Marathousa-1, Megalopolis basin, central Peloponnesus, dates to MIS 12 and is the oldest archaeological site in Greece. Palaeontological and archaeological finds include a near-complete skeleton of...Show moreMarathousa-1, Megalopolis basin, central Peloponnesus, dates to MIS 12 and is the oldest archaeological site in Greece. Palaeontological and archaeological finds include a near-complete skeleton of the elephant species Palaeoloxodon antiquus, many other animal bones and high amounts of stratigraphically associated small lithics. Cut marks on several bones indicate hominin exploitation of faunal resources. This research tried to assess the potential for plant exploitation at the site. In order to do that, the local vegetation of the site was reconstructed by means of a macro-botanical analysis. Two types of data were acquired: semi-quantitative data of four samples, and concentration data of one sample of those four. The results show that the majority of the identified plant taxa has an aquatic or waterside habitat, suggesting a lake-shore setting for the site. Big changes in the vegetation over time could not be established. Because not much is known about plant exploitation in the Palaeolithic, a literature study was deployed. By combining information from non-botanical sources and preserved plant remains at other sites, Palaeolithic plant use can be reconstructed. Plants must have played an important role in the lives of Palaeolithic hominins. Plants provided food, supplied raw material for tools, shelter and bedding and were essential for starting and maintaining a fire. Approximately two-third of the 62 plant taxa identified at Marathousa-1 is suitable for one or more of these purposes. The potential for plant exploitation at Marathousa-1 was therefore high, but due to the nature of the site and the sampling method actual use of plants by hominins at the site cannot be proven.Show less
In this research, multiple proxies have been studied in order to reconstruct the environment of Barnham. At this site, lithic artefacts as well as many organic remains are found. The site itself...Show moreIn this research, multiple proxies have been studied in order to reconstruct the environment of Barnham. At this site, lithic artefacts as well as many organic remains are found. The site itself correlates to the Hoxnian interglacial (MIS 11), which is dated to approximately 430 to 360 Kyr BP. Multiple excavation campaigns have occurred at the site, but only since the campaign of 2016 the site has yielded botanical macrofossils. This is a datatype that was before not yet studied at Barnham. In this thesis the sample taken from the field is studied and related to the existing data and the data of other sites in East Anglia. The study of this data has provided more detailed information of the local vegetation which grew in and around the waterbody of Barnham. The macrofossils confirm the existing environmental reconstruction, which is that of a mixed deciduous woodland and open grassland area with a waterbody present which is still to slow moving. Researching environment, especially at sites like Barnham, help to better understand hominin behaviour and the context they lived in.Show less
North-east of the German town Schöningen lies the well-known Middle Pleistocene locality of Schöningen. Since 1983 archaeological research has been conducted at this locality. Most fascinating is...Show moreNorth-east of the German town Schöningen lies the well-known Middle Pleistocene locality of Schöningen. Since 1983 archaeological research has been conducted at this locality. Most fascinating is the discovery of wooden spears, dated to around 300 ka, at Schöningen 13II-4. Schöningen 13II-4 has been the focus of research ever since. However, little is known about the other Schöningen sites and levels. This thesis will focus on the traces of hominin activity in the faunal assemblages of Schöningen 12B, 12C, 13II-1, 13II-2, 13II-3 and 13II-Berme. A small part of the faunal remains from these layers have been determined. This data has been added to the data from previous research that was documented in the database. The data has been used to analyse the faunal compositions of each site. The palaeoecology of each layer has been reconstructed. Next, the influence of hominins on the formation of the bone assemblages has been assessed based on the presence of hominin modification marks. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of the large mammal remains has been analysed. The results of these analyses have been compared to the faunal composition of Schöningen 13II-4. It is shown that the faunal remains of Schöningen 12B, 12C, 13II-1, 13II-2, 13II-3 and 13II-Berme clearly show a different pattern concerning hominin activity, than the faunal remains of Schöningen 13II-4. Faunal remains with hominin modification marks are less quantitative and less diverse at the analysed sites. Moreover, the spatial distribution of the faunal remains shows little to no accumulation at the analysed Schöningen sites, whereas a clear accumulation zone can be identified at Schöningen 13II-4. The differences observed between the analysed Schöningen sites and Schöningen 13II-4 might be the result of varying stratigraphic, depositional and excavation factors. However, the differences could also be the result of hominin behaviour. In order to determine this, more research should be conducted.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
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This thesis discusses the environmental changes in flora and fauna from the Middle Pleistocene site Schöningen 13 II, Germany. The data in this thesis consists of the ecological data from Schö 13...Show moreThis thesis discusses the environmental changes in flora and fauna from the Middle Pleistocene site Schöningen 13 II, Germany. The data in this thesis consists of the ecological data from Schö 13 II as well as faunal data from Middle Pleistocene archaeological sites and data from present day national parks in Europe. This data is used to get insight in species compositions in various types of environments. The archaeological data, comprising flora and fauna, are analysed as an entity to gain insight into the structure of the environmental changes at this site. The environment in Schöningen changed gradually in the four levels, Schö 13 II-1 to 13 II-4 from interglacial optimum to stadial phase with an onset to a glacial phase. The floral data gave detailed indications of fluctuations in the environment, whereas the faunal data showed a more gradual change in the environment. The elements in Schö 13 II-1 are indicative for an interglacial phase, 13 II-2 contains elements of both interglacial and (inter)stadial phases and levels 13 II-3 and 13 II-4 are indicative for stadial contexts. Characteristic for the patterns in species diversity is that it is variable throughout the levels. Schö 13 II-1 and 13 II-3 both show a relatively low diversity, whereas the diversity in 13 II-2 and 13 II-4 is higher, but still not exceptionally high if compared to other Middle Pleistocene sites. These differences in diversity can be explained by potential deformations by taphonomical processes. The non-analoguous patterns in large mammal compositions of the site can be explained in terms of species behaviour and taphonomical processes.Show less
In the German town of Schöningen (Niedersachsen, Germany) several Middle Pleistocene sites have been found and excavated since 1992. These sites are named Schöningen 12B, Schöningen 13I and...Show moreIn the German town of Schöningen (Niedersachsen, Germany) several Middle Pleistocene sites have been found and excavated since 1992. These sites are named Schöningen 12B, Schöningen 13I and Schöningen 13II. The latter has been the focus of research since wooden spears of Palaeolithic man were found there among the remains of butchered horses. Schöningen 13II consists of five different levels named Schöningen 13II-1 to 13II-5, which are dated to the newly defined Reinsdorf Interglacial. For this thesis the large mammal remains found in the oldest levels Schöningen 13II-1, 13II-2 and 13II-3 have been determined and analysed. The bones have been assigned to species of the suborder Caniformia, the wolf Canis lupus, species of the family Elephantidae, the Mosbach horse Equus mosbachensis, the forest rhino Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis, the steppe rhino Stephanorhinus hemitoechus, the wild boar Sus scrofa, the red deer Cervus elaphus, the giant deer Megaloceros giganteus, the roe deer Capreolus capreolus and species of the genus Bos/Bison, the bones of which belong to either the aurochs Bos primigenius or the steppe bison Bison priscus. The large mammal species of Schö 13II-1, 13II-2 and 13II-3 determined by previous researchers, have been added to the analyses for completeness. In addition to the aforementioned species, these researchers have determined species of the family Mustelidae, including the ermine Mustela erminea, a Mustela species and a Martes species, and species of the family Bovidae, including Bos primigenius and Bison priscus. The previously analysed faunal assemblage from level Schöningen 13II-4 has been added to the palaeoecological and biostratigraphic analyses as well. The large mammals have been used to reconstruct the palaeoecology during the Reinsdorf Interglacial. The animals represent a warm temperate climate and the presence of a forest steppe environment in Schöningen 13II-1, the climatic optimum, with increasingly cooler conditions up to level Schöningen 13II-4, in which the wooden spears were encountered. These results are in accordance with the palaeobotanical data of the Schöningen 13II levels. Considering the taphonomic state of the bones it appears that these are very well preserved, whilst all skeletal elements are more or less equally represented. Unfortunately the presence of human cutmarks has been difficult to establish, only two indeterminate bone fragments certainly display cutmarks. The fauna therefore consisted of natural populations which might occasionally have been hunted and butchered by hominids. Gnawing traces of a rodent are present on a radius of Bos/Bison. The mammalian compositions of the Schöningen 13II levels have been compared with those from other Middle Pleistocene sites in Germany and Great Britain. The Schöningen 13II compositions bear most resemblance to the faunal assemblages from Bilzingsleben II and Swanscombe, attributed to MIS 11. It follows that according to the large mammal fauna the Reinsdorf Interglacial should be attributed to MIS 11 as well, and is thus of Holsteinian age.Show less
