Climatological and environmental change as derived from physical and geochemical loess sediment properties: Examples of last glacial loess sites from the Pannonian Basin

Abstract

The Project B1 within the CRC 806 “Our way to Europe” is focused on the "Eastern Trajectory" of modern human migration from Africa into Europe. The Middle East, Anatolia, Balkans and Southeastern Europe constitute the principal areas to be investigated.

Within these larger regions key areas were selected for combined archaeological and geoarchaeological research, fieldwork having delivered case studies for initial Modern Human adaptational systems, yet to be fully analysed. During the first stage of the B1 research programme (2009-2013), key areas were in Jordan (Wadi Sabra/Petra), in Romania (Upper Timiş valley/Southern Banat) and in Ukraine (Doroshivtsy / Northern Bukovina, Chernivtsi region), all within the Marine Isotope stage (MIS) 3/2 time range. Thus, the first phase of the CRC focused on locations of Early Upper Palaeolithic sites in selected morphological positions, and specifically the upland-lowland comparative concept. It is anticipated to (1) intensify regional studies in the Serbian Banat and western Romania, now with a north-western extension in Hungary. Chronologically we continue research into later MIS 3 archaeological and geological archives (40,000 to 20,000 B.P.), now also extending the time range to late Middle Palaeolithic (e.g. Garandhal and Bükk), and reaching back to the earlier MIS 3 and MIS 4 time range.