Environment
Both plant impressions in the travertine and pollen remains allow the reconstruction of the local environment. There are two deposition phases. Both are dominated by woodland species. The first phase (limnic chalk mixed with travertine sand) is dominated by hazel (Corylus), ash (Fraxinus) and oak (Quercus). The second phase (pure limnic chalk) is dominated by hornbeam (Carpinus), alder (Alnus) and pine (Pinus).
36 plant species are attested by impressions in the travertine, among them 14 tree and shrub species:
- Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur)
- Field Maple (Acer campestre) and Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)
- Large-leaved Linden (Tilia platyphyllos)
- European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
- European Cornel (Cornus mas)
- Common Hazel (Corylus avellana)
- Aspen (Populus tremula)
- Birch (Betula pubescens)
- Box (Buxus sempervirens)
- Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
- Lilac (Syringa josikaea)
- Hackberry (Celtis australis)
- Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea)
- Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa).
The woods were mainly made up of oaks and box (Buxo-Quercetum). Herbs like wormwood, sorrel, ferns and grasses attest the presence of open steppes or meadows. Sedges and rushes grew on the lakeshore, waterlilies and Sphagnum moss in the lakes.
The remains of 54 species of animals have been found in Bilzingsleben, 35 species of mammals, six kinds of birds, three reptiles, three amphibians and five kinds of fishes. Among the mammals are:
- Straight-tusked Elephant (Elephas antiquus)
- Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus kirchbergensis, Dicerorhinus hemitoechus)
- Aurochs (Bos primigenius)
- Steppe Wisent (Bison priscus)
- Horse (Equus sp.)
- Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)
- Fallow Deer (Dama dama)
- Giant Deer (Megaloceros sp.)
- Roe Deer (Capreolus suessenbornensis)
- Bear (Ursus deningeri-spelaeus)
- Lion (Panthera leo spelaea)
- Wildcat (Felis silvestris)
- Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
- Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)
- Wolf (Canis lupus)
- Macaque (Macaca sylvana)
- A now extinct beaver (Trogontherium cuvieri).
Woodland animals predominate, but there are some species that prefer more open habitats as well, like rhinoceros, horse and bison. Mollusks attest to a climate that was warmer and wetter than today. The average annual temperature is supposed to have been 9° to 13°C, the annual precipitation 800 mm.
Read more about this topic: Bilzingsleben (Paleolithic Site)
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