Ever since the introduction of laser technology to the field of mass spectrometry, several disciplines evolved providing solutions to challenging scientific and analytical tasks in research and industry. Among these are techniques involving multiphoton ionization such as Resonance‐Enhanced Multiphoton Ionization (REMPI, R2PI) and Mass‐Analyzed Threshold Ionization (MATI) spectroscopy, a variant of Zero Kinetic Energy (ZEKE) spectroscopy, that possess the ability to selectively ionize certain preselected compounds out of complex mixtures, for example, environmental matrices, with a high level of efficiency. Another key feature of multiphoton ionization techniques is the ability to control the degree of fragmentation, whereas soft ionization is most highly appreciated in most applications. In cases where rich fragmentation patterns are desired for diagnostic purposes, Photodissociation mass spectrometry (PD‐MS) is applied successfully. PD‐MS allows for the cleavage of selected chemical bonds. With the introduction of chromophoric labels in PD‐MS, it became possible to target certain molecules or groups within a molecule. In this review article, an overview of the basic principles and experimental requirements of REMPI and MATI spectroscopy and PD mass spectrometry are given. By means of selected examples, the latest developments and application possibilities in this field over the past decade with special focus on the German research landscape are pointed out. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 38: 202–217, 2019.

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In a paper from 1942 Johannes Iversen described a warm phase prior to the Allerød warming from lake Bølling in western Denmark and thereby extended the common classification of Lateglacial biostratigraphy. Iversen's assumptions concerning the Bølling-Oscillation were based on sedimentological features and high Betula (birch) pollen values in two pollen samples prior to the onset of the Allerød warming. Questions regarding the nature of the Bølling warming later became a discussion due to the expansion of terms into different fields and especially with advances in palynology. To further refine the knowledge on the Bølling-Oscillation, Hartmut Usinger investigated the locus classicus in 1982. The method of pollen-size-frequency distribution was applied on birch pollen in order to distinguish between B. nana-and B. pubescens-type pollen, however, the results were never published and got lost over time. Therefore, these data are presented here and the method as described by Usinger (

Like any other living being, humans constantly influence their environment, be it intentionally or unintentionally. By extracting natural resources, they shape their environment and also that of plants and other animals. A great difference setting people apart from all other living beings is the ability to construct and develop their own niche intentionally, and the unique tool for this is cultural behaviour. Here, we discuss anthropogenic environmental changes of hunter-gatherers and present new palaeoecological and palynological data. The studies are framed with ethnoarchaeological data from Western Siberia to gain a better understanding of how different triggers lead to coping mechanisms. For archaeological implication, we use two Mesolithic case studies from Germany: One of them focuses on hazelnut economy around ancient Lake Duvensee, and the other broaches the issue of selective roe deer hunt and its consequences at the site of Friesack. We address the archaeological evidence from the perspective of active alteration and its consequences, starting our argumentation from a perspective of niche construction theory. This approach has rarely been applied to early Holocene hunter-gatherers in Northern Europe even though the available data render possible to discuss human-environment interaction from such a perspective. It is demonstrated that archaeological research has tools at hand that enables to detect anthropogenic niche construction. However, the ethnoarchaeological example shows limitations and archaeologically invisible triggers and consequent results of human adaptations. The critical revision of such perspectives based on empirical data provides a better understanding of social and environmental transformations in the early-and mid-Holocene.