Chapter 2 - Stratigraphy and Sedimentology of Azokh Caves, South Caucasus

The Pleistocene to Holocene stratigraphy of sediments from three entrance passages to Azokh Cave, Lesser Caucasus, is presented. The larger Azokh 1 passage preserves approximately 11-12 m of in situ cave-fill, divisible into nine stratigraphic units based on their sedimentary characteristics. The base of the succession (Units IX to VI) is predominantly non-fossiliferous, but becomes both fossiliferous and calcareous upwards and displays evidence of fluvial and cave spall deposition. The upper part of the succession (Units V to I) is a (largely) continuous calcareous sequence of generally fossiliferous fine-grained sediments dating from the Middle Pleistocene to the present. The Pleistocene-Holocene transition is not represented in the succession due to a marked erosional disconformity between Units II and I (at the top of the sequence). The entrance passage to Azokh 2 contains a fill of at least 1.65 m depth that is divisible into two units, the uppermost of which contains several hearth layers and produced human remains dated to 1.2 ka. The interior of Azokh 5 has revealed at least 4.5 m of cave-filling sediment, which is divisible into five stratigraphic units (A-E). Unit A, at the top of the sequence, has produced charcoal which provided an age of 2.3 ka and sits with marked discontinuity on the irregular surface of Unit B below. The ages of the units beneath this level are unknown at present.