The loess at the Alpine fringe; the Castenedolo hill

In the Castenedolo hill a stratigraphic sequence ranging from the Early Pleistocene to the Upper Pleistocene has been observed. At the base of the sequence, littoral deposits occur which grade into continental, lacustrine and fluviatile deposits; fluvioglacial gravel follows which is deeplyweatheredinto a strongly rubified soil and coveredby Upper Pleistocene loess. The sedimentation of the loess, which covers the soil has been determinated by several sedimentary and pedogenetical phases: 1) loess, sedimentation under cold and dry conditions, 2) formation of a slightly lessive soil under interstadial conditions, 3) degradation of the soil by frost activity and water lodging under cold and wet conditions. On the ground of the Mousterian. artifacts included; these phases should be attributed to the middle Upper Pleistocene. A third cycle of loess sedimentation follows which is to be attributed to the Upper Pleistocene. Evidence of clay illuviation related to Postglacial pedogenesis is not preserved in situ, but occurs as papules into the colluvium at the top of the sequence