The Palaeolithic locality Schöningen (Germany) is known particularly well for its magnificently preserved hominin crafted spears and the remains of large mammals with traces of butchering and...Show moreThe Palaeolithic locality Schöningen (Germany) is known particularly well for its magnificently preserved hominin crafted spears and the remains of large mammals with traces of butchering and marrow exploitation. The Palaeolithic sites in the Schöningen area yielded also several other find categories such as botanical remains, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds. This thesis reports on the investigation of the avian remains from Schö 13 II-4, the site where they found the wooden spears. Most (≥70%) of the bird remains are from that site. For the identification of the bird remains three different comparison collections as well as the literature have been consulted. At least five species have been identified; four different ducks and a member of the Phasianidae family. The avian assemblage seems to have natural origins; there are no distinctive anthropogenic marks on the bones and the quantity of the elements is one to be expected after a natural death. The avian fauna does not contradict previous palaeoenvironmental reconstructions i.e. the occurrence of open water, temperate climate conditions and a somewhat sheltered type of vegetation.Show less
The rescue-excavation at the open-cast mine in Schöningen started in 1982. Circa 25.000 faunal remains have been excavated since that moment. These remains have been identified as large mammal...Show moreThe rescue-excavation at the open-cast mine in Schöningen started in 1982. Circa 25.000 faunal remains have been excavated since that moment. These remains have been identified as large mammal remains, small mammals, fish, mollusks, amphibians and reptiles. However the category birds is missing. Circa 167 bird bones and several egg shells were present in the layers Schöningen 13 II-2, 13 II-3 and 13 II-4. Besides the identification of the bird remains, the bones are also checked for modification marks made by the hominins who occupied Schöningen. Also the bones are compared to other archaeological sites to compare the data from Schönignen withShow less
