Persani Mountains: Karst of Vârghis Gorge

Vârghiș karst, with its limited spatial development but well-preserved features, is a peculiarity in the karst inventory of Romania. It shows several well-marked karstification levels, and a relatively high number of caves, the majority harboring thick clastic deposits. However, its most important asset is that it hosts numerous traces of past human occupation. For example, recent investigations of rock shelter Abri 122 produced one of the most significant Middle Paleolithic lithic assemblages for Romania, covering the time interval from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5/7 to MIS 3. The occurrence of a volcanic ash layer within Bear’s (Ursului) Cave originating from the Ciomadul volcanic complex (East Carpathians) and dated to ~43/50 ka highlights the potential of Vârghiș karst in preserving such isochronous marker horizons, calling for further research.