Living on the edge (Schöningen 13II – 3): Environmental reconstruction and investigation of plant usage and subsistence of early hominids during the Middle Pleistocene in Germany.

This Thesis’ focus is a botanical reconstruction of the environment of Schöningen 13II-3, an archaeological site in the Lower Saxony region of Germany. This site, which is famous for its incredible preservation conditions and evidence for early human weapon use and hunting, has a wealth of studies on it, most of these concentrating on the spear horizon layer 13II-4. This thesis investigates the layer under it, the layer 13II-3, where skeletal remains of a straight tusked elephant and microlith remains were found. Two sediment samples were collected from layer 13II-3 with the intention of extracting and identifying plant macrofossils from them. These samples went through the processes of soaking in water and soap, sieving, picking and were identified at the botany lab at Leiden University. A set of extra samples previously sieved on site were also investigated, to broaden the range of identified plant remains. The results reveal a flora dominated by aquatic and semi-aquatic taxa,...Show moreThis Thesis’ focus is a botanical reconstruction of the environment of Schöningen 13II-3, an archaeological site in the Lower Saxony region of Germany. This site, which is famous for its incredible preservation conditions and evidence for early human weapon use and hunting, has a wealth of studies on it, most of these concentrating on the spear horizon layer 13II-4. This thesis investigates the layer under it, the layer 13II-3, where skeletal remains of a straight tusked elephant and microlith remains were found. Two sediment samples were collected from layer 13II-3 with the intention of extracting and identifying plant macrofossils from them. These samples went through the processes of soaking in water and soap, sieving, picking and were identified at the botany lab at Leiden University. A set of extra samples previously sieved on site were also investigated, to broaden the range of identified plant remains. The results reveal a flora dominated by aquatic and semi-aquatic taxa, including Carex spp., Potamogeton spp., Zanichellia palustris, and Nuphar spp. With outliers such as Betula macrofossils, indicating a shallow slow moving paleolake and wetland environment. Based on this environmental reconstruction, this thesis then tries to look at plants that would have been of use to early hominids and attempts to link them to the hominid presence at the site and what their uses might have been for early hominids. Although no direct evidence for plant use is present, the taxa identified in this study include several species with known nutritional and technological potential. The findings support the interpretation of Schöningen 13II-3 as a rich environment likely visited repeatedly by hominids rather than permanently occupied. This study demonstrates the value of archaeobotanical analysis to reconstruct local environments and contributes to a more integrated understanding of the interactions between hominin and the environment at Schöningen.Show less

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Living on the edge (Schöningen 13II – 3) Environmental reconstruction and investigation of plant usage and subsistence of early hominids during the Middle Pleistocene in Germany.