Umwelt und Mensch im Pleistozän Mitteleuropas am Beispiel von Bilzingsleben

There are only a very few sites or archaeological horizons which are appropriate for the reconstruction of former environments and the recognition of man's relationship to these conditions. First, it is very important to dispose of some deposits rich in fossiles and, if possible, to have many geological and geomorphological phenomenons as well as an archaeological culture preserved in its primary situation.

A necessary precondition for this research are some archaeological horizons of travertine and some limnic-telmatic deposits containing various plant and animal fossil groups, in particular macro plant remains, molluscs, ostracods, micro and macro vertebrates, and special indications for the existence of former biotopes. In a larger range, they enable the reconstruction of environments beyond the biotope in wandering ranges and hunting districts. The preserved cultural evidence allows the inference of behavioural and reactive patterns towards this environment. This is demonstated by the travertine site of Bilzingsleben, Lower Palaeolithic, Middle Pleistocene/Holstein complex.