Last-interglacial records from central Asia to the northern Black Sea shoreline: stratigraphy and correlation

The records of the last interglacial in several palaeogeographical zones an d various sedimentary environments from Central Asia to the Black Sea shore line are presented. The last interglacial is characterized in the study are as by a two- or three-unit stratigraphical complex with both terrestrial an d marine formations. Finds of significant small mammalian remains, together with a characteristic mollusc fauna in the Karangatian marine sediments, p rovide key levels for biostratigraphical correlation between the marine and continental deposits. New U/Th dates allow the correlation of the Karangat ian transgression with delta(18)O substage 5e.