Abundance of plant macrofossils, mollusca and ostracoda in sediments obtained near Tessin, north Germany

A depression filled with Late Glacial and Holocene sediments was excavated during the geological exploration and recovery of a dump area near Tessin close to Rostock, and initiated the studies of the present paper. Pebble analysis of three exposed or respectively drilled till horizons as well as pollenanalytical, carpological and faunistical studies carried out allow the stratigraphical subdivision of the Quaternary sequence of the dump area. The basal till was probably the result of dead ice decay, and was lithostratigraphically assigned to the Pomerian Stage (qw2). The palynological results of boreholes RKS 19/93 and A/92 reveal pre-Allerod and other sediments instead of the expected interweichselian deposits. Based on the palynological and carpological findings, we correlated the beginning of the late glacial development in the locality with the end of the Meiendorf-lnterstadial sensu Menke in Bock et al. (1985, doi:10.3285/eg.35.1.18). The limnic-telmatic sedimentation could be observed pollen floristically probably starting with the Meiendorf-lnterstadial (Hippophae-Betula nana-phase) followed by the Bolling-(Betula nana-B. alba s.l.-Artemisia-Helianthemum-Poaceae-phase) and the Allerad-lnterstadial [Betula alba s.l.-(Pinus)-Cyperaceae-phase] lasting up to the Younger Dryas (Juniperus-Artemisia-Poaceae-phase). Sedimentation closed during the Younger Dryas with the accumulation of fine sands. It was reactivated later during the Holocene due to the anthropogene influence (Older and Younger Subatlantic, dampness of the depression by clearing).

Pollen record in bones from Barsbek, northern Germany

Als im Frühsommer 1949 die ersten Pferdeschädel und Hundeknochen als Streufunde aus dem Barsbeker Moor bekannt wurden, war es wünschenswert, mit Hilfe der Pollenanalyse eine zeitliche Zuordnung zu versuchen. Auf diese Weise konnte unter Umständen wieder ein prähistorischer Horizont pollenanalytisch fixiert werden, da u.a. auch datierbare Keramikreste aus der römischen Kaiserzeit gefunden wurden. Die Analyse des aus der Stirnhöhle zweier Pferdeschädel entnommenen Materials ergab die beiden obersten in der Tabelle verzeichneten Pollenspektren. Bei der Untersuchung fiel auf, daß das Einschlußmaterial der Funde stark feinsandig und etwas tonig war. Auch der Finder gab an, daß die Knochen dem Sand, bis zu dem der Torfabbau niedergetrieben wurde, unmittelbar auflagen. Eine Bohrung, die am Westende des Torfstiches niedergebracht wurde, zeigte ebenfalls diese Zwischenschicht als deutliche Sandeinschwemmung. Diese wird noch einmal von grobdetritischen Flachwasser-Ablagerungen unterlagert.

Biogenic and mineral composition and foraminiferal stratigraphy of sediment cores obtained in northern Germany

The Ratekau boring ended in clays of the so-called Asterigerina-Zone; these clays have shallow-water features in the uppermost samples. The clays are overlain by deep-water clays with pteropods; this formation is split into two parts by a shallow-water deposit. The fossiliferous series ends upward in sandy deposits with shallow-water fossils. The question is raised whether the two deep-water deposits might correspond to the Lower Doberg Beds (Eochattian) and the Upper Doberg Beds (Neochattian) at the Doberg hill, closer to the rim of the basin. All fossiliferous samples from this boring are thought to be of Late Oligocene age; the boundary towards the Middle Oligocene, however, could not be ascertained. The Vaale boring ended in rather typical Septaria clay of the Middle Oligocene. This clay is capped by some metres of unfossiliferous glauconite clays, which in turn are overlain by silts and silty clays with planktonic fossils identical to those found at Dingden locality. These deposits are tentatively dated as Early Miocene. The next higher series of samples consists of sands and clays deposited in shallower waters. They contain a rich fauna of benthic molluscs, which, according to the current notion in stratigraphy, would have a Reinbek Age. In addition, they contain a set of planktonic fossils which differs from the 'Lower Miocene' assemblages. These sands and clays are overlain by a thick series of marine sands very poor in fossils. Finally, four metres of clay with foraminifera, having Younger Miocene affinities, form the top of the fossiliferous sequence. The borings at Wulksfelde and Langenhorn were not far apart and their sediments are easily correlated. Both wells start below in continental 'Lignite Sands' and contain overlying shallow water sands and clays. These yielded Hemmoor benthic mollusca, supposed to indicate Lower Miocene in the relevant literature; however, we encountered their planktonic foraminifera in the uppermost Miocene as well. The same planktonic species were found in all samples of both borings. These deposits under discussion furthermore contain a particular pteropod species. They are overlain by a thick series of gypsiferous clays, with scarce fossils. The uppermost fossiliferous clays (probably Langenfelde Age) contain another pteropod species, not met with in other samples. The discrepancies between the plankton zonation and the traditional subdivision according to benthic molluscs in the borings of Vaale, Wulksfelde and Langenhorn (and in samples from Twistringen, Dingden and Antwerp localities as well) renders the time-stratigraphic value of the denominations Reinbek and Hemmoor rather doubtful. The samples of the Westerland boring can be placed in the Gram and Sylt stages of local chronostratigraphy on the strength of the Astarte series established by HINSCH. The Gram samples contain a typical pteropod species; both groups of samples contain the same planktonic foraminifera as the borings Wulksfelde and Langenhorn. Our material did not bring the problem of the Miocene-Pliocene boundary in this region any closer to a solution. In conclusion, it can be claimed that this investigation provides strong arguments that the usual recognition of Hemmoor and Reinbek does not correspond to well-defined chronostratigraphical units. A better chronostratigraphic subdivision has to be based on the examination of many more samples, and on a better understanding of the paleoecology of the fossils involved.

Pollen record from Blankensee, Germany

Lake Blankensee is filled with 14 m of late- and postglacial deposits, Lake Siethener See with 22,5 m. The lacustrine sedimentation begins in Lake Siethener See in the middle of the Alleröd with annual lamination which partly continues in the Younger Dryas. A 2 cm thick layer of the Laacher See tephra was found in both lakes, the Saksunarvatn tephra only in Lake Siethener See where the cool Rammelbeek-phase (Preboreal) could be shown. The youngest part of the sediment profiles is suspended drifting mud. Masses of Pediastrum (algae) indicate an increasing shoaling of Lake Blankensee after the Subboreal.

Tabelle II. Anzahl der bestimmten Knochen und Knochenbruchstücke von Barsbek

Frühgeschichtliche Funde von Haustieren sind im norddeutschen Raum recht selten, wie eine Zusammenstellung der bisher erschienenen Literatur zeigt. Gehl (1930) nahm eine erste Bearbeitung stein- und eisenzeitlicher Hunde vor, die eine recht große Übereinstimmung zu gleichaltrigen Tieren Dänemarks aufwiesen. Studien neolithischer Tierknochen aus dem Satrupholmer Moor von Herre (1949) erbrachten ihre besondere Wichtigkeit für Fragen der Abstammung des Hausrindes. Die Tierreste von Haithabu, die z. Z. im Institut für Haustierkunde der Universität Kiel bearbeitet werden, entstammen Schichten des 8. bis 14. Jahrhunderts. Gleichaltrige Reste aus dem mittelalterlichen Hamburg wurden von Herre (1950) eingehend analysiert. Diese kurze Übersicht läßt deutlich werden, daß aus den Jahrhunderten um Christi Geburt aus unserem Raum nichts bekannt ist. Es war daher außerordentlich erfreulich, daß bei Grabungen in der Nähe von Barsbek 544 Knochenreste aus jener Zeit geborgen wurden. Sie helfen somit, eine große Lücke in unserem Wissen über die damalige Haustierwelt in Norddeutschland zu schließen.

(Table 1) Grain size parameters of intertidal channel sand bars near Sylt, North-Frisian Wadden Sea

The aim of the present study is to investigate directional asymmetric properties and internal structures of the bedforms on the intertidal sand bars in comparison with the migration problems of the sand bodies developed in the channel systems of the tidal basin off the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein. The tidal channel sand bodies studied have 'V'-shaped outlines and are asymmetric in cross-section. Based on such knowledge it was hoped to understand and find possible factors for application to recent and ancient tidal depositional environments. The V-shaped intertidal channel sand bodies developed in the tidal environments between Sylt and Föhr Island are constantly migrating sand bars. The migration directions are in good agreement with the resultant vector mean directions of internal cross-stratification structures of asymmetric sedimentary bedforms. Finally, it is shown that the orientation of the apex of V-shaped sand bar as an equilibrium form alone can not indicate the migration direction, but that the orientation of the resultant vector mean of internal structures of sedimentary bedforms does indicate the migration direction. Based on the analyses of textural parameters of the migrating intertidal bar sands, it seems that sands of typical intertidal sand bars are negatively skewed and well sorted. The high rounding of quarz sand grains of these tidal channel sand bars seems to be an additional characteristical criterion for tidal depositional environments, as also indicated by Balazs and Klein (1972).

Coastal retreat at the northern Baltic Sea between Flensburg and Travemünde

Long-term surveys of the coast bordering the western Baltic Sea in Schleswig-Holstein yielded extensive information over the retreat and condition of active cliffs. 181 cliffs with a total length of 148 km are present along the 55 km coastline including Fehmarn lsland and the Schlei Fjord. Depending on their temporal and spatial evolution, and geomorphological stability, the cliffs are subdivided in three separate classes - actively retreating escarpments, cliff Segments with potential for retreat and stable cliffs. 85 sections of the coastline with a total length of 59 km are classified as ,,active cliffs" that are undergoing retreat through natural erosion, collapse, and disintegration.

Silt content of two lake records from the Eifel

A comparison of a last interglacial annually laminated and varve counted maar lake record from the Eifel/Germany, with a laminated lake sediment record from Northern Germany shows, that high resolution cores can be correlated across central Europe by dust/loess content, if the resolution of grain size data is on the order of decades/centuries. Phases of widespread dust dispersal are the same as the cold events in the Greenland ice and North Atlantic sea surface temperature patterns. The first occurrence of dust in Northern Germany and in the Eifel is during the Late Eemian Aridity Pulse (LEAP, Sirocko et al. 2005) which is called C26 in ocean records (McManus, same vol.). This cold and arid event occurred exactly at the time of the last glacial inception at 118 kyr. Vegetation change in Northern Germany and the Eifel is out of phase after the LEAP. A taiga/tundra vegetation charcterizes Northern Germany between the LEAP and C24, whereas at the same time a Carpinus dominated temperate forest spread in the Eifel region, comparable to the Carpinus dominated forests in France (Sánchez Goñi et al., 2005). A drastic cooling, associated with widespread aridity, came with the C24 cold event, when the vegetation of central Europe changed to a tundra or shrub tundra.

Geochemical composition and ages of sediment core BELQ300 obtained from Lake Belau, north Germany

Geochemical and palynological data from an annually laminated core sequence (Lake Belau, Schleswig-Holstein) are interpreted with respect to vegetation and settlement history on the basis of a chronostratigraphical model and archaeological evidence. Most settlement periods indicated by pollen and archaeological data can be geochemically identified in the sediment sequence using tracer elements such as K, Rb, Zr and the K/Zr ratio. Whilst air-borne pollen carry a more regional signal, the sedimentary flux of these trace elements is determined by the allogenic input from the catchment area of the lake and, therefore, provides information about the local history of settlement and agricultural land use in the lake's vicinity. This is exemplified for the period of the middle Neolithic Funnel Beaker Culture ('Iversen landnam'), where a time offset of 250 years between both signals has been detected. In contrast, both geochemical and pollen signals are highly synchronous during the Early Migration Period and the High Medieval Period. Additionally, the Fe/Ca and/or U/Fe ratio may serve as a sensitive tracer for human impact on the trophic state of the lake. The suggested impact of the Romans and the High Medieval civilization can clearly be seen (and quantified) from elevated lead input into Lake Belau sediments at this time. Effects of secular climatic changes on the sedimentary chemistry have not been detected and, if present, seem to have been obliterated by anthropogenic activity.