PALEOECOLOGY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE KARLICH-SEEUFER OPEN-AIR SITE (MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE) IN THE CENTRAL RHINELAND, GERMANY

The Karlich-Seeufer archaeological site in Germany's central Rhineland was excavated between 1980 and 1992. The site provides evidence for h ominid activity during a Middle Pleistocene interglaciation known up t o now only from the Karlich day pit and therefore defined as the Karli ch Interglaciation, which is considered to be post-Cromer IV and pre-H olstein (sensu stricto) in age, The site is characterized by Acheulean artifacts, a fauna dominated by Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus, and a unique and outstanding preservation of wooden and other palaeobotan ical remains. Assuming all finds are associated, the site previously w as interpreted as an elephant hunting camp with a wooden structure, to gether with wood and bone implements preserved in situ. Recent analysi s of the same features has shown that the site can also be interpreted as a reworked archaeological sample, Hominid occupation occurred in t he vicinity of a small, lake with prevailing meso-oligotrophic conditi ons. Expanding boreal forests and fen vegetation characterized the lan dscape. (C) 1996 University of Washington.