Ecology and Evolution of Pleistocene Hominids in Central Europe

Pleistocene Hominid sites in Germany

The discovery of a Neanderthal skeleton in Mettmann near Düsseldorf in 1856 provided one of the corner stones for the foundation of the then brandnew discipline of palaeoanthropology. Soon it became evident, that the human being with the strange anatomy was not a single case of pathology, but a representative of the early inhabitants of Central Europe. In summer 2006 we hit the road and visited our hominid precursors at home. We took advantage from a unique opportunity. In 2006 is the 150th anniversary of the Neanderthal discovery in Mettmann. We visited famous hominid sites at Mauer a/d Elsenz, Reilingen, Steinheim a/d Murr, on the Swabian Alb, Weimar-Ehringsdorf, Bilzingsleben, Schöningen and finally in the Neander valley itself. Furthermore, we saw the famous original hominid fossils at a special exhibition at the Rhenian State Museum in Bonn.

Some of the oldest hominid localities in Germany are located in the Upper Rhine and Neckar valleys, among them Mauer a/d Elsenz, Steinheim a/d Murr and Reilingen. Hominid fossils with an age between 500,000 and 250,000 years were discovered in sand and gravel pits. They represent the earliest inhabitants of Central Europe.

The oldest hominid find from Germany known as yet with an age of approx. 500,000 years comes from Mauer an der Elsenz near Heidelberg. The find spot of the Mauer mandible is situated in the sandy deposits of a former sinuosity of the Neckar river. The mandible has been discovered in 1907. Compared to modern humans the Mauer mandible possesses an enormous size and lacks a bony chin. The mandible displays an alveolar planum on the inner surface, strengthening the symphyseal region. Such a structure is characteristic for Homo erectus. The mandible thus belonged to one of the first inhabitants of Central Europe, representing the earliest phase of Neanderthal evolution (Stage 1). It is also called Homo heidelbergensis.

The fauna originating from the lower Mauer sands includes a number of warm-adapted species like the forest rhino (Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis), the straight tusked elephant (Elephas antiquus), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Furthermore, a hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) appears in the lower Mauer sands, which occurs in Central Europe only during permanently frost-free interglacial periods.

Further upstream the Neckar river lies Steinheim an der Murr, where another hominid was discovered in 1933 in a sand pit. The skull is more or less complete, but damaged at its anatomically left temple. The hominid has an age of approx. 400,000 years. The skull possesses a larger cranial capacity than Homo erectus. This and other features, e.g. a stronger rounded occiput, demonstrate that the former bearer of the skull represented a more advanced stage in Neanderthal evolution (stage 1-2).

Presently, the former sand pit is situated in a residential area. A monument reminds the find spot. On the basis of the large mammals several layers can be identified in the profile. The skull itself originates from the antiquus gravels named after the straight tusked elephant (Elephas antiquus). Besides this species a water buffaloe (Bubalus murrensis) was discovered in Steinheim, which proceeded into Central Europe only during interglacial warm peaks like the hippo from Mauer.

Unlike Mauer and Steinheim, the Reilingen locality is located in the Rhine valley proper, where gravel is mined frequently. Since the water table is reached soon, the pits fill with freshwater. This also happened in Reilingen. Among the gravel large mammal fossils are occasionally discovered. In 1978 a calotte of an early human came to light. Since the profile lies under water and is not accessible, the stratigraphic background of the fossil is not well documented. Due to its anatomy, the skull can be attributed to an early phase in human evolution in Central Europe. It represents an early stage in the evolution of classic Neanderthals (stage 2).

The mammal fossils concomitant with the skull indicate glacial and interglacial periods alike. Mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius) and straight tusked elephant (Elephas antiquus) occur among the proboscideans. As the warm adapted faunal elements outnumber the cold adapted ones, it is believed that the Reilingen skull also belongs into one of the Middle Pleistocene interglacials.

Another region in Germany inhabited quite early by humans represents the Thuringian basin. The hominid sites, Bilzingsleben and Weimar-Ehringsdorf, possess an age of 400,000 and/or 200,000 years, resp. Moreover, further important Pleistocene mammal localities like Suessenborn, Untermassfeld and Burgtonna are located in the Thuringian basin, illustrating landscape and ecology of Lower to Middle Pleistocene human inhabitants.

Bilzingsleben is located at the northern margin of the Thuringian basin. The deposits consist of gravel terraces of the Wipper river including travertine. Although it is presently unknown how many terraces have to be identified in the profile, the hominid terrace is nevertheless quite well delimited and lies between terraces of the Saale and Elster glacial periods. An age of approx. 400,000 years is generally acknowledged. Besides the straight tusked elephant (Elephas antiquus) also the steppe rhino (Stephanorhinus hemitoechus) originates from this terrace. Both mammal species prefer open woodland. The presence of larger forested areas is indicated by the discovery of a macaque (Macaca sylvanus). Besides, clearly warm adapted species occur, like wild boar (Sus scrofa), fallow deer (Dama dama) and aurochs (Bos primigenius).

In this interglacial environment the remains of early humans have been found: skull fragments of at least two individuals, a mandibular ramus without teeth as well as several single teeth. Since the bones are highly fragmented, they are not easy to adjust anatomically. The Bilzingsleben humans possessed a well developed supraorbital torus and a postorbital constriction. Both features indicate an early stage of Neanderthal evolution (stage 2).

The Schöningen locality is not located in the Thuringian basin proper, but north of the Harz mountains in the Northern Hercynian foreland. It has however a similar age as Bilzingsleben and is thus frequently correlated with this site. No hominid finds were discovered as yet from Schöningen deposits, but the remains of seven completely preserved wooden spears and a butchering site with the remains of more than twenty horses.

The mammal fauna encompasses the straight tusked elephant (Elephas antiquus), Merck's rhino (Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis), wild boar (Sus scrofa) and horses. Species indicating open landscapes like the lemming (Lemmus lemmus) occur among the small mammals. Primates as occuring in Bilzingsleben are lacking. In sum the fauna indicates interglacial conditions. The interglacial preserved at Schöningen represents a new interglacial period between Elster and Saale glacials. In order to permit identification within the Holsteinian complex, a special name has been attributed, i.e. Reinsdorf interglacial.

Let us return to the Thuringian basin. Weimar-Ehringsdorf provided one of the largest collection of fossil humans in Germany. With an age of approx. 200,000 years, the deposits at Weimar-Ehringsdorf are younger than those in Bilzingsleben. The hominids originate from the upper part of the Lower Travertines. While in the lower part a clearly interglacial fauna prevails, the upper part reflects more continental conditions. The proportion of the steppe rhino (Stephanorhinus hemitoechus) increases and a pika occurs (Ochotona pusilla). Both species are clearly related to temperate to cool conditions.

The hominid sample consists of fragments of a juvenile skeleton, skull fragments of at least four individuals, a femoral fragment, a mandible, several isolated teeth and finally a skull. The skull possesses a continuous supraorbital torus and a cranial capacity of approx. 1,400 ccm. Unlike the Steinheim skull, the occiput is fully rounded. The Ehringsdorf sample is thus generally attributed to a more advanced stage in Neanderthal evolution (stage 3).

The northern part of the Rhine valley, the Lower Rhenian embayment, was inhabited by humans as well. Moreover, the eponymous locality is situated here, i.e. the Neander valley proper. In deposits from the Feldhofer cave remains of the Neanderthals have been collected already in 1856. Meanwhile, the limestone of the Neander valley has been completely removed. Together with the limestone the Feldhofer cave proper has been completely destroyed. Nothing is left from the once romantic valley. Through new excavations during the last decade it was possible to locate the debris originating from the cave. The discovery of bone fragments which could be adjusted to the original discovery from 1856 show beyond doubt that the deposits belong to the debris from the Feldhofer cave. Today this memorable spot is marked by poles.

The deposits date to 400,000 years and thus belong already to the Upper Pleistocene. The original find from 1856 encompasses the larger part of the skeleton including the calotte. The calotte possesses a supraorbital torus, the long and low outlines which are characteristic for Neanderthals, a depression above the occipital torus as well as a bulging region atop. These features are recognized as characters of classic Neanderthals (stage 4). The bones of the skeleton are robust compared to those of modern humans. Distal parts of the limbs are comparatively short.

Unlike the hominid sites introduced above, the locality at the Neander valley proper cannot be attributed to an interglacial period. 40,000 years ago glacial conditions prevailed in Central Europe. Classic Neanderthals thus represent the first form of humans which were able to cope with the harsh conditions in the Upper Pleistocene mammoth steppe in Central Europe.

Neanderthals did not only live in the northern Rhine valley, but also at the upper reaches of the Danube. In the caves of the Swabian Alb they are at least indicated by Middle Palaeolithic artefacts. These caves are however not only well known for their Neanderthal finds, but all the more for their later modern human inhabitants. These humans made fine statues from ivory and bone, among them a bird sculpture from Hohle Fels (upper left), a bison from Geißenklösterle (upper right), a total of eleven statues from Vogelherd (lower left) and the lion man from Hohlenstein cave complex (lower right), with 30 cm one of the largest sculptures carved. These statues are well known because of their beauty and shere number.

The caves on the Swabian Alb were inhabited by Neanderthals and modern humans alike. Studies of the sites thus may clarify how these encounters proceeded. Finally, the encounters contributed to the disappearance of Neanderthals from Central Europe.

geändert am 27. Oktober 2007  E-Mail: Webmastervolmer@bio.uni-frankfurt.de