomys gregalis) inhabited Eurasia’s vast territories, frequently becoming the dominant small mammal species among steppe-tundra communities. We investigated the relationship between this species’ European and Asiatic populations by sequencing the mtDNA genomes of two extant specimens from Rus...

Muskox Ovibos moschatus is a Pleistocene relic, which has survived only in North America and Greenland. During the Pleistocene, it was widely distributed in Eurasia and North America. To evaluate its morphological variability through time and space, we conducted an extensive morphometric study of 217 Praeovibos and Ovibos skull remains. The analyse...

During the Early Pleistocene, two ground squirrel species, Spermophilus praecox (northern Black Sea area) and S. polonicus (Central Europe) coexisted in geographically well-separated ranges. Studied samples from Tiligul (Ukraine) and Kamyk (Poland) have approximately the same biostratigraphical age: the early Odessa faunal complex (Tiligul) and the...

During the Early Pleistocene, two ground squirrel species, Spermophilus nogaici (Northern Black and Azov Sea areas) and S. polonicus (Central Europe) coexisted in geographically well separated ranges. Studied samples from Tiligul (Ukraine) and Kamyk (Poland) represent early evolutionary stages of these species and have approximately the same biostr...

The paper deals with results of the study of freshwater fish remains obtained from the Miocene deposits of Bełchatów open-cast brown coal mine in 1984 and 1986. These fossils are represented mainly by numerous disarticulated bones which are assumed as belonging to cyprinid (Tinca sp.) and esocids (Esox sibiricus, Esox sp.), as well as to indetermin...

The Emine-Bair-Khosar Cave is situated on the Chatyrdag karst plateau on the Crimea peninsula. The 13 m deep and 7-8 m wide pit-entrance to the cave is situated on the northern edge of the lower plateau northern slope (982 m a.s.l.). At least since the Middle Pleistocene, the entrance shaft has functioned as a huge trap for numerous animals, mainly...

The woolly mammoth ( Mammuthus primigenius ) was widespread in almost all of Europe during the late Pleistocene. However, its distribution changed because of population fluctuations and range expansions and reductions. During Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 2 (MIS 2), these processes were highly dynamic. Our analyses of 318 radiocarbon dates from 162 l...

During the many years of excavations in Obłazowa Cave, it has been stated that apart from the main entrance to the cave, at least one more opening must have existed in the past. Excavations in the area of a supposed second entrance were conducted in the years 2009-2016, and led to the discovery of the mentioned opening under a rock shelter as well...

Archeological and genetic evidence suggest that all domestic cats derived from the Near Eastern wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) and were first domesticated in the Near East around 10,000 years ago. The spread of the domesticated form in Europe occurred much later, primarily mediated by Greek and Phoenician traders and afterward by Romans who intr...

The Eemian-Vistulian developmental history of the Ławy paleolake (Eastern Poland) has been studied by analysing records of micro- (pollen, Cladocera, Ostracoda), macrofossils (molluscs, mammal remains), the lithological record and radiocarbon dating from a 5.30 m sediment core. At Ławy, in the Paterebo stream valley, well-preserved mammal fossil re...

Archaeological and genetic evidence suggest that all domestic cats derive from the Near Eastern wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) and were domesticated twice, first in the Near East around 10 000 years ago and for the second time in Ancient Egypt ca. 3 500 years ago. The spread of the domesticated form in Europe occurred much later, primarily media...

Although cave bear remains have been describing since the end of XVIII century, recent discoveries and methods provide new knowledge about the typical representative of Pleistocene megafauna, which did not survive the Last Glacial Maximum. Genetic studies supplemented by morphometric analyses showed that this mammal differentiated in the Late Pleis...

The Stajnia Cave is one of the most important archaeological sites due to the finds of the first remains of Neanderthals in Poland, and several tens of thousands of flint artefacts from the Middle Palaeolithic. Based on geological, geochemical, palaeobotanical, palaeozoological, archaeological and isotope analyses, coupled with absolute age determi...

Climate changes that occurred during the Late Pleistocene had profound effects on the distribution of many plant and animal species and influenced the formation of contemporary faunas and floras of Europe. The course and mechanisms of responses of species to past climate changes are now being intensely studied by the use of direct radiocarbon datin...

Climate changes that occurred during the Late Pleistocene have profound effects on the distribution of many plant and animal species and influenced the formation of contemporary faunas and floras of Europe. The course and mechanisms of responses of species to the past climate changes are now being intensively studied by the use of direct radiocarbo...

During the Pleistocene, the saiga antelope, a nomadic, non-territorial, herding species, inhabited vast areas of Eurasia and North America; its distribution was at its maximum extent in the last glaciation. Now, it is restricted to a few isolated populations in Central Asia. Two main forms of saiga were recognised: Saiga borealis and S. tatarica. T...

The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus sensu lato) is a typical representative of Pleistocenemegafauna which became extinct at the end of the Last Glacial. Detailed knowledge of cave bear extinction could explain this spectacular ecological transformation. The paper provides a report on the youngest remains of the cave bear dated to 20,930 ± 140 14C years b...

Recent palaeogenetic studies indicate a highly dynamic history in collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx spp.), with several demographical changes linked to climatic fluctuations that took place during the last glaciation. At the western range margin of D. torquatus, these changes were characterized by a series of local extinctions and recolonizations. How...

Recent palaeogenetic studies indicate a highly dynamic history in collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx spp.), with several demographical changes linked to climatic fluctuations that took place during the last glaciation. At the western range margin of D. torquatus, these changes were characterized by a series of local extinctions and recolonizations. How...

Interdisciplinary studies in Obłazowa Cave undertaken near its western entrance and in a new archaeological site in Cisowa Rock yielded finely layered sedimentary sequences with an abundant fossil fauna of mainly small vertebrates and scarce archaeological finds. In this paper we present a preliminary palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstr...

The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica), which today is a specialist steppe herbivore adapted to long-distance migrations in massive herds, appeared at irregular intervals in the Late Pleistocene Europe. Its special ecological requirements limited the number and timing of dispersal events. In the Eemian the saiga was absent on the continent. During MIS...

In order to explore temporal trends of morphological variation in the narrow-headed vole (Microtus gregalis) traditional morphometric methods were used to quantify enamel differentiation quotient (SDQ), tooth size (L) and tooth proportion (A/L) in over 800 first lower molars from two sites in Central Europe. Our results suggest that SDQ values in l...

Evidence of hunting and exploitation of cave bears (Ursus spelaeus, sensu lato) are recently documented in western and eastern sites of its former European distribution in Middle and Upper Palaeolithic contexts. Human hunting and exploitation has always been accepted for brown bears (Ursus arctos) but not for cave bears. Recently in Hohle Fels (Swa...

У рамках проекту проведено дослідження палеонтологічного матеріалу як архівного, так і знайденого під час нових досліджень дев’яти стоянок з південної Польщі та західної України. Фауністичні рештки з печерних (печера Дещова, грот Вильотний, печера Темна, печера Облазова, грот Цісова Скеля) та лесових (Вільчице, Галич І, Ігровиця та Молодове І) стоя...

Evidence of hunting and exploitation of cave bears (Ursus spelaeus, sensu lato) are recently documented in western and eastern sites of its former European distribution in Middle and Upper Palaeolithic contexts. Human hunting and exploitation has always been accepted for brown bears (Ursus arctos) but not for cave bears. Recently in Hohle Fels (Swa...

The mandible of a steppe polecat was found during excavation in Deszczowa Cave (Częstochowa Upland, southern Poland) in 2011. Direct radiocarbon dating gave an age of 21 920 ± 150 BP (not calibrated), indicating the earliest part of the Last Glacial Maximum (MIS 3/MIS 2). The association of the steppe polecat with other steppe and tundra taxa from...

New excavations undertaken in 2012 in Obłazowa Cave (south Poland) yielded a Micoquian inventory from previously sterile layer XVIII. This assemblage is chronologically placed between two Middle Palaeolithic horizons from layers XIX and XVII identified previously as Micro-Mousterian and known in Central Europe as Taubachian. Cultural changes are ac...

The Pleistocene glacial cycles resulted in significant changes in species distributions, and it has been discussed whether this caused increased rates of population divergence and speciation. One species that is likely to have evolved during the Pleistocene is the Norwegian lemming (Lemmus lemmus). However, the origin of this species, both in terms...

The migration of Ursus ingressus from Southern to Western Europe, where it replaced native forms of Ursus spelaeus, is well documented. However, its occurrence in Central and Eastern European countries is unexplored. We have characterized the cave bear population inhabiting the Sudetes Mountains during the Late Pleistocene. DNA analyses were perfor...

Molecular phylogeography suggests that Micromys minutus, the sole extant species of the genus, colonized its extensive range quite recently, during the Late Pleistocene-Holocene period. Rich Pliocene and Pleistocene fossil records both from Europe and China suggest rather continuous and gradual in situ phenotype rearrangements from the Pliocene to...

The non-metrical and basic metrical characteristics of studied samples of Micromys in comparison to available literary data. Part 1: M1 and M2, Part 2: m1 and m2. (MicromysS2table.xls file) (XLSX)

List of the European fossil records of Micromys. (DOCX)

The primary aim of this study was to conduct a taxonomic assessment of the second of three isolated human teeth found in the Stajnia Cave (north of the Carpathians, Poland) in 2008. The specimen was located near a human tooth (S5000), which was identified by Urbanowski et al. (2010) as a Neanderthal permanent upper molar. Both of these teeth were e...