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About the activities of our colleaguesThe main objective of this chapter is to present a review of activities of scientists active in the field of European Quaternary Mammalian Palaeontology in order to improve the exchange of information. An extensive review of activities and projects of our colleagues has been published in the former issue, EuroMam 1995. The information send in for this volume should be regarded as additional to the former data. The information is very variable and divers as you will notice. The next EuroMam Newsletter will appear in May 1997. Everyone is therefore, kindly requested to send in information for this chapter before April 1997. Note that the information (including changes of addresses etc.) should be in proper English and of interest and relevant for our European colleagues.
CROATIACroationa Academy of Sciences and Arts Institute of Paleontology and Quaternary Geology,10000 Zagreb, A. Kovacica 5,
Croatia The activities of the Institute of Paleontology and Quaternary Geology concentrate mainly on topics related to the research project "Vertebrate Paleontology and Quaternary Chronostratigraphy". The research activities include a project in cooperation with the Institute of Paleontology of the Vienna University (Chronostratigraphy of the cave sediments) as well as with the Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan (Taphonomy of Pleistocene archeological sites). Geological mapping and profiling of Quaternary deposits were performed in Podravina-Region Sasnato polje, Viljevacki cret, Marjanci, Karasica etc.) Glogovnica near Slavonski Brod, islands of Hvar, Susak, Krk, Pag, as well as at archeological site Zvonimirovo. Samples for radiometric dating, pollen and sedimentological analyses were collected in the Vindija Cave in northwestern Croatia. Determination and analysis of the Late Pleistocene fauna and lithic industry from Vindija cave, revision of the Ungulate-fauna from Veternica and Velika pecina caves, as well as of molluscs from löss-profiles, and paleoanthropological investigations of the Neandertals of Vindija-type are completed. Tertiary vertebrates from Dalmatia and Hrvatsko Zagorje, and also Early Pleistocene reptilian-fauna from Mte. Promina and Razvode were morphometrically, stratigraphically and paleoecologically analysed. Correlation of the Cretaceous Pycnodontiformes from the islands of Hvar and Brac, and Sedlarica on the Bilogora Mt. was performed, and Ichthyofauna from the Eneolithic settlement Vucedol near Vukovar was analysed and economically evaluated. Late Glacial broad spectrum adaptations in the Sandalja (Istria) and Kopacina (island Brac) were reexamined. Maja PAUNOVIC
GERMANYMorphologic and isotopic reactions of large mammals on climatic changes during the Pleistocene. The influence of climate during the last 500.000
years on the morphological and isotopic features of bones from large mammals in Central Europe is investigated within a
special research project (SFB 275) of University Tübingen. Size changes in large mammals during the Pleistocene are well
known and probably depend on climatic changes during that period. Little is known about the correlations between these
changes and possible alterations of the isotopic ratios in the bones of the respective animals. For a start two species will be
studied: reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, and horse, Equus ferus, which are well represented in Pleistocene
deposits and of whom the biology is well known. Later we will also investigate other species like elephants, rhinoceros,
bovids, and bears. In the end, all possible and good enough preserved bone finds of these species should be analysed. Results
are expected from populations rather than from individual samples. The bone samples are analysed osteometrically
(using archaeo-zoological standard methods) and O18 (in the hydroxyapatite) and the C13 and N15 (in the collagen) are measured. Correlations between animal size and isotopics will be investigated and related to
Pleistocene climate. We expect, that the shifts of body size and proportions of a certain species correlate in some way with the
shifts of the isotopic ratios. While the isotopic signals are directly related to climatic changes, the size shifts represent a
biological turnover, which reflects the climatic influence on the entire ecosystem of a certain species. If the above mentioned
correlations are useful, more information about the causes of the size shifts of Pleistocene large mammals could be obtained
and the results from the bone samples could be connected with isotopic parameters of ice cores. Furthermore there would be
a possibility to compare marine deposits with terrestrial stratigraphies and sites of prehistoric man. Elisabeth STEPHAN ***** Inst. für Geowissenschaften, Univ. Jena,Steubenstrasse 19a, D-99423 Weimar, Germany The multidisciplinary research on the Lower Pleistocene vertebrate site of Untermassfeld (Southern Thuringia) with 32 involved scientific disciplines was continued (coordinator R.-D. KAHLKE). A three month field season produced once more several hundreds of new finds. The first volume of a monograph is in press now (Monographien des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums Mainz). The redactional work for part 2 has begun. R.-D. KAHLKE finished a study on the fossil skull fragments of Hippopotamus from Untermassfeld. First quantitative data on the taphonomy of the site have also been established by him. Some research has been done on osteo-phagia by herbivores and carnivores (question of forked bones) (R.-D.KAHLKE) whereas L. MAUL was examinating the rodent gnawing marks on large mammal bones. A new study on the geology and the genesis of the site by R.-D. KAHLKE is in progress. H.-D. KAHLKE finished the investigations on fossil moose of the site. A sample of Middle Paleolithic faunal material (approx. 4500 fragments.) from the Taubach travertine, Germany, has been surveyed for traces of human modification. The study of the excellent preserved bones made a description of the exploitation practices for the two most abundant species, Merck's rhino and brown bear, possible. With a comparisons of German and Italian arvicolid populations (collab. Maul, Masini, Abbazzi (Palermo, Firenze)) studies begun on "Geochronometric applications of evolutionary trends in the dentition of fossil Arvicolids". Further investigations concern the biostratigraphical correlation of German and Ukrainian arvicolid faunas (L. MAUL and L. I. REKOVETS (Kiev)) as well as studies of a new fossil small mammal assemblage (fissure filling Gutendorf near Weimar). Lutz MAUL
HUNGARYProf. László KORDOS, Hungarian Geological Institute, Budapest, Stefánia-u. 14., H-1442, Tel.: 00-36-1-26 71 427 Projects: Prof. Dénes JÁNOSSY, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Paleontological Department, Budapest, Másázeum-krt. 14-16., H-1088, Tel.: 00-36-1-13 83 905/13 82 728 Project: Natural Museum, Archaeological Department, Budapest, Múzeum-krt. 14-16., H-1088, Tel.: 00-36-1-13 82 705 Project: György TOPÁL, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Zoological Department, Budapest, Baross-u. 13., H-1088, Tel. 00-36-1-11 30 031/11 30 032/11 30 033 Project: János HÍR, Municipal museum of Pásztó, Pásztó, P.O.B. 15., H-3060, Tel.: 00-36-32-36 01 94 (office) -36 00 24 (home) Projects: - Revision of Biharian Vertebrate Faunas in Hungary and in Romania (Romanian-Hungarian cooperation). - Studies on the cave sediments in the Bükk Mountains. Publication in press. - Studies on the Neogene terrestrial sediments in Nógrád County. Publication in press. János HÍR
THE NETHERLANDSCorbeddu Cave Project Gerard Klein HOFMEIJER
NORWAYMuseum of Zoology, University of Bergen Anne Karin HUFTHAMMER is working in some caves sites in western Norway dated 34 000- 24 500 yr BP. The finds include reindeer, arctic fox and seal. These finds are of the greatest significance to the debate on ice-free refugia in this region during the Weichselian. Some preliminary results from this project were presented as a poster at the Neogene and Quaternary Mammals of the Palaearctic symposium in Krakow in 1994. Lars WENDELIN
RUSSIAN FEDERATIONZoological Inst. RAS (ST. Petersburg) The members of research group 'History of fauna' (Zoological Institute RAS, St. -Petersburg; the head of the group is Gennady F. BARISHNIKOV) carried out systematical and morphological studies of Quaternary mammals from the territory of Former Soviet Union. Dr. A. AVERIANOV studied the history of Pleistocene Lepus, and also participated of Mammuthus primigenius from Holocene of Wrangel Island. Dr. I. KUZMINA finished the monograph about Pleistocene Equus from Northern Eurasia. Dr. M. SABLIN investigated the mammal remains from Palaeolithic sites in central of Russian Plain (Kostenki and Yudinovo sites). Dr. O. POTOPOVA studied the Bison priscus bones from Mousterian sites in south of Russian Plain. Dr. A. TILHONOV finished description of Ovibos pallantis from Western Siberia and the Urals. Dr. G. BARYSHNIKOV studied the geographical variability of Crocuta spelaea and Cuon alpinus, and described also Carnivora remains from Acheulean cave site Sel-Ungur in Central-Asia. The remains of Spelearctos deningeri were found there at the first time. G. BARYSHNIKOV also participated in the field work on Palaeolithic sites in the Crimea and the Mts. International Mammoth Symposium was carried out in Zoological Institute in October 1995. More than 100 palaeontologists from the 10 countries participated in it. Geological Inst. RAS (Moscow) Institute of Geography RAS (Moscow) Dr. A.K. MARKOVA, Dr. N.E. KAZANTSEVA, Dr. L.M. KITAEV (Institute of Geography RAS, Moscow),Dr. N.G. SMIRNOV (Institute of plant and animal ecology RAS, Ekaterinburg), Dr. A.V. KOZHARINOV (Institute of evolution and ecology RAS, Moscow), and Dr. A.N. SIMAKOVA (Geological Institute RAS, Moscow) are finished a computerised synthesis of the Late Pleistocene mammal data from the territory of FSU in the form of the database PALEOFAUNA in Paradox V.4 package and prepared the manuscript of the monograph 'Late Pleistocene distribution and diversity of mammals in Northern Eurasia (PALEOFAUNA database)'. ARC/INFO and ARC/VIEW electronic packages were used what permits to compile maps of mammal remain findings and those of species richness for different intervals of the Late Pleistocene and to elucidate responses of ecologically different mammal species to climatic changes. The mammalian faunas underwent drastic restructuring during the period of the last glaciation. Most characteristic feature of the new structure was joint habitation within the same areas of mammals which at present are geographically separated and belong to different natural zones. As a result, so called 'mixed' or 'disharmonious' faunas were formed; no analogues of those faunas are known at present, and none have been recorded from any interglacial in the past. An essential part of the work was to reveal the Late Pleistocene climate impact on the mammal species richness. A close relationship has been established between the mammal species richness, on one hand, and mean annual temperatures and humidity index, on the other. The humidity influence on the species diversity increases since the beginning of the Late Pleistocene towards the Last Glacial Maximum. An inverse relationship appeared to exist between the permafrost thickness and mammal species richness during the Late Pleistocene. This project was supported by International Science Foundation and RFBI grants. Dr. A.K. MARKOVA (Institute of Geography RAS) worked also under biostratigraphical scheme by the data of Pleistocene small mammals from Eastern Europe and studied Late Pleistocene rodent material from several sites of the Central Russian Plain. Dr. N.E. KAZANTSEVA (Institute of Geography RAS) with Dr. A.S. TESAKOV (Geological Institute RAS) carried out the investigation of morphological characteristics of Late Cenozoic Arvicolidae: Mimomys, Clethrionomys, Arvicola, a.o. Institute of Zoology of Moldova Academy of Sciences (Kishinev, Moldova) Dr. A. DAVID and Dr. Th. OBADA studied the fauna from three quarries near village Salcihia (Moldova, Anenii Noi district) with Archidiskodon cf. gromovi, A. meridionalis meridionalis, Palaeoloxodon sp. The remains of the Palaeoloxodon sp. are the first reliable data about the presence of elephants genus in the Early Pleistocene of Eastern Europe. It is supposed the elephant migration from Africa across Asia minor to Southern Europe in the Late Pliocene Dr. Th. OBADA, Dr. A. DAVID and Dr. I. BORZIAK studied the mammoth remains from the Late Palaeolithic site Climauti II (Bessarabia). The dates (14 C) are 20,350 .230 (LU-248);24,840 .410 (LU-2351). Dr. K.I. SHUSHPANOV and Dr. A.N. LUNGU for the first time for the Moldova
territory, give the description of three forms of Upper Miocene Sciuridae and some new species of Sciuridae from Middle
Pliocene deposits. They have made the detailed comparison these forms with Sciuridae from West Europe, including their
distribution, and some phylogenetical interrelations of Late Neogene representatives of Sciuridae family. United Institute of Geology, Geophysics and Mineralogy (UIGGM), A.K. MARKOVA, N.G. SMIRNOV
UNITED KINGDOMUniversity College London, Department of Biology (Medawar),Gower Street, London WC1E 6 BT, United Kingdom The book Mammoths, coauthored with Paul BAHN, has now been published in the UK by Boxtree. An intensive study of mammoth evolution is continuing in collaboration with Andrei SHER (Moscow), comparing the sequence in dental morphology between Europe & Siberia. Combined molecular & morphological studies on Pleistocene to Recent deer is also progressing. Studies of British Pleistocene horses are being pursued by Fred OWEN and Laura KAAGAN; Danielle SCHREVE is investigating Middle Pleistocene faunal change and biostratigraphy in Britain; and John STEWART is completing biometric studies on an array of avian species, placing Pleistocene material in the context of modern variation. LISTER Change of address: A. Turner School of Biological and Earth Sciences Liverpool John Moores University
YUGOSLAVIADr. Vesna DIMITRIJEVIC, Institute of Regional Geology and Palaeontology, Faculty of Mining and Geology,11000 Belgrade, Kamenniaka 6, Yugoslavia, Fax/ 0038111 631 137, E-mail: emilovdr@ubbg.etf.bg.ac.yu Activities: Work on palaeontological material from Upper Palaeolithic rock shelters in Montenegro (Trebaki Krk, Medena Stijena, Malikina Stijena, Bioe).Excavations in new archaeological and palaeontological site in Serbia - Baranica near Kna'evac (SE Serbia). Vesna DIMITRIJEVIC |
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