Landscape dynamics and chronological refinement of the Middle Pleistocene Reinsdorf Sequence of Schöningen, NW Germany

Urban, Brigitte; Kasper, Thomas; Krahn, Kim J.; Kolfschoten, Thijs van; Rech, Bent; Holzheu, Marco; Tucci, Mario; Schwalb, Antje

doi:10.1017/qua.2022.65

Cited by 8 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…The geographical locations of the block profiles within the archaeologically excavated area, sized 50 × 50 m, of the so‐called Zeugenblock (2018) (Urban et al . 2023) and the single sample ‘ Betula trunks’ of sublevel II‐4c (1995) as well as the palaeoecologically investigated block profiles, are indicated in Fig. 3.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Comparison of geochemical parameters of sublevels 13 II‐4c and II‐4b of block samples ID 12927, ID 15 661 and ID 15558a (II‐4b = II‐4ab) with equivalent Zeugenblock (ZB) 13 II (2018) layers (Urban et al . 2023). …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2021; Urban et al . 2023) independently of the block samples. Relevant geochemical and palynological data from the ZB (2018) are adduced for comparison with the block profiles in this paper.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Map showing the positions of the high‐resolution investigated blocks of Schöningen sublevels 13 II‐4c (=c, c(b)), 13 II‐4b/c (=b/c) and 13 II‐4b (=b) of the ‘Spear Horizon’ within the site, collected in 1995, sample ‘ Betula trunks’, and of the Zeugenblock 13 II (2018) (Urban et al . 2023). The blue boxes represent artificial areas created for this paper to clarify the presentation of data.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1B) was tentatively correlated with Marine Isotope Stage 9 (Urban et al . 2011, 2023; van Kolfschoten 2012, 2014; Sierralta et al . 2012, 2017; Richter & Krbetschek 2015; van Kolfschoten et al .…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial interpretation of high‐resolution environmental proxy data of the Middle Pleistocene Palaeolithic faunal kill site Schöningen 13 II‐4, Germany

Urban

Krahn

Kasper

et al. 2023

Boreas

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To spatially characterize the palaeolakeshore environment at the archaeological kill site Sch€ oningen 13 II-4 of the Middle Pleistocene Reinsdorf sequence, in-depth palynological, geochemical, aquatic microfossil and archaeological analyses were undertaken on sediment sections with an average thickness of about 15 cm, concordantly overlain by faunal remains, dominated by horse, from the unique 'Spear Horizon' layers of the 1995 excavation campaign. The data reveal a distinctive lake level drop, documented by the change from a carbonate-rich lake marl to a carbonate-free organic mud with increased carbon content and decreasing C/N, Si/Al, Si/K and Fe/Al ratios, indicating a higher pedogenic supply of organic matter and drier conditions at the site. Compared with older, similar transitional phases of lake level changes occurring within the Reinsdorf sequence, it is important that these youngest sediments are undisturbed, indicating continuous development. Ostracod and diatom analyses indicate a lowering water level with higher salinities and rich aquatic vegetation. Mesorheophilic ostracod species along with tychoplanktic diatom taxa point to flowing waters and turbulence at the lakeshore, presumably related to spring-fed streams originating from nearby highlands. Palynological results reveal a very diverse zonal vegetation pattern around the palaeolakeshore considering an area of investigation of approximately 50 9 75 m and a tessellated type of regional vegetation during the formation of the archaeological horizons. On topographically lower elevated areas, birch groves and taxa favouring wet, marshy conditions such as Cyperaceae, indicative of terrestrialization, were predominating, while other stands of this transitional phase reveal a very dry, grass-dominated steppe woodland favouring a rich wildlife with a striking number of megaherbivores. Our results suggest that the lithological differences of the 'Spear Horizon' layers containing the archaeological finds were due to their respective topographical situation and that the layers were deposited almost simultaneously during the beginning of the lake level drop. Human activities seem to have concentrated in sparsely vegetated areas along the palaeolakeshore, rather than in areas of adjacent denser birch swamp forest stands.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%