Chronological, paleoclimatic, and paleoenvironmental data from Łabajowa Cave (Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, Poland): a comprehensive approach for investigating a complex Late Pleistocene sequence

Łabajowa Cave, located in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland (southern Poland), preserves a complex sedimentary sequence that documents environmental and depositional dynamics from the early Late Pleistocene to the Holocene. The cave's infill reflects a non-continuous, multi-phase sedimentary history shaped by both natural and potentially anthropogenic processes. Through an integrated multidisciplinary approach, combining micromorphology, radiocarbon and OSL dating, paleontology, anthracology, and ancient DNA studies on fossil voles, this study reconstructs the chronological, paleoenvironmental, and paleoclimatic framework of the site. The stratigraphic sequence reveals alternating phases of slow accumulation, erosion, and redeposition, with weak anthropogenic inputs in the lower units. Faunal assemblages dominated by small mammals, birds, and molluscs reflect significant climatic oscillations between Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 and MIS 2/1, with shifts from mainly temperate to cold-adapted taxa. The presence of charcoal may also indicate episodic fire activity, probably of natural origin. The stratigraphic complexity of Łabajowa Cave provides a valuable record for reconstructing the interactions between sedimentary dynamics, climate variability, and faunal changes during the Late Pleistocene in Central Europe.