TERTIARY AND QUATERNARY MOLLUSCS FROM PAVLOV VI

Transcription

1 Chapter II.6. TERTIARY AND QUATERNARY MOLLUSCS FROM PAVLOV VI Šárka Hladilová Introduction In many Paleolithic cultures around the world, relatively numerous specimens of macroinvertebrates, predominantly molluscs, can be found (Taborin 1993a,b; Steininger 1995; Dulai 2007; etc.). Some of them are coeval with the individual archaeological sites (e.g. in general, the animals either directly inhabited their wider areas, or they could have been intentionally collected alive). After Bar-Yosef Mayer (2005), for example, one of the earliest occurrences of molluscs in a prehistoric site is represented by an assemblage of a few marine shells (including Cardium sp., Nassarius gibbosulus and Pecten jacobaeus) associated with modern humans from the Middle Paleolithic burial grounds at Skhul Cave, Mt Carmel, Israel (110ka BP uncalibrated). Nevertheless, significantly older objects also occur at archaeological sites that have evidently been collected as fossils. They are undoubtedly of great importance for both paleontologists and archaeologists since fossils collected by Paleolithic people can inform us about various aspects of prehistoric life such as status, trade and exchange, often even representing important raw materials for artifact manufacture. At the Gravettian sites in the area of the Pavlovian Hills, there are relatively frequent Miocene fossils, predominantly molluscs. The Gravettians used them mainly as decorative objects, but for utility purposes as well. Material and Methods At the Pavlov VI site, 63 specimens from 3D locations and additional fragments from wet-sieving were studied. In the material studied fossils of Tertiary and Quaternary molluscs were ascertained, the Tertiary ones being significantly predominant. The fossils were studied both macroscopically and in a NIKON SMZ-1 binocular microscope. The genera and species determinations were based on comparative materials from the collections of the Institute of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University Brno, Vienna Natural History Museum, and on data from the literature (especially Friedberg ; ; Horsák et al. 2010; Hörnes 1870; Hörnes and Partsch ; Ložek 1964; 2000; 2001; Strausz 1955; 1966; Pfleger 1988; Schultz 1998; Schultz and Piller 2001; 2003; 2005). The study was mainly aimed at determining fossils, at examining their state of preservation (especially at distinguishing possible human impacts from natural traces), and at interpreting their possible source areas. This research was supplemented by general interpretations of the possible wider context of fossil collecting performed by inhabitants of the studied Gravettian sites. Overview of the Results Species composition and stratigraphic evaluation of the finds The list of the ascertained species is presented in Table 1. In total, 204 more or less complete specimens and/or fragments of molluscs were ascertained, namely 159 gastropods, 43 scaphopods and 2 bivalves. In addition to molluscs, 3 bone fragments were also found. In the material the most numerous species and subspecies are as follows: Dentalium badense (40), Pirenella picta mitralis (18), Terebralia lignitarum lignitarum (8), Melanopsis impressa posterior (7), and Melanopsis impressa bonellii (7). 54

2 Tertiary and Quaternary molluscs Table 1. Pavlov VI list of the ascertained molluscs (f. fragments) Tertiary Turritella badensis cf. plana 1 Bivalvia Turritella dertonensis dertonensis 1 Bivalvia indet. 2f. Turritella sp. 1 Gastropoda?Turritella sp. 1 Conus vindobonensis 1 Terebralia lignitarum lignitarum 7 Conus cf. fuscocingulatus 1 Terebralia cf. lignitarum 1 Conus cf. voeslauensis 1 Terebralia sp. 1 Conus sp. 4?Terebralia sp. 1?Conus sp. 1 Ancilla glandiformis 1 Pirenella picta picta 7 Phalium (Semicassis) miolaevigata 1 Pirenella picta mitralis 2 Phalium (Semicassis) sp. 4 Pirenella picta cf. mitralis 16 Lunatia catena helicina 1 Pirenella picta bicostata 1 Terebra sp. 1 Pirenella picta cf. bicostata 2 Cymatium (Ranularia) heptagonum vindobonica 1 Pirenella picta ssp. 6 Subula fuscata modesta 1 Pirenella disjuncta ssp. 1?Chicoreus sp. 1 Pirenella sp. 2 Gastropoda indet. 3f. Melanopsis impressa posterior 2 Scaphopoda Melanopsis impressa cf. posterior 5 Dentalium badense 40 Melanopsis impressa bonellii 5 Dentalium sp. 1 Melanopsis impressa cf. bonellii 2?Dentalium sp. 2 Melanopsis impressa ssp. 2 Quaternary Melanopsis fossilis ssp. 1 Gastropoda Melanopsis cf. fossilis 2 Succinella oblonga cf. elongata 1 Melanopsis bouei cf. multicostata 1 Euomphalia strigella 5f. Melanopsis bouei cf. sturi 1 Cepaea sp. 23f. Melanopsis bouei ssp. 1?Cepaea sp. 23f. Melanopsis cf. bouei 1?Helicidae 1f. Melanopsis sp. 1 Gastropoda indet. 1 6f.?Melanopsis sp. 1 Turritella eryna communiformis 1 Others Turritella terebralis ssp. 1 bones 3f. The majority of the ascertained species (145 specimens/71%) is of Tertiary (Miocene) age, the Quaternary ones being less frequent (59/29%). The Tertiary molluscs - originally coming from marine environments - are mostly of Badenian (82/55%), Sarmatian (37/26%), and Pannonian (25/18%) ages. A single specimen of Turritella terebralis ssp. (broken into 2 fragments) represents the only exception, as this gastropod is of Lower Miocene, most probably of Eggenburgian age (after Harzhauser 2002, in Karpatian the species Turritella terebralis was probably already extinct in the Paratethys). The Quaternary molluscs at Pavlov VI are mostly fragmented and they come from a terrestrial environment. Fragments of Cepaea sp. (46) and Euomphalia strigella (5) dominate. The state of preservation The primary state of preservation of Tertiary shells, that is to say the state at the moment of collection by the Gravettians, was relatively less convenient, as the shell surfaces are frequently intensively weathered, rolled, sometimes even more eroded or corroded. Secondary human adaptations of these shells occur relatively frequently in the material studied. They are represented mostly by artificial perforations (32 cases), cutmarks (6), various types of shells or shell surfaces adaptations (typically the removal of the upper shell layer or of some shell parts, mostly of the outer lips among gastropods 17 cases at the minimum), red colour traces (20), black colour traces (most probably a charcoal substance related to fire pit contact 21), or mutual inserting of 55

3 tubular shells mainly among scaphopods (4). A relatively great deal of the studied material was represented by incomplete shells or by their fragments, in some cases we even succeeded in putting the individual fragments together again. The shells are often broken just in the positions of artificial perforations which could even be possibly interpreted as failures in manufacturing. It appears likely that the shells of Tertiary molluscs were treated directly at the site, and that the fragments found - at least in several cases - represent the waste generated during this activity. By contrast, the shells of Quaternary molluscs, though preserved mostly in fragments, do not bear any marks of artificial human adaptations. Discussion Practically all the Tertiary molluscs found belong to current species, and the state of their preservation indicates that they come from surficial outcrops. Their source areas were situated probably in the near and more distant vicinity of the Pavlov VI site, as the Badenian sediments occur in the Tertiary sedimentary infilling of the Carpathian Foredeep, and the sediments of the Badenian, Sarmatian and Pannonian ages in the infilling of the Vienna Basin. In other words, the Tertiary molluscs found at Pavlov VI generally come from the same source areas as the Tertiary fossils from other Gravettian sites studied before (Hladilová 1994; 1997; 1998; 2005). At Pavlov VI, probably all the molluscs mentioned were collected or selected intentionally, which is proved by several facts. First, it is evident that the species found represent only a part of the fossil species occurring at the presupposed source localities. Moreover, though most of them are relatively common, their total amounts as well as the relative proportions of individual groups do not reflect the real situation in the field. Finally, the shells bear frequent traces of human adaptations (including failures, fragments etc. see above). In other words, these shells were gathered relatively systematically in greater amounts from the source localities, selected according to certain criteria (evidently similar to those applied at the Gravettian sites studied before - Hladilová 2005), and for the inhabitants of the Pavlov VI site they undoubtedly represented an important raw material suitable even for practical utilization, but indisputably with extraordinary symbolic significance. For the time being, the gastropod Turritella terebralis ssp. is the only specimen older than other Tertiary molluscs ascertained at the Pavlov VI site, being namely of Lower Miocene, most probably of Eggenburgian age. It confirms that the action radius of the Gravettians from Pavlov VI could reach even the somewhat more distant Eggenburgian sediments of the Austrian Molasse Zone, for example in the wider area of Eggenburg, Mold, Loibersdorf, or Gauderndorf, situated about 80km SW of Pavlov. Nevertheless, as it is the only specimen in the studied material, its interpretation is a difficult task at the moment (a first-hand occasional collecting or exchange?). It is highly probable that the Quaternary molluscs inhabited the wider area of the Pavlov VI site itself, and that their occurrence at the locality is not connected directly with the Gravettians activities. Pavlov VI: A Preliminary Comparison with Other Gravettian Sites from the area of Pavlovian Hills The Pavlov VI site offers new data supplementing the so far mosaic-like knowledge of the Tertiary molluscs occurring at the Gravettian sites of Pavlovian Hills, that mostly belong to the Evolved Pavlovian stage: Dolní Věstonice I ( Pavlovian, about 30-26ky BP), Pavlov I, II (Pavlovian, about ky BP), Milovice (Willendorf-Kostenkian, about ky BP - Svoboda 2005). In regard to the proximity of both localities, above all the comparison with the Pavlov I site lies ready to hand (Hladilová 2005). A specific phenomenon of the Pavlov I site is the highest absolute number of specimens found or so far studied of Tertiary molluscs (about 1000), fundamentally contrasting with the other studied Gravettian sites of this area (Pavlov II, Dolní Věstonice I, and Milovice with about specimens); this fact necessitates even the ascertained quantitative differences both in the absolute numbers of the found species and in the mutual proportions of the individual groups. These 56

4 Tertiary and Quaternary molluscs differences were interpreted as probably closely linked to the total lengths of the Gravettian settlements at the individual sites, among other things (Hladilová 2005). In this connection the new data from the Pavlov VI site are undoubtedly interesting: this new site interpreted as the singleoccupation one - in contrast with Pavlov I where repeated human activities at one place are presumed (Svoboda et al. 2009) - yielded altogether 145 specimens of Tertiary molluscs. This number seems to be relatively high, at least confirming that the inhabitants of Pavlov VI site paid rather intensive attention to the collecting of fossils. Such a conclusion seems even to agree with the above mentioned interpretation of the Tertiary fossils from Pavlov VI as being mostly intentional collections. As to the qualitative comparison of the Pavlov I and Pavlov VI sites, at Pavlov VI bivalves are almost absent, and only their sporadic fragments were found; furthermore, the tubular shells of lemintines and worms that were ascertained at Pavlov I (Hladilová 2005) are entirely missing at Pavlov VI. Among gastropods from Pavlov VI, the Badenian elements are relatively less frequent, and the Sarmatian and especially Pannonian ones relatively more frequent in comparison with Pavlov I (passing over the unique Eggenburgian gastropod at Pavlov VI mentioned above). Pavlov II is another locality comparable with the Pavlov VI site, nevertheless only according to published data (Klíma 1976). In comparison with Pavlov VI, only 67 specimens of Tertiary molluscs were ascertained at Pavlov II, comprising a relatively higher portion of Badenian elements, and lower portions of Sarmatian and Pannonian ones. At Pavlov II, new excavations (2009) located along its NW periphery added among others - some new information on fossil Quaternary molluscs (Svoboda et al. 2010). Their only concentration has been ascertained in the test pit Pavlov II/E/14-15 (m 15). Stratigraphically it can be divided into two parts, but without any significant differences in their species compositions (Kovanda in Svoboda et al. 2010). There were ascertained the following (sub)species: depth 115cm - Succinella oblonga, Succinella oblonga elongata, Pupilla muscorum, Vallonia tenuilabris; depth cm - Succinella oblonga elongata, Pupilla sp. (fragments), cf. Vallonia tenuilabris (fragments). After Kovanda (in Svoboda et al. 2010), these gastropods are common in the Pavlovian context, representing a fragment of the current loess fauna that occurred in the pleniglacial periods, particularly in the upper part of the last glacial. This fauna is generally comparable with the Quaternary molluscs from both the Pavlov VI, and Milovice IV sites (Tabs. 1, 2). Even the Tertiary molluscs ascertained at the Dolní Věstonice I (Klíma 1963) are generally similar to those from Pavlov VI containing elements of Badenian, Sarmatian, and Pannonian ages. Nevertheless, at Dolní Věstonice I the lemintines occur. A certain problem consists of the fact that an exact quantitative analysis of the Tertiary molluscs from Dolní Věstonice I site published by Klíma (1963) cannot be made as the numbers of individuals are mostly expressed only semi-quantitatively. It was feasible only to examine the material from the older excavations at Dolní Věstonice I stored in the collections of the Moravian Museum Brno (Hladilová 1997). It also confirmed the general similarity in the species composition (except for lemintines) with Pavlov VI; the species of Badenian age predominate over the Sarmatian and Pannonian ones, the proportion especially of the Pannonian species being more or less comparable with Pavlov VI. In 2009, a new Gravettian site Milovice IV appeared accidentally directly in the village of Milovice. At present, it is the object of intense salvage research (Svoboda et al. 2010; Svoboda et al. 2011); although this task still has not been finished completely, the preliminary comparison of this new locality both with the Pavlov VI site, and with the Milovice site mentioned below (Hladilová 1994) can be presented. The existing finds of Tertiary molluscs from the Milovice IV site are summarized in Table 2. It is evident that at Milovice IV - in comparison to Pavlov VI - Quaternary molluscs are significantly more frequent both from quantitative and qualitative points of view, whereas Tertiary molluscs, especially gastropods and scaphopods, are relatively less numerous (bivalves being slightly more abundant in comparison with their almost total absence at Pavlov VI). From the stratigraphic point of view, the Badenian elements are relatively more abundant, Sarmatian and Pannonian ones being less frequent at Milovice IV in comparison with Pavlov VI. But, as mentioned by Svoboda et al. (2011a,b), the Tertiary molluscan assemblage from Milovice IV as a whole looks heterogenous, since except for the dominating scaphopods other species are mostly represented by single specimens only. 57

5 At Pavlov VI, by contrast, some species are more numerous, and it seems to be probable that their collecting and/or selection was more systematic. More striking differences can be found comparing the Pavlov VI site with the locality of Milovice (Hladilová 1994) that is stratigraphically slightly younger (Willendorf-Kostenkian). At Milovice the most extreme predominance of Badenian fossils is apparent, the Sarmatian and Pannonian elements being much scarcer; bivalves are significantly more numerous, whereas gastropods - turritells, pirenells, and particularly melanopsids - are much rarer, and somewhat surprisingly scaphopods (representing practically the most frequent elements at Pavlov VI) occur only sporadically. Hence, the conclusion by Hladilová (2005), namely that the stratigraphic differences between the Milovice site and the other Gravettian localities of the Pavlovian Hills are also manifested in a slight shift of preferences with the collecting of Miocene fossils, remains valid. The differences mentioned are most probably caused by the changing momentary accessibility of the particular field outcrops of the fossiliferous Miocene sediments, rather than by cultural changes (Hladilová 2005). Even the preliminary mutual comparison of the Tertiary molluscs from the geographically close sites of Milovice IV and Milovice (Hladilová 1994) indicates some differences. Generally, at Milovice IV the proportions of Badenian/Sarmatian/Pannonian elements within the ascertained molluscan fauna resemble far more the situations at the Dolní Věstonice I, and Pavlov I, II sites. The accessible data on relative proportions of Badenian, Sarmatian and Pannonian molluscs ascertained at the individual Gravettian sites are summarized in Table 3. Table 2. Milovice IV list of the ascertained molluscs f. fragments Quaternary Tertiary Gastropoda Bivalvia Lithoglyphus naticoides 1 Glycymeris pilosa deshayesi 2 Galba truncatula 26 Cardites partschi ssp. 1 Galba sp. 1 Bivalvia indet. 2 Anisus leucostoma 51 Gastropoda Cochlicopa lubrica 1 Astrea (Bolma) meynardi 1 Vertigo cf. moulinsiana 5 Alaba costellata anomala 1 Granaria frumentum 1 Pirenella picta mitralis 1 Pupilla sp. 4 Pirenella nodosoplicata nodosoplicata 1 Vallonia tenuilabris 42 Pirenella picta picta 1 Chondrula tridens 1 Pirenella disjuncta disjuncta 1 Succinea putris 54 Melanopsis vindobonensis vindobonensis 2 Succinella oblonga 73 Zonaria sp. 1 Perpolita hammonis 1 Murex sp. 1 Clausilia cf. dubia 3?Murex sp. 2 Alinda cf. biplicata 2?Clavatula sp. 1 Helicopsis striata 43 Conus vindobonensis 7 Xerolenta obvia 2 Gastropoda indet. 7f. Trochulus hispidus 12 Mollusca indet. 14f. Arianta arbustorum 1 Scaphopoda Cepaea sp. 1 Dentalium badense 11 Gastropoda indet. f. Mollusca indet. f. 58

6 Tertiary and Quaternary molluscs Table 3. Stratigraphic comparison of Tertiary molluscs from the Gravettian sites of Pavlovian Hills site Eggenburgian % Badenian % Sarmatian % Pannonian % references Pavlov VI this volume Pavlov I Hladilová 2005 Pavlov II Klíma 1976 D. Věst. I Hladilová 1997 Milovice IV this volume Milovice Hladilová 1994 Conclusions A new single-occupation site Pavlov VI offers an exemplary picture of the basic living unit in the Gravettian of the Dolní Věstonice-Pavlov area (Svoboda et al. 2009). At this locality, there were ascertained 204 complete specimens and/or fragments of molluscs, namely 159 gastropods, 43 scaphopods and 2 bivalves. Tubular shells of lemintines and worms were absent at this site. The majority (145 specimens/71%) is of Tertiary, mostly of Badenian (82/55%), Sarmatian (37/26%), and Pannonian (25/18%) ages, and of marine origin. The most numerous species and subspecies are Dentalium badense, Pirenella picta mitralis, Terebralia lignitarum lignitarum, Melanopsis impressa posterior, and Melanopsis impressa bonellii. Only the gastropod Turritella terebralis ssp. is most probably of Eggenburgian age. The primary state of preservation of Tertiary shells is relatively bad, their surfaces are intensively weathered, rolled, eroded or corroded. Secondary human adaptations of these shells are relatively frequent. It is probable that the shells of Tertiary molluscs were treated directly at the site, and that at least part of the fragments found represents the waste generated during this activity. The Tertiary molluscs belong to current species, and they were intentionally collected at surficial outcrops. Their source areas are interpreted as the Tertiary sediments of the Carpathian Foredeep and of the Vienna Basin, namely predominantly as the near and more distant vicinity of the Pavlov VI site, and even the more distant Tertiary sediments of the Austrian Molasse Zone (in the wider area of Eggenburg, situated about 80km sw. of Pavlov). Generally, these areas are more or less identical with the source areas supposed for the Tertiary fossils from Pavlov I and other Gravettian sites studied before (Hladilová 1994; 1997; 1998; 2005). Considering the presumed single-occupation at the Pavlov VI site, this locality offered a relatively high number of Tertiary molluscs. As for their (sub) species composition, the Badenian elements are relatively less, and the Sarmatian and Pannonian ones relatively more abundant in comparison with other studied Gravettian sites from the area of the Pavlovian Hills. It is evident (Tab. 3) that the greatest differences are manifested between Pavlov VI and the stratigraphically younger (Willendorf- Kostenkian) site of Milovice (Hladilová 1994), being relatively lower in comparison with the older (Pavlovian) sites; the lowest one probably versus the Dolní Věstonice I site (Hladilová 1997). We can still only speculate about the reasons for these differences. In addition to the probable spatiotemporal accessibility, changes of the particular fossiliferous Miocene sediments field outcrops, hypothetically even some differences in real activities of the inhabitants at individual sites could play a role (shorter/longer or single/repeated activities at one place, more/less intensive or active searching of fossils in the field, greater/lower individual mobility into various directions, etc.), rather than cultural changes. The remaining molluscs (59/29%) are of Quaternary age. They come from a terrestrial environment, and their shells are mostly fragmented, but - by contrast with the shells of Tertiary molluscs - they do not bear any marks of artificial human adaptations. Fragments of Cepaea sp. (46) and Euomphalia strigella (5) predominate. It is highly probable that these molluscs inhabited the wider area of the Pavlov VI site itself, and that their occurrence at the locality is not connected directly with the Gravettians' activities. 59

7 Acknowledgement I express my sincere thanks to Prof. Jiří Svoboda for the invitation to study the fossil molluscs from Pavlov VI. I am also grateful to Dr. Ortwin Schultz from the Vienna Natural History Museum for the access to the comparative materials from the Museum's collections. The study was supported by Research Project MSM