Pages: 123-186

The southwestern part of East Europe (Ukraine, Moldova and Romania), including the region between the Dniester and Prut rivers, is comparatively rich in Middle Palaeolithic sites. Four of them (Molodova 1 and 5, Korman 4, and Ketrosy) were subjected to interdisciplinary research, which formed the basis for the regional geochronology. Absolute dates are still not numerous and their reliability is under question. According to the available chronological and stratigraphical data the Middle Palaeolithic survived at least till the Hengelo interstadial. The period from OIS 5 to OIS 3 witnessed coexistence of several variants of the Middle Palaeolithic, including the Eastern Micoquian, Typical Mousterian, and Pre-Szeletian of the Stinca type. The use of mammoth bones for dwelling construction is noted for the Eastern Micoquian (Ripiceni-Izvor/layers 4, 5) and Typical Mousterian (Ketrosy, Molodova 1, 5). The Typical Mousterian industries of the region show no clear connections with the subsequent Upper Palaeolithic. As to the Eastern Micoquian and Pre-Szeletian, they appear to have evolved into the Upper Palaeolithic relatively late (about 30 kyr bp) by means of acculturation.