Sample name: Untermassfeld

Reference: R. D. Kahlke and S. Gaudzinski. 2005. The blessing of a great flood: differentiation of mortality patterns in the large mammal record of the Lower Pleistocene fluvial site of Untermassfeld (Germany) and its relevance for the interpretation of faunal assemblages from archaeological sites. Journal of Archaeological Science 32:1202-1222 [ER 3885]

Lithology: sandstone

Taphonomic context: fluvial deposit

Habitat comments: "The invertebrate and vertebrate faunal material from the site was embedded in fluviatile sands deposited on the right (eastern) bank of the Werra River. The fossil-bearing sands are divided into an upper and a lower unit."

"The 2.5-8.0 m thick Lower Fluviatile Sandsrepresent layers deposited by high-flood events which were subsequently cut by an erosion channel which was then filled by Upper Fluviatile Sands with a thickness of up to 4.0 m"

Faunal remains were deposited in the area of the excavated site during separate flooding events of differing energy levels

"It has been calculated that the fossil vertebrate remains originate from a potentially flooded area of approximately 94 km2"

Life forms: carnivores,primates,rodents,ungulates

Sampling methods: quarry

Sample size: 4204 specimens

Years: 1979-1995

Sampling comments: NISP recorded for "larger sized mammals"

"The vertebrate fossils were uncovered from the uppermost part of the Lower Fluviatile Sands and the lower part of the Upper Fluviatile Sands (channel infill)"

Destruction via fluvial transport and carnivore activity, as well as possible upstream filtering, may factor into reduced number of small species (<10kg)

Sample number: 4264

Contributor: Jack Nesbitt

Enterer: Jack Nesbitt

Created: 2023-05-12 13:56:42

Modified: 2023-05-12 03:56:42