A revised radiocarbon chronology for the mammoth bone structures and associated features at Mezhyrich, Ukraine

RESEARCH ARTICLE
A e ised adioca bon ch onology o he mammo h bone
s uc u es and associa ed ea u es a Mezhy ich, Uk aine
[ e sion 1; pee e iew: 1 app o ed, 2 app o ed wi h ese a ions]
Wei Chu 1, Pa lo Shydlo skyi 2, And eas Maie 3
1Wo ld A chaeology, Uni e si ei Leiden, Leiden, Sou h Holland, 2333CC, The Ne he lands
2Depa men o A chaeology and Museum S udies, Ta as She chenko Na ional Uni e si y o Kyi , Kyi , 01033, Uk aine
3Ins i u e o P ehis o ic A chaeology, Uni e si y o Cologne, Cologne, No h Rhine-Wes phalia, 50969, Ge many
Fi s published: 25 Jul 2025, 5:198
h ps://doi.o g/10.12688/open eseu ope.20112.1
La es published: 25 Jul 2025, 5:198
h ps://doi.o g/10.12688/open eseu ope.20112.1
1
Abs ac
Mammo h Bone S uc u es a e a dis inc a chaeological phenomenon
ypically asc ibed o he La e Pleis ocene in Eas -Cen al Eu ope
hough hei ch onology and use emain deba ed. By e iewing he
his o y o esea ch and exca a ion a he Mezhy ich si e, his a icle
p esen s new 14C esul s om Mezhy ich (Che kasy Oblas , Uk aine),
e ising he ch onology o an Uppe Palaeoli hic Mammo h Bone
S uc u e. Using meso-mammal emains om cul u al laye s, he
esul s p o ide a mo e cons ained imeline han p e ious models
based on mammo h bones. The indings da e Mammo h Bone
S uc u e 4 and i s con ex o c. 18,248–17,764 yea s cal BP wi h a si e
du a ion las ing be ween 0–429 yea s. This sho e ch onology is
consis en wi h a single occupa ion model bu canno exclude
epea ed occupa ion wi hin maximally a ew cen u ies a a ound 18 ka
cal BP con ibu ing o he hypo hesis ha he s uc u e se ed as a
dwelling, o e ing insigh s in o La e Uppe Palaeoli hic li e pa e ns in
Eas e n Eu ope.
Plain Language Abs ac
He e we p esen new adioca bon da es o a mammo h bone
s uc u e a Mezhy ich, Uk aine, e ining i s imeline. By da ing small
mammal emains ins ead o mammo h bones, we es ablish a mo e
p ecise age o a ound 18,248–17,764 yea s ago. The s uc u e appea s
o ha e been used o up o 429 yea s, suppo ing he idea ha i
se ed as a dwelling. These indings help us be e unde s and how
people li ed in Eas e n Eu ope du ing he La e Uppe Paleoli hic.
Keywo ds
La e Uppe Palaeoli hic, Mezhy ich, Mammo h Bone S uc u es,
adioca bon da ing, iso opic analysis, human-en i onmen
in e ac ions, se lemen ch onology
Open Pee Re iew
App o al S a us
123
e sion 1
25 Jul 2025 iew iew iew
Timo hy J Hea on , Uni e si y o Leeds,
Leeds, UK
1.
William Chase Mu ph ee , Uni e sidade
do Alga e, Fa o, Po ugal
2.
And zej Wiśniewski , Uni e si y o
W ocław, W ocław, Poland
3.
Any epo s and esponses o commen s on he
a icle can be ound a he end o he a icle.
Open Resea ch Eu ope

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Co esponding au ho : Wei Chu ([email p o ec ed])
Au ho oles: Chu W: Concep ualiza ion, Funding Acquisi ion, Visualiza ion, W i ing – O iginal D a P epa a ion, W i ing – Re iew &
Edi ing; Shydlo skyi P: Concep ualiza ion, Da a Cu a ion, Me hodology, Visualiza ion, W i ing – O iginal D a P epa a ion, W i ing –
Re iew & Edi ing; Maie A: Concep ualiza ion, W i ing – O iginal D a P epa a ion, W i ing – Re iew & Edi ing
Compe ing in e es s: No compe ing in e es s we e disclosed.
G an in o ma ion: This p ojec has ecei ed unding om he Eu opean Resea ch Council (ERC) unde he Eu opean Union’s Ho izon
2020 esea ch and inno a ion p og amme (ERC, HOME-101124398). This p ojec has also ecei ed unding om he S ich ing
Nede lands Museum oo An h opologie en P aehis o ie.
The unde s had no ole in s udy design, da a collec ion and analysis, decision o publish, o p epa a ion o he manusc ip .
Copy igh : © 2025 Chu W e al. This is an open access a icle dis ibu ed unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion License,
which pe mi s un es ic ed use, dis ibu ion, and ep oduc ion in any medium, p o ided he o iginal wo k is p ope ly ci ed.
How o ci e his a icle: Chu W, Shydlo skyi P and Maie A. A e ised adioca bon ch onology o he mammo h bone s uc u es
and associa ed ea u es a Mezhy ich, Uk aine [ e sion 1; pee e iew: 1 app o ed, 2 app o ed wi h ese a ions] Open Resea ch
Eu ope 2025, 5:198 h ps://doi.o g/10.12688/open eseu ope.20112.1
Fi s published: 25 Jul 2025, 5:198 h ps://doi.o g/10.12688/open eseu ope.20112.1
This a icle is included in he Ho izon 2020
ga eway.
This a icle is included in he Eu opean
Resea ch Council (ERC) ga eway.
Open Resea ch Eu ope

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Open Resea ch Eu ope 2025, 5:198 Las upda ed: 21 NOV 2025
In oduc ion
Open-ai Uppe Palaeoli hic si es in Eas -Cen al Eu ope o e
aluable insigh s in o human ac i i y and biogeog aphy du ing
he La e Pleniglacial, a pe iod o in ense en i onmen al change
(Ve poo e, 2009). Many o hese si es, cha ac e ised by deep
loessic sedimen a y sequences, con ain abundan li hic, aunal,
and osseous assemblages wi h embedded en i onmen al p oxies
o help de e mine con empo aneous en i onmen al ac o s
(Chu & Ne , 2021). No ably in his egion, some o hese
si es a e ound in di ec associa ion wi h mammo h bone
accumula ions posi ed o be among he ea lies e idence o
buil s uc u es ha exhibi spa ial and seasonal o ganisa ion
(Iako le a & Djindjian, 2005; Iako le a e al., 2012;
Shipman, 2015; Shydlo skyi e al., 2022).
Many o hese cons uc ions ha e been p e iously in e p e ed
as he emains o domes ic s uc u es (Au enche e al., 2013;
Gladkih e al., 1984; Iako le a, 2021; Iako le a & Djindjian,
2018; Klein, 1974; Pidoplichko & Allswo h-Jones, 1998;
So e , 1985; So e e al., 1997). Howe e , since mos we e
exca a ed decades ago, he ques ion has eeme ged as o whe he
hey unc ioned p ima ily as dwellings o i hey ep esen si es
o o he unc ions, such as bone beds, ood caches, bu ials,
eligious adi ions, o i ualised middens ha may ha e
se ed as ea ly monumen s (Djindjian, 2015; Ga ilo , 2024;
G aebe & Weng ow, 2021, p. 73; P yo e al., 2020; Sablin
e al., 2023; Zhel o a, 2024).
A key si e o his deba e is Mezhy ich (Межиріч), si ua ed
in he Middle Dniepe Basin o Uk aine known o i s
excep ional p ese a ion o ou Mammo h Bone S uc u es
(MBSs) be ween 12–24 m2 in diame e (Figu e 1). These s uc u es
a e associa ed wi h pe iphe al ea u es and a e ac s
including a e ac - illed pi s, hun ing weapons, i o y, and bone
o namen s, as well as delimi ed ac i i y a eas wi h bu che ed
animal emains and wo kshops wi h dense cul u al laye s, each
delimi ed in o “economical se lemen uni s” wi h he MBS as
he ocal poin (e.g. Uni s 1–4; Shydlo skyi e al., 2019).
S ill, wo key challenges hinde ho ough in e p e a ions o
Mezhy ich:
1. The e is s ill a coa se unde s anding o he empo al
scale o use o MBSs (Gaudzinski-Windheuse , 2011;
Iako le a e al., 2012; Shydlo skyi e al., 2023). While
he Mezhy ich MBSs we e epea edly used, adiome -
ic ages o he speci ic occupa ion du a ions a e sca ce.
P e ious ages o Mezhy ich’s MBS 4 ha e la gely
been based on dispa a e adioca bon me hods using
mammo h emains ha ha e likely been p ima ily
ob ained h ough sca enging. As a esul , ages may no
coincide wi h he cul u al deposi ion and may con ibu e
o o e es ima es o he age o he an h opogenic ac i i-
ies a he si e ( an de Plich & Pals a, 2016). I is s ill
unclea how o en Mezhy ich MBS 4 was occupied and
o how long hese occupa ions las ed.
2. The e is s ill a lack o eliable ages o es ablish co ela-
ions be ween he cul u al laye s ound wi hin MBS
4 and associa ed pe iphe al ea u es, such as a e ac
dense a eas (e.g., Top alishche a eas) and nea by pi s
(e.g., Pi 6). Sedimen accumula ion wi hin MBS 4 may
be independen o ex e nal loess deposi ion and mo e
closely ela ed o he equency, du a ion, and mode
o human use.
To add ess hese esea ch gaps, his s udy p esen s new AMS
adioca bon ages and iso opic da a ob ained om medium-
sized mammal emains di ec ly eco e ed om a chaeological
Figu e 1. Map o Mezhy ich’s loca ion wi hin Eas Cen al Eu ope.
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laye s wi hin Mezhy ich. This s udy ocuses on he da ing and
analysis o MBS 4 (Uni 4), he only one o hese s uc u es
ha con ains well-p o enienced a e ac s wi hin cul u al laye s
om which o ob ain di ec ages, as well as Pi 6 (Uni 2) and
he ex e nal sa u a ed cul u al laye (Top alishche; Uni 1;
Figu e 2). The p ima y objec i e is o e alua e he occupa ion
his o y o MBS 4 and i s implica ions o he b oade se lemen
his o y o he si e du ing he La e Pleis ocene.
Based on his e ined ch onology, we con ibu e o he in e -
p e a ion o MBS 4 as a mul i-phasic dwelling s uc u e and
p opose ha such s uc u es played signi ican oles in he
Eas Cen al Eu opean li e pa e ns du ing he La e Uppe
Palaeoli hic. This adds o a be e unde s anding o he unc-
ion and ch onology he MBS, p o iding insigh s in o he pas
human beha iou s and adap a ions in his egion.
Backg ound
In 1930, M.Ia. Rudynskyi’s exca a ion a he Mizyn (Mezin)
se lemen unco e ed a clus e he in e p e ed as a “small
esiden ial building” wi h “cu ain walls” (Rudynskyi, 1954, pp.
35–37). A ound he same ime, Ye imenko emphasised s udying
Uppe Palaeoli hic esiden ial s uc u es o unde s and he
social ela ionships and wo ld iew o p ehis o ic communi ies
hypo hesising dwellings a Eas e n Eu opean si es like Kos enki I
and II, Hin si (Gon sy), and Suponie o (Ye imenko, 1953).
The s udy o Palaeoli hic dwellings subsequen ly became a
ocus o Eas e n Eu opean a chaeology, aided by la ge-a ea
exca a ion echniques ha enabled eco ding a ious se lemen
ea u es simul aneously (Sho koplias, 1965, p. 260). Signi ican
con ibu ions came om he Desna expedi ion a si es nea
No ho od-Si e skyi, Chula o o, and Pushka i whe e a Pushka i
I, Bo isko skii p oposed a esiden ial s uc u e econs uc ion
(Bo isko skii, 1940).
Fu he exca a ions a he Pushka i Cape a si es like
Pushka i I, Pogon (aka Pushka i IX, laye 3 and Pushka i VIII),
and Bugo ok (aka Pushka i IX), e ealed subs an ial e idence
o esiden ial s uc u es (Voe odskii, 1950). A he Chula o o
II se lemen (1936–1938), Voe odskyi unco e ed emains o
a small s uc u e, delimi ed by e ically placed mammo h
usks and long bones (Voe odskii, 1952, pp. 105–106).
Ini ial exca a ions a Mezhy ich (1966–1974), yielded Palaeoli hic
a e ac s and h ee disc e e MBSs, each c. 6 m in diame e
(Pidoplichko, 1976). A lack o de ailed p o enience eco ding
led o a signi ican loss o a chaeological ma e ial and
in o ma ion conce ning cul u al laye s and spa ial a angemen s
(Gladkikh & Ko nie z, 1979b). The subsequen disco e y
o a ou h s uc u e (Dwelling 4; MBS 4) in 1976 has since
exposed a complex o su ounding pi s and ac i i y a eas ha
exhibi di e se a e ac s embedded wi hin dis inc cul u al laye s
(Figu e 3; Gladkih e al., 1984; So e e al., 1997).
MBS 4 p o ides e idence o pas domes ic ac i i ies h ough
he accumula ion o a leas h ee in e nal cul u al laye s and
he p esence o bu che ed emains o ju enile and adolescen
mammo hs wi hin he su ounding pi s (Ts i kun e al.,
2021; Figu e 4). The mammo h bones used in he cons uc-
ion o MBS 4 we e sou ced om a minimum o 37 indi iduals,
p edominan ly om na u al accumula ions, hough some we e
ob ained in ana omical posi ion as e idenced by a leas one
eshly deceased mammo h ca cass (Gladkih e al., 1984).
Subsequen s udies ha e p o ided en i onmen al con ex o
he Mezhy ich si e (Table 1) no ably demons a ing a local
dynamic en i onmen ha may ha e been wa me and mo e
humid han o he con empo a y pe iglacial a eas o Eu ope.
Long- e m ends in s able iso ope analyses e ealed ha he
ini ially s ongly di e si ied he bi o e niches o he mammo h
s eppe collapsed du ing he Las Glacial Maximum (Reiss e al.,
2023) in Cen al Eu ope. While ea ly pos -LGM iso ope analysis
on aunal emains om Ba maky (19 ka; no h-wes e n Uk aine)
s ill show a s ongly di e si ied niche spec um o he bi o es
(Reiss e al., In Re iew), measu emen s on mammo h emains
om younge specimens in Eas e n Eu ope gi e mixed signals,
bu may poin o a disappea ance o hei op imal habi a and
inc easing compe i ion wi h o he la ge he bi o es, pa icula ly
a he sou he n inges o hei dis ibu ion in he Eas Eu opean
Plain (D ucke e al., 2018). The associa ed eponymous
Epig a e ian echnological adi ion, known as he Mezhy ich
indus y, is belie ed o ha e ab up ly ceased a ound c. 13 ka
ago, coinciding wi h he local disappea ance o mammo hs
(Gladkikh, 1977; Nuzhnyi, 2008; Shydlo skyi e al., 2020).
S a ig aphy
Ini ial geomo phological da a sugges ed a La e Pleis ocene
ch onology o he si e da ing he cul u al laye s o he La e
Glacial pe iod no ea lie han 17–16 ka BP du ing cold and
a id clima ic condi ions, hough less se e e han hose du ing
he Las Glacial Maximum (LGM; Ko nie z e al., 1981; Veli-
chko e al., 1993a; Velichko e al., 1993b; Velichko e al.,
1994. Du ing exca a ions sou h o MBS 4 in 1978, wo dis inc
cul u al laye s sepa a ed by a s e ile laye (10–20 cm hick)
we e iden i ied; he lowe laye was linked o he cons uc ion
phase o he MBS, while he uppe laye was associa ed wi h
he se lemen ’s inal occupa ion phase. These wo disc e e
Figu e 2. Pho og aph o Dwelling 4 du ing exca a ion.
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Figu e 3. Plan o Mezhy ich si e: 1 – limi s o mammo h bone s uc u es; 2 – pi s; 3 – hea hs; 4 – limi s o dense an h opogenic
laye s (“Top alishche”); 5 – plo s om which samples we e ob ained.
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cul u al laye s we e in e p e ed as episodic and in e mi en
occupa ions o he si e by p ehis o ic g oups, indica i e o
ansien hun ing camps (Gladkikh & Ko nie z, 1979a, pp. 11–13).
Fu he geoa chaeological esea ch has since co obo a ed he
mul i-laye ed s a ig aphy o he si e wi h mic os a ig aphic
analyses o he li hos a ig aphy, a ound he exca a ion pe ime e ,
Figu e 4. Si e s a ig aphy o MBS4 and wi h h ee a chaeological laye s (a e Ts i kun e al., 2021).
Table 1. P e ious con ex ual s udies on he Mezhy ich si e.
S udy Findings Re e ence
S able iso opes • Low 15N due o collapse o ecological niche c. 18–17 ka and ocus on ma u e
g asses.
• changes in egional lo a and clima ic condi ions may ha e al e ed he ood
esou ces a ailable o mammo hs, po en ially leading o di ec compe i ion
wi h ho se popula ions.
(D ucke e al., 2014;
D ucke e al., 2018)
Mic os a ig aphy • The ac i i ies o Epig a e ian hun e -ga he e s be ween 18.3–17.4 ka
ook place du ing a cold pe iod cha ac e ised by s ong clima ic and
en i onmen al con as s.
(Haesae s e al., 2015)
An h acology • The majo cha coal signal is p ese ed wi hin he mic oscopic pa o he
a chaeological sedimen s unde lying he in ensi y o aphonomic p ocesses.
• Bi ch and willow we e loca ed along he i e banks.
(Ma que e al., 2012)
Mic omammals • En i onmen was cold bu no as d y as in a ypical pe iglacial a ea, wa me
and we , a cold mesophilic o es -s eppe.
(Reko e s e al., 2014)
Mammals • The esul s exhibi a usage o he pi as a dump a ea o ood and echnical
emains om mainly mammo h, ha e, and ox p ocessing, and bone uels.
• The in o ma ion abou mammo h p ocu emen by he las Palaeoli hic
hun e –ga he e s in Eas e n Eu ope allows o documen he hun ing
ac i i ies on he mammo h popula ions, which we e p obably al eady
weakened a he end o he Pleis ocene.
(Péan, 2015)
Palynology • Plan co e du ing Uppe Palaeoli hic had a mosaic s uc u e. (Koma , 2015)
Malacology • The molluscan auna om he Top alishche is cha ac e is ic o d ie and
milde local condi ions.
• The molluscan auna om below he Top alishche indica es s adial loessic
deposi s.
(P isiazhniuk, 2015)
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a ge ing he an h opogenic laye s o he 1s , 2nd, and 4 h MBSs.
This esea ch e ealed h ee cul u al laye s in e cala ed by s e -
ile laye s, he eby elucida ing he spa ial and empo al ela-
ionships among di e en Uni s a he si e (Haesae s e al.,
2015; Shydlo skyi e al., 2019).
Ch onology
34 p e iously epo ed adioca bon ages om Mezhy ich
ha e sugges ed an occupa ion o he si e be ween c. 24–14 ka
calib a ed Be o e P esen (cal BP; Table 2). Howe e , hese
ages a y in 14C-measu emen me hodologies, sample ma e ials,
Table 2. P e ious adioca bon ages om Mezhy ich.
Uni , con ex Me hod Da ed
ma e ial
axa
Lab-ID 14C Age
(y BP) ± 1-
sigma Calib a ed
age
(95.4%
p obabili y)
Sou ce
DW 4, cul u al laye Con en ional Bu ned bone
(Mammu hus)
KI-1054 17850 950 24110–19484 (Gladkikh & Ko nie z,
1979b, p. 16)
Cul u al laye (1978) Con en ional Bu ned oo h
(Mammu hus)
KI-1055 18020 600 23278–20408 (Gladkikh & Ko nie z,
1979b, p. 16)
Cul u al laye (1976) Con en ional Bu ned bone
(Mammu hus)
KI-1056 18470 550 23741–21050 (Gladkikh & Ko nie z,
1979b, p. 16)
DW 1, cul u al laye (1966) Con en ional Bu ned bone
(Mammu hus)
KI-1057 19100 500 24263–22050 (Gladkikh & Ko nie z,
1979b, p. 16)
DW 1, cul u al laye (1966) Con en ional Bone
(Mammu hus)
KI-1058 19280 600 24893–22090 (Gladkikh & Ko nie z,
1979b, p. 16)
DW 4, cul u al laye Con en ional Bu ned bone
(Mammu hus)
QC-900 В 15245 1080 21743–15980 (Gladkikh & Ko nie z,
1982, p. 18)
DW 1, cul u al laye Con en ional Bu ned bone
(Mammu hus)
QC-897 14320 270 18211–16771 (So e , 1985, p. 143)
DW 3, cul u al laye Con en ional Too h
(Mammu hus)
GIN-2593 14700 500 19056–16611 (So e , 1985, p. 143)
DW 2, cul u al laye Con en ional Bu ned bone
(Mammu hus)
GIN-2595 14530 300 18619–16982 (So e , 1985, p. 143)
DW 4, cul u al laye Con en ional Bu ned bone
(Mammu hus)
GIN-2596 14300 300 18221–16641 (So e , 1985, p. 143)
DW 1 AMS Too h
(collagen)
(Mammu hus)
OxA-709 12900 200 16070–14591 (So e , 1985, p. 26)
DW 2 AMS Too h
(collagen)
(Mammu hus)
OxA-712 14400 250 18225–16988 (So e , 1985, p. 26)
DW 3 AMS Too h
(Mammu hus)
AA-1317 14420 190 18138–17097 (So e , 1985, p. 26)
DW 1 AMS Femu
(Canis lupus)
G A-22501 14450 90 17923–17352 (Haesae s, 2006, p.
38)
DW 2 AMS Femu
(Canis lupus)
OxA-13044 14380 60 17815–17337 (Haesae s, 2006, p.
38)
DW 2: Idem OxA-13044 AMS Femu
(Canis lupus)
G A-22094 14600 110 18181–17461 (Haesae s, 2006, p.
38)
DW 4: OS 07-3 (1984)
(Top alishche)
AMS Femu
(Canis lupus)
SacA-14981 15210 130 18763–18252 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 385)
DW 1: OS 07-6 (1966) AMS Tibia
(Vulpes lagopus)
SacA-14982 14400 90 17886–17312 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 385)
DW 4: (To-2) KB-323, bo d no d
HA-4 (2005–2008)
Con en ional Femu
(Mammu hus)
G N-29876 14550 70 18059–17435 (Haesae s, 2006, p.
38)
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and selec ion me hods esul ing in a wide dis ibu ion
(Gladkikh & Ko nie z, 1979b; Gladkikh & Ko nie z, 1982;
Haesae s, 2006; Haesae s e al., 2015; Shydlo skyi e al.,
2023; So e , 1985; So e , 1993).
The ini ial age es ima es ( hose wi h lab codes KI) we e ob ained
using con en ional adioca bon me hods and ange om
24.1–14.6 ka cal BP. Howe e , hese b oad ages a e inconsis en
wi h s a ig aphic e idence sugges ing he ini ial cul u al
laye p eda es he las La e Pleis ocene loess accumula ion
cycle. Addi ionally, an ou lie age o 16.1–14.6 ka cal BP
(OXA-709), de i ed om a mammo h oo h exca a ed nea ly
30 yea s be o e analysis, indica es a younge age. These ages
con as wi h mo e eliable ages om accele a o mass spec ome e
(AMS) measu emen s ha place he ini ial cul u al laye
wi hin a na owe ange o 15.4–14.3 ka uncal BP, co esponding
o a calib a ed age ange o app oxima ely 2000 yea s.
Analysing he calib a ed AMS ages, Haesae s iden i ied
h ee se lemen phases co esponding o h ee cul u al laye s
obse ed in he s a ig aphic enches o he 1s , 2nd, and 4 h
Uni s (Haesae s e al., 2015). Se e al laye s wi hin se lemen
ea u es, such as pi s and MBS 4, we e associa ed wi h h ee
dis inc cul u al phases iden i ied ac oss he en i e se lemen
a ea:
1. The i s phase (To1, Z1) spanned om 15,050–14,750
BP (18,300–17,900 cal BP; 400 yea s).
2. The second phase (To2, Z2) anged om 14,900–14,500
BP (18,150–17,600 cal BP).
Uni , con ex Me hod Da ed
ma e ial
axa
Lab-ID 14C Age
(y BP) ± 1-
sigma Calib a ed
age
(95.4%
p obabili y)
Sou ce
DW 4: (To-2) KB-344, bo d sud
HA-4 (2005–2008)
Con en ional Femu
(Mammu hus)
G N-29877 14560 70 18083–17450 (Haesae s, 2006, p.
38)
DW 4: Idem G N-29877 AMS Femu
(Mammu hus)
OxA-15587 14790 60 18245–17928 (Haesae s, 2006, p.
38)
DW 2, Pi 6: Z-2a uppe (To-2)
(2005–2008) MZH-5
AMS Cha coal SacA-11487 14600 60 18149–17540 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 385)
DW 2, Pi 6: Z-2a uppe (To-2)
(2005–2008) MZH-2
AMS Cha coal SacA-11486 14610 60 18162–17571 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 385)
DW 2, Pi 6: Z-2a middle (To-2)
(2005–2008) OS 07-9
AMS Bone
(Mammu hus)
G A-38810 14750 50 18222–17907 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 385)
DW 2, Pi 6: Idem G A-38810 AMS Bone
(Mammu hus)
SacA-11177 14810 90 18266–17884 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 385)
DW 2, Pi 6: Z-2a middle (To-2)
(2005–2008) OS 08-01
AMS Me aca pal
(Canis lupus)
SacA-12040 15320 90 18820–18290 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 385)
DW 1, Pi 7: Z-2/3, OS 07-7 AMS Femu
(Mammu hus)
G A-38787 14590 60 18130–17515 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 386)
DW 1, Pi 7: Idem G A-38787 AMS Femu
(Mammu hus)
SacA-11176 15030 90 18647–18191 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 386)
DW 1, Pi 7: Idem SacA-11176 AMS Femu
(Mammu hus)
SacA-14986 15430 90 18898–18337 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 386)
DW 1, Pi 8: Z-1 (To-1) OS 08-02 AMS Rib
(Mammu hus)
SacA-12041 14830 90 18277–17891 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 390)
DW 1, Pi 8: Idem SacA-12041 AMS Rib
(Mammu hus)
SacA-14984 14920 90 18620–17985 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 390)
DW 1, Pi 8: Idem SacA-12041 AMS Rib
(Mammu hus)
SacA-12259 14970 90 18642–18106 (Haesae s e al., 2015,
p. 390)
DW 1, uppe cul u al laye : TO-
3A (2015)
AMS Bone
(Mammu hus)
G A-66076 14660 70 18212–17746 (Shydlo skyi e al.,
2017)
DW 1, uppe cul u al laye : TO-
3B (2015)
AMS Bone
(Mammu hus)
G A-66078 14730 70 18221–17858 (Shydlo skyi e al.,
2017)
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3. The hi d phase co e s he pe iod om 14,500–14,300 BP
(17,750–17,400 cal BP).
These se lemen phases indica e hia uses o c. 200 yea s be ween
each phase, wi h only he second and hi d phases associa ed
wi h he p esence o MBSs (Haesae s e al., 2015). The iden i-
ica ion o h ee cul u al laye s wi hin MBSs 1, 2, and 4 sug-
ges s ha each phase co esponded o a dis inc Uni and
MBS, implying a leas h ee dis inc episodes o habi a ion
spanning c. 900 yea s (Chabai e al., 2020). Despi e some
ejec ed ages, hese ages sugges synch onici y be ween Uni s 2
and 4 (Haesae s e al., 2015).
Howe e , such an in e p e a ion elies p ima ily on mammo h
bone ages ha show signi ican empo al a ia ion. Reliable
mammo h bone ages ange by millennia and may hus indica e
a sus ained use o sca enged mammo h emains ollowing he
LGM. Unde such a scena io, he younges mammo h bone
ages ma k he ac ual se lemen pe iod, possibly indica i e o
ac i e hun ing. This is co obo a ed by o he non-mammo h
samples, like cha coal and meso-mammal bones which indica e
a signi ican ly sho e pe iod, o ming wo dis inc g oups:
18.2–17.3 ka cal BP and 18.8–18.3 ka cal BP.
Minimal age di e ences a e obse ed be ween MBSs 1, 2,
and 4, as well as be ween wol and mammo h bones, wi h ages
aligning wi h ea lie mammo h ma e ial (18.2–17.3 ka cal BP),
likely ep esen ing he main occupa ion pe iod. Mic os a ig-
aphy compa isons be ween MBS 4 and Pi 6 show dis inc
di e ences bu e eal concu en use, as he ash laye age in
Pi 6 ma ches he es ablishmen o MBS 4. Mul iple laye s
wi hin MBS 4 sugges se e al habi a ion episodes.
In sho , while iden i ying h ee se lemen phases ad anced
unde s anding o he si e, unce ain ies emain abou he du a-
ion o occupa ion. The co ela ion o lowe pi laye s wi h
ea ly se lemen phases emains enuous, and ca e ul selec-
ion o samples is wa an ed as he s a ig aphy o a i icial
objec s may no align wi h he o e all se lemen sequence. The
co ela ion o cul u al laye s in pi s and MBS 4 wi h b oade
se lemen laye s aises conce ns, as hese ea u es may no ep-
esen he o e all s a ig aphy. Wi h ha in mind, his s udy
seeks an independen analysis o he s a ig aphy o MBS 4 and
Pi 6 and hei immedia e su oundings and adioca bon da a
o mo e accu a e compa isons.
Ma e ials and me hods
In he absence o subs an ial cha coal samples, wel e
meso- aunal osseous samples om h ee species (Vulpes sp.,
Lepus sp., Lupus sp.) we e selec ed om ecen exca a ions
wi h well-p o enienced inds wi hin cul u al laye s. La ge ,
well-p ese ed, compac bones (e.g. pel is, long bones)
we e p io i ised o minimise po en ial e ical displacemen
wi hin he s a ig aphy and maximise collagen ex ac ion. One
sample exhibi ed cu ma ks, unde sco ing i s an h opogenic
accumula ion.
The wel e samples we e chosen om di e en a chaeo-
logical con ex s wi hin he si e. Fou samples o igina ed om
a chaeological laye s wi hin MBS 4, highligh ing di e en
aspec s o i s occupa ion. Ano he ou samples we e de i ed
om Pi 6, o cla i y i s cul u al accumula ion and ac i i y. The
emaining ou samples we e selec ed om sa u a ed cul u al
laye su ounding MBS 1 (i.e., Top alishche), p o iding a
b oade unde s anding o he wide si e use.
AMS da ing was employed on wel e samples a e p e- ea men
wi h an acid-base-acid (ABA) p o ocol ollowing he
s anda d p o ocols o he Cen e o Iso ope Resea ch a
G oningen Uni e si y (Dee e al., 2020). High-p ecision
measu emen s o δ13C and δ15N we e also conduc ed p io o
AMS measu emen o assess sample sui abili y.
Ch onological modelling was unde aken using OxCal 4.4
using he In Cal20 calib a ion da ase o e ine es ima es o
he si e’s ch onology (Ramsey, 2017; Reime e al., 2020). A
Ke nel Densi y Es ima ion (KDE) in combina ion wi h Bayesian
s a /end da e modelling was used o summa ise he dis ibu-
ions o each occu ence based on he a ailable ch onological
da a inco po a ing 5 p e iously ob ained AMS ages om Pi
6 o a o al o 16 ages (Haesae s e al., 2015). Radioca bon
age de e mina ions inhe en ly con ain a deg ee o unce -
ain y exp essed as a dis ibu ion o adioca bon ages. KDE
accoun s o his unce ain y by sampling indi idual adioca bon
age anges o gene a e a se o p obable calib a ed age
anges o each e en wi hin a gi en da ase . The algo i hm
hen applies a KDE o hese sampled ages, p oducing a
smoo hed es ima e o he empo al e en densi y o e 10,000
i e a ions and a e aging he esul s.
This app oach enables he seg ega ion o phases, ep esen ed
he e by he di e en locali ies om which he samples we e
ob ained (i.e., MBS 4, Top alishche, Pi 6) and subphases,
deno ed by he cul u al laye s wi hin hese locali ies (i.e., Z2
and Z3 wi hin Pi 6 and To3/2 and T3 wi hin he Top alishche).
Resul s
11 new AMS adioca bon age de e mina ions we e ob ained
(Table 3), along wi h he associa ed analy ical da a o each
o he da ed bone samples. O he 12 samples analysed, 11
p oduced usable collagen, wi h elemen al alues (%C, %N)
alling wi hin he accep ed anges o well-p ese ed
collagen (Talamo e al., 2021). The one ailed sample,
om Uni 1, To-3, V20#108, con ained insu icien colla-
gen o mee he minimum eliable h eshold and was he e-
o e excluded om u he analysis. Among he emaining 11,
he a omic C/N a ios o all samples anged om 3.1–3.3,
wi hin he accep able limi s o 2.9–3.5 (Higham e al., 2011).
%C yields we e high, anging om 43.6%–39.8%.
The esul s o he KDE Bayesian S a -End model (SI1) show
ha he ages om small mammals om he selec ed si e
ea u es can be cons ained om 18,504–18,238 yea s cal BP
o 17,865–17,431 yea s cal BP wi h a si e du a ion las ing
be ween 396–1027 yea s.
This model had an ag eemen o A=51.3%, below he s and-
a d accep ed ag eemen index o A’c= 60.0%. This poo
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Open Pee Re iew
Cu en Pee Re iew S a us:
Ve sion 1
Re iewe Repo 21 No embe 2025
h ps://doi.o g/10.21956/open eseu ope.21756. 62139
© 2025 Wiśniewski A. This is an open access pee e iew epo dis ibu ed unde he e ms o he C ea i e
Commons A ibu ion License, which pe mi s un es ic ed use, dis ibu ion, and ep oduc ion in any medium,
p o ided he o iginal wo k is p ope ly ci ed.
And zej Wiśniewski
Uni e si y o W ocław, W ocław, Poland
The a icle add esses se e al e y impo an issues: 1. assessmen o he age o MBS4 and
assessmen o he ch onological ela ionship be ween cul u al laye s om MBS and pe iphe al
s uc u es.The au ho s answe he ques ions posed in acco dance wi h cu en me hods,
p o iding e y impo an esul s ha cla i y he ch onology o he analysed objec s and he ime
o hei use. I ha e no subs an i e commen s. I a e he a icle as e y excellen .
I ha e only a ew g amma ical commen s ega ding he spelling o names in e e ences, and in
one case he ull i le o he publica ion needs o be p o ided. See he lis below.
1.Dee MW, Pals a SWL, Ae s-Bijma AT, e al.: Radioca bon da ing a g oningen
2.Gaudzinski-Windheuse S: An in oduc ion o li ing s uc u es and his o y
o occupa ion a he La e uppe paleoli hic si e o Oelkni z
3.Pidoplichko IG, Allswo h-Jones P: Uppe palaeoli hic
4.Reko e s L, Nowakowski D, Lech K: Analyse des mic omammi è es du si e
épig a e ien de Mezhy ich (Uk aine). L’An h opologie. 2014 -Comple e he i le o he publica ion.
I would sugges co ec ing Figu e 3. The hea s should be mo e p ominen . I looks as i he igu e
was d awn by hand, especially he pi s and Top alishche s uc u es a e s angely ma ked.
Is he wo k clea ly and accu a ely p esen ed and does i ci e he cu en li e a u e?
Yes
Is he s udy design app op ia e and does he wo k ha e academic me i ?
Yes
A e su icien de ails o me hods and analysis p o ided o allow eplica ion by o he s?
Yes
I applicable, is he s a is ical analysis and i s in e p e a ion app op ia e?
Open Resea ch Eu ope

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Yes
A e all he sou ce da a unde lying he esul s a ailable o ensu e ull ep oducibili y?
Yes
A e he conclusions d awn adequa ely suppo ed by he esul s?
Yes
Compe ing In e es s: No compe ing in e es s we e disclosed.
Re iewe Expe ise: Palaeoli hic a chaeology, Geoa chaeology, Technology, Se lemen s a egies
I con i m ha I ha e ead his submission and belie e ha I ha e an app op ia e le el o
expe ise o con i m ha i is o an accep able scien i ic s anda d.
Re iewe Repo 21 No embe 2025
h ps://doi.o g/10.21956/open eseu ope.21756. 62138
© 2025 Mu ph ee W. This is an open access pee e iew epo dis ibu ed unde he e ms o he C ea i e
Commons A ibu ion License, which pe mi s un es ic ed use, dis ibu ion, and ep oduc ion in any medium,
p o ided he o iginal wo k is p ope ly ci ed.
William Chase Mu ph ee
Uni e sidade do Alga e, Fa o, Fa o Dis ic , Po ugal
This pape is ocused on p o iding a e ised ch onology o he la e Pleis ocene Mammo h bone
s uc u e (MBS) 4 omMezhy ich (Che kasy Oblas , Uk aine). The goals o his pape we e o
be e unde s and he occupa ional his o y o MBS 4. Using new14C esul s, he au ho s ha e
p o ided a new sho ch onological amewo k o he occupa ions o MBS 4 and i 's su ounding
ea u es o a sho window o a ound 429 yea s.
Gene ally, I hough he pape is well w i en, e y in e es ing, and has a solid s uc u e. Howe e ,
I do ha e some speci ic commen s and ques ions ega ding he s a ig aphic con ex o hese
samples. I also ha e some mino commen s as well. I hope my commen s and sugges ions a e
cons uc i e o he au ho s and ixable.
Main commen s:
O e all, I ound he desc ip ions o he con ex o he samples and s a ig aphic desc ip ions a e
lacking and ha d o ollow h oughou he ex , especially in ega ds o MBS 4. Conside ing how
impo an con ex is o he p emise o his pape and i s conclusions, his issue is p oblema ic bu
ixable.
S a ing in he backg ound chap e , I would sugges a ull e ision o Figu e 4. I is unclea wha
he sec ion pho og aph on he igh is e e ing o, he cu en e sion is missing key poin s o
o e lap wi h he sec ion d awing. I would sugges adding labels on he pho og aph indica ing he
laye s o imp o e he eadabili y o he igu e as well as adding ma ke s o show he squa e ID,
Open Resea ch Eu ope

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especially i he pho o is om he same loca ion as he d awing. I he wo images a e no om
he same loca ion hen hey should be labelled as such. O he wise bo h desc ibed in de ail in he
cap ion.
Some hing ha I eel ha is ela i ely ambiguous h oughou he discussion and ables is he
s a ig aphic con ex o he samples om MBS 4 (Uni / DW 4). This in o ma ion is no included in
Table 3 and is glossed o e in he discussion. The au ho s only p o ide a ela i e heigh om
su ace in Table 3. The o he samples om Pi 6 and he op alishche ha e laye designa ions. This
comes o as con using o me as he au ho s epea edly e e o h ee dis inc laye s wi hin MBS 4
(Uni /DW 4) and he impo ance o unde s anding he occupa ion his o y h oughou he ex bu
hen do no s a e om whe e he samples a e coming om. I hink i would help imp o e he
discussion o conclusion i hey would p o ide mo e de ail on laye s o ela i e posi ion he
samples a e aken om in Table 3 and in Figu e 4 o i his da a is no a ailable s a e his mo e
explici ly in he ex . I 's unde s andable ha samples maybe ha e been p ocu ed om an ea lie
exca a ion o isn' a ailable bu I belie e ha should be explici in he ex .Addi ionally, in he
discussion sec ion o MBS 4, I don' qui e unde s and how occupa ions can be bo h
con empo aneous and ye be in s a ig aphically dis inc ho izons. I hink he ph asing o his
sec ion should be cla i ied.
Rep oducibili y:
Cu en ly, he e is no code a ailable wi h his pape . The au ho s also men ion SI2 (pg. 11) in he
esul s, bu i is cu en ly una ailable online.
Mino commen s:
1. Wi hin he ex and ables he au ho s occasionally al e na e be ween using MBS and DW
wi hou gi ing a clea de ini ion o each ph ase. I a bi di icul o ollow h ough he ex . I would
sugges hese e ms be de ined simply in he backg ound sec ion o imp o e he eadabili y
h oughou he es o he ex .
2. Sec ion on how uni s a e de ined should be in he backg ound as well. I unde s and he au ho s
choice o include his sec ion in he discussion bu p io o his sec ion i was unclea i uni
e e ed o he MBS/DW o exca a ion a ea in which hey we e ound. Possibly hey could include
a sen ence o wo in he backg ound sec ion o cla i y.
3. In he Ch onology sec ion, he h ee cul u al laye s/ phases is a bi con using wi h how i 's
wo ded. All h ee phases ha e some o e lap in e ms o da ing so he hia uses be ween phases
isn' e y clea in he cu en ex .
4. Following up on he h ee phases, I also is no clea wha he au ho s mean by h ee cul u al
laye s wi hin he MBSs. Does his sugges ha wi hin he las wo phases he e a e mul iple
sublaye s wi hin he indi idual MBSs? I hink his sec ion should be e ised o g ea e cla i y.
Is he wo k clea ly and accu a ely p esen ed and does i ci e he cu en li e a u e?
Yes
Is he s udy design app op ia e and does he wo k ha e academic me i ?
Yes
A e su icien de ails o me hods and analysis p o ided o allow eplica ion by o he s?
Pa ly
Open Resea ch Eu ope

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I applicable, is he s a is ical analysis and i s in e p e a ion app op ia e?
I canno commen . A quali ied s a is ician is equi ed.
A e all he sou ce da a unde lying he esul s a ailable o ensu e ull ep oducibili y?
Pa ly
A e he conclusions d awn adequa ely suppo ed by he esul s?
No
Compe ing In e es s: No compe ing in e es s we e disclosed.
Re iewe Expe ise: Geoa chaeology; Mic os a ig aphic analysis
I con i m ha I ha e ead his submission and belie e ha I ha e an app op ia e le el o
expe ise o con i m ha i is o an accep able scien i ic s anda d, howe e I ha e
signi ican ese a ions, as ou lined abo e.
Re iewe Repo 28 Oc obe 2025
h ps://doi.o g/10.21956/open eseu ope.21756. 61253
© 2025 Hea on T. This is an open access pee e iew epo dis ibu ed unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons
A ibu ion License, which pe mi s un es ic ed use, dis ibu ion, and ep oduc ion in any medium, p o ided he
o iginal wo k is p ope ly ci ed.
Timo hy J Hea on
Uni e si y o Leeds, Leeds, England, UK
A e ised adioca bon ch onology o he mammo h bone s uc u es and associa ed
ea u es a Mezhy ich, Uk aine
19 h Oc obe 2025
Summa y
The pape p o ides new 14C da es and a e-analysis o an in e es ing a chaeological si e in
Mezhy ich (Che kasy Oblas , Uk aine) whe e mammo h bone s uc u es om he La e Pleis ocene
ha e been disco e ed. Speci ically, he au ho s ha e:
P o ided a se o 11 new AMS 14C da es on samples om he si e (Uni s 1, 2 and 4)1.
Combined hese wi h exis ing AMS da es om he same uni s ob ained by o he s2.
Fi ed an upda ed ch onological model using OxCal and a KDE modelling app oach 3.
I el he pape is e y nicely w i en. I p o ided a e y engaging and eadable s o y. I enjoyed
e iewing i , and i ce ainly augh me new hings. 
I do howe e ha e some speci ic ques ions abou he modelling app oach (and he need o a
KDE/non-pa ame ic app oach). I hope/ hink ha hese que ies can be add essed by he au ho s. I
ha e w i en a ai bi below (bu his is mainly o explana ion). I hope my ac ual sugges ions o
edi s o add ess hese que ies (gi en in he app op ia e sec ion) a e ela i ely simple/quick.
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I hope my commen s/sugges ions a e use ul and cons uc i e.

Main Re iew Commen s on Modelling
My speci ic que ies ela ed o he modelling a e p o ided below:
Do we need a KDE app oach?
The au ho s say ha hey use a KDE modelling app oach in hei analysis. Howe e , i is unclea
wha his co esponds o and c i ically wha i means. The model p esen ed in Fig 5 appea s o
ha e some in e nal phases/g oupings (MBS 4, Top alische, Pi 6) some o which ha e u he
phases/subg oupings. Wi hin each g ouping he e a e hen he indi idual 14C samples. Wha
da es exac ly a e being modelled non-pa ame ically (all he da es; he da es wi hin each g oup;
he s a /end o each g oup/sub-g oup)? And why is his needed?
To me, inco po a ing a KDE model in o a begin/end phase app oach makes i e y unclea bo h
wha he p io in o ma ion ac ually inco po a ed in o he model is, and mo e impo an ly wha
e ec i will ha e on he esul an in e ence.
In my pe sonal opinion, he KDE model he e seems a he unnecessa y – especially when you
ha e a lo o genuine p io in o ma ion and no ha many da es. Is he e a eason why a much
mo e adi ional uni o m phase ype model isn’ mo e use ul and app op ia e – no leas in e ms
o cla i y o in e p e a ion and explana ion?
Ou lie s in a KDE modelling app oach
Rela ed o he abo e, I do no unde s and wha an OxCal ag eemen sco e would mean (o how i
should be in e p e ed) in a con ex whe e you ha e speci ically aimed o place no assump ion on
he o m o he calenda age dis ibu ion be ween he s a /end da es (by using a KDE). How can
you ell i some hing is an ou lie in such a con ex ?
This sco e eally jus appea s o lag hose wo samples which de e mine he s a /end o he (non-
pa ame ic) phase. By emo ing hese you a e subs an ially sh inking he ange o he model (i.e.,
and hence you in e p e a ion). Howe e , unde a KDE model I am no su e you eally ha e solid
g ounds o use ag eemen o iden i y such ou lie s.
I do no belie e you can ge eliable/quan i a i e in o ma ion on which samples a e ou lie s
wi hou making some assump ion abou he o m o he calenda dis ibu ion (and which don’ i
well).
Pe sonally, I hink you would be be e i ing a s anda d uni o m phase ype model as ha seems
o e ec i ely be wha you ha e used as an a gumen o elimina e he wo 14C samples wi h he
oldes /younges da es anyway.
Wha is ac ually being modelled?
A some poin s in he pape you e e o you mo i a ion being o pe o m an independen
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analysis o MBS 4. Howe e , his doesn’ appea o be he ac ual model i ed as you ha e used
samples om o he uni s oo.
This is ine, bu I am no su e ha you can say ha you a e doing an independen analysis o MBS4
when mos o he da es/samples ha you a e using o in e ence come om di e en Uni s
en i ely (4/16 om Uni 1; and 9/16 om Uni 2 (Pi 6)? In pa icula when he mos ecen da e o
you phase analysis (p e-ou lie emo al) seems p ima ily de e mined by you 1s sample in Table
3 which comes om Uni 1:
Uni 1, To-3/2, V19, #532 which has a 14C age o 14295 14C y BP (almos 500 14C y s mo e ecen
han all o he samples)
while he las is de e mined by SacA-12040 which comes om Uni 2, Pi 6 which has a 14C age o
15320 14C y BP.
Failu e o combine measu emen s on he same sample in model
I seems ( om Fig 5 and Table 2) ha he model does no combine measu emen s on he same
sample (i his is wha idem deno es) bu ea s hem as hough hey a e independen samples
wi h po en ially di e en calenda ages. Fo example, he model in Fig seems o conside G A-
38810 and SacA-11177 as hough hey a e sepa a e samples – whe eas he Table sugges s hey
a e epea measu emen s o he same sample and so mus ha e he same calenda age. These
epea ed samples need o be combined (in o a single sample) be o e being in oduced in o he
model – no allowed o ha e wo sepa a e calenda ages.
Sugges ion ha he e a e dis inc clus e s in Pi 6 and Top alishche
On pg 12 you sugges he e a e dis inc clus e s in hese wo uni s. Is his based solely on Fig 5 (o
om o he in o ma ion). Pe sonally, I hink i is ha d o say con iden ly (based on Fig 5) ha he e
a e wo dis inc clus e s. Fo example, in Pi 6 Z2 he e seem only 6 samples ha ha e been
analysed and hey seem o all o e lap in age. I would he e o e emo e his commen . Equally
based on Fig 5 he e isn’ much e idence ha he e a e wo dis inc da ing clus e s in To3 based
pu ely on 14C – he e a e only h ee samples analysed he e. O is his s a emen based on o he
e idence no p esen ed he e?
Rep oducibili y/A ailabili y o Code:
Cu en ly he e is no code o da ase a ached o he pape (o a leas in he e sion ha I ha e
access o). The e is a sugges ion o an SI bu i ’s no on he jou nal po al. 
Speci ic Sugges ions o Re isions/Edi s:
To add ess he abo e commen s, I would ideally like o see:
Model e- un ensu ing idem measu emen s a e modelled as ha ing he same calenda age
(i hese ela e o same ac ual objec /sample). This is impo an .
1.
Pe sonally I would en i ely di ch he KDE modelling componen (as I am no su e wha i
ac ually means when included as pa o a la ge model) and jus i a adi ional phase
model ha is much mo e easily explainable (bo h in e ms o wha he model is, and how i
in luences he analysis). A he leas I would like o know ha he esul s a e obus o he
KDE assump ion. A mo e adi ional pa ame ic model may also allow you iden i y ou lie s
in a mo e obus / igo ous manne .
2.
Code and da a (as e.g. cs ile) should made a ailable (ideally wi h a DOI ia Zenodo). Da a 3.
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should no jus be in a able in he manusc ip . E en i he e is an SI, I would sugges ha
s o ing i in a mo e accessible online eposi o y is impo an o ep oducibili y.
Some ela i ely mino ewo ding abou (and u he explana ion) abou why you ha e
chosen o include some uni s bu no o he s, and eph asing o ensu e you do no gi e he
idea you ha e done an independen analysis o MBS4 (when much o he analysis seems
in luence by he o he uni s). Cu en ly i ’s no en i ely clea why you ha e chosen BMS 4
and Pi 6 (bu no included, e.g., AMS da es om o he pi s) 
4.
Mino Poin s/Commen s:
In oduc ion - Please can you gi e speci ic/app oxima e calenda da es o he la e
pleniglacial pe iod? This would aid eade s who migh no know his nomencla u e/speci ic
pe iod o compa e wi h o he wo k mo e easily. This is especially c i ical as i only seems o
be used as a e m once – you la e change o la e Pleis ocene and/o Paleoli hic.
1.
I ound i sligh ly con using when MBS 4 was i s in oduced (pg 3) as o wha his was – I
wasn’ su e i i was all ou s uc u es o jus he 4 h one. I had o in e om he abs ac i
was jus one o hem. I would sugges ha o clea his up, when you i s in oduce MBS in
he pa ag aph be o e ha you migh name all ou , i.e., “A key si e o his deba e is Mezhy ich (
Межиріч), si ua ed in he Middle Dniepe Basin o Uk aine known o i s excep ional p ese a ion
o ou Mammo h Bone S uc u es (deno ed in ou manusc ip as MBS 1, 2, 3 and 4 espec i ely)
be ween 12–24 m2 in diame e (Figu e 1).”You migh hen need o be consis en wi h
e e ing o MBSs (mul iple s uc u es) o a speci ic MBS. Fo example when e e ing o
hei i s disco e y (pg4) you could speci y he ini ial exca a ions e ealed MBS 1- 3; …
2.
Pg 4 – Mo e up LGM abb e ia ion o 1s usage o e m las glacial maximum3.
Pg 8/9 – The h ee phases as desc ibed in he manusc ip ha e o e lapping calenda ages
so I am con used why you say he e a e hia uses be ween hem – please can you explain? 
4.
I do no unde s and he sub-analysis o phase imings on pg11 – a e hese ob ained by
e unning he analysis again jus on hese samples? O a e hey somehow ob ained om
he single ini ial model (i.e. you ha e s a /end phases o all hese o he bi s)
5.
Figu e 5 – Sugges make clea om cap ion ha his is he model a e he ou lie s ha e
been emo ed.
6.
Conclusion – you ha e changed om using he e m p o enience o p o enance. Is he e a
eason o his? Sugges you should be consis en .
7.
Is he wo k clea ly and accu a ely p esen ed and does i ci e he cu en li e a u e?
Yes
Is he s udy design app op ia e and does he wo k ha e academic me i ?
Yes
A e su icien de ails o me hods and analysis p o ided o allow eplica ion by o he s?
Pa ly
I applicable, is he s a is ical analysis and i s in e p e a ion app op ia e?
Pa ly
A e all he sou ce da a unde lying he esul s a ailable o ensu e ull ep oducibili y?
Pa ly
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A e he conclusions d awn adequa ely suppo ed by he esul s?
Pa ly
Compe ing In e es s: No compe ing in e es s we e disclosed.
Re iewe Expe ise: Radioca bon; S a is ics
I con i m ha I ha e ead his submission and belie e ha I ha e an app op ia e le el o
expe ise o con i m ha i is o an accep able scien i ic s anda d, howe e I ha e
signi ican ese a ions, as ou lined abo e.
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