Data

In contrast to the widely acknowledged anthropological finds in Oase Cave and to the key geographical position of Romanian territory for the assumed dispersion of Anatomically Modern Humans in Europe, the archaeological information regarding the emergence of the Upper Paleolithic in Romania remains poorly known to a broader scientific community. The prolonged theoretical and methodological isolation of the Romanian Paleolithic research has particularly contributed to keeping the regional archaeology out...

Database containing the detailed laboratory results from sedimentological and geochemical analysis obtained from Upper Pleistocene sediment stratigraphies in the Wadi Sabra (Jordan) as published in Bertrams et al. (2012): Multiple environmental change at the time of the Modern Human passage through the Middle East – First results from geoarchaeological investigations on Upper Pleistocene sediments in the Wadi Sabra (Jordan). Quaternary International 274, 55-72.

Luminescence ages and additional information about palaeodose estimation and dosimetry. Optically stimulated luminescence dating was carried out on 31 quartz samples and 7 feldspar samples. Thermoluminescence dating of heated silex was applied to 11 samples using various measurement protocols (SAR, MAAD, SARA). Preliminary TL ages were published in Sitlivy et al. 2012, Quartar 59, 85-130. Further results are given in Schmidt et al. Journal of Archaeological Sciences (in review).

Luminescence ages and additional information about palaeodose estimation and dosimetry. So far, 14 quartz samples were dated, further 5 quartz samples are in progress. The results are partially published (Bertrams et al. 2012, Quaternary International 274, 55-72, Klasen et al. Quaternary Geochronology)

Despite its richness, the Romanian Paleolithic record has remained for decades relatively poorly known to the broader scientific community. The situation swiftly changed after the find at Oase Cave, which brought the Romanian paleoanthropological and archeological record into intensive focus, spurring several international research projects devoted to the regional Early Upper Paleolithic. The present paper provides the first summary of recent research undertaken in the neighboring area of Oase, the Romanian...

Man-made heavy metal contamination of floodplains has existed for centuries—even dating back to the Middle Ages. Up to now, these contaminants have been analyzed with very time-consuming and costly techniques. Thus, to determine historical heavy metal contamination, the aim of this study is to link the following approaches to generate better comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of historical land use of the Inde River, Germany (1) to analyze anthropogenic heavy metal contamination of fluvial...

In the years 1999–2001, an area of approximately 150 ha was surveyed by continuous control of the loess walls of the open-cast lignite mine of Garzweiler near Cologne, Germany. A total of 46 Middle Paleolithic sites were located, most of them clustering in connection to small stream positions. Despite the importance of natural factors during the site formation processes, lithic artifacts and skeleton elements preserved well, suggesting high impact of human and non-human agents, followed by low to moderate...

Auf der Basis einer detaillierten Lössstratigraphie wurden auf dem Lössplateau des westlichen Niederrheins von einer Abbauwandgesamtfläche von 11.000qm die Anteile der wichtigsten Lösseinheiten berechnet. Darin nimmt der Brabant-Löss (spätes Jüngeres Hochwürm, MIS 2) 45% Anteil ein, also nahezu die Hälfte des vorhandenen Lösses, der Hesbaye-Löss (frühes Jüngeres Hochwürm, MIS2) etwa 5%. Ein Viertel des Lösses (25%) geht an den Keldach-Löss (Älteres Hochwürm, MIS4), nur wenig (1,5%) an den Rheingau-Löss (MIS...

While there is almost no doubt about the African origin of modern humans,1 the path of dispersal and final immigration into Europe is still under debate.2 Our project focuses on the Levant as a potential main corridor for human migrations from Africa to Europe during the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. It is embedded in the multi-disciplinary CRC 806 “Our Way to Europe,” also investigating other regions including the source areas in North-East Africa, the North-African/Southern-European-Corridor, the...

Upper Pleistocene sediments at Wadi Sabra (Ma’an District, Jordan) were geoarcheologically investigated from 2008–2010. The Wadi Sabra valley system, situated east of the Dead Sea Rift and south of the ancient Nabataean capital of Petra, has preserved sedimentary deposits which are connected with several Upper Paleolithic sites. First results from sedimentological and geochemical analysis supported by archeological and radiometric dating provide evidence of fluvial and fluvio-eolian sedimentation during...