Das Mittelwürm in Mitteleuropa und angrenzenden Gebieten

Abstract

Abstract. The Mid-Würmian "interstadial W I/II" plays a prominent part in the literature dealing with Pleistocene archaeology since 1931. This is not the case in the geological literature. Numerous strata dated by C14 measurement and sedimentanalysis, respectively, to be of Mid-Würmian age (between ca. 50000 and 30000 B.P.) in various Upper Pleistocene sequences are for the most part interstadial; ca. ten Würmian loess sequences dated by terrace morphology contain a Mid-Würmian considerable loam zone and a very weak vounger loam zone. These facts prove the reality of an interpleniglazial Mid-Würm between the two cold peaks of Early Würm and Young Würm. The interpleniglacial climate of Middle Würm was on the average rather a cool temperate one interrupted by warmer and colder oscillations. Within the Alps and in northern Europe the expansion of the Würmian and Weichselian ice-masses was stopped, they stagnated, their fronts oscillated more or less widely. At the close of the Middle Würm, the Würmian ice overflowed the northern Alpine passes and the Weichselian ice the Baltic basin, both as far as the Young Endmoraine girdle (Young Würm). In Central Europe Middle Würm divides the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic periods. To the Middle Würm has often been ascribed heretofore the well known loam stratum within the loess of Göttweig (Lower Austria), and with this loam has been correlated the basal loam zone of the triple Stillfried A complex of fossil soils displayed by loess sections of particularly arid regions (CSSR and eastern Lower Austria). Recent studies (the latest by palynology) of this loam have proved it to be of Riß/Würm Interglacial age. Till now, this correlation has not yet been demonstrated for the loam stratum of the type locality of Göttweig (also not datable by terrace morphology!). Therefore the term "Göttweig Interstadial" must be replaced by another name: Würmian Interpleniglacial.

Further Evidence for a Middle Würm Interstadial and a Main Würm Glaciation of South-west Wales

“…Although no speculations can be made concerning the age of most of the pollen from this sample, the climatic conditions which some of them might represent seem not incompatible with those already proposed for a Middle Wiirm interstadial; generally cold and moist, with some boreal phases, and with more oceanic conditions in the west of Britain (Andersen et al, 1960 ;Gross, 1964 ;John, 1965). It is hoped that further analyses of pollen and other organic remains from the Main Wiirm glacial deposits of the Irish Sea area may help to establish the character of the British climate in the period 40,000-25,000 years B.P.…”

“…was a time of tree-growth and peat development north of the Cardiganshire coast. Thus the dates provide support for the " Middle Wiirm interstadial " of Gross (1964) in Northern Europe ; this interstadial preceded, or was an earlier extension of, the Paudorf interstadial.…”

Paleotemperature Changes in the Upper and Middle Pleistocene

“…The basis for the reconstruction of the Würm climate was the well-known paleo temperature curves given by WOLDSTEDT (1962), GROSS (1964), FLINT (1963), and some other authors. However, the curves are corrected in accordance with some results of investigation tending to damp the oscillations between successive phases (KRETZOI, 1961;DE PLOEY, 1961).…”

“…lasted from about 25,000-28,000 years ago. The very controversial Göttweig Interstadial is replaced by the name "Würmian Interpleniglacial" (GROSS, 1964). The climate on the average was cool temperate interrupted by warmer and colder oscillations.…”

“…and in his later curves bet ween 50,000 and 65,000 years ago. WOLDSTEDT (1962) put this stadial at about 50,000 years ago, and GROSS (1964) at about 48,000-54,000 years ago. SUESS (1956) concluded that this was only a less pronounced temperature minimum at about 55,000 years ago.…”