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- Aaris-Sorensen, K, et al.
(författare)
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Late Pleistocene remains of giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus Blumenbach) in Scandinavia: chronology and environment
- 2004
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Ingår i: Boreas. - : Wiley. - 1502-3885 .- 0300-9483. ; 33:1, s. 61-73
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article presents new data on the Late Pleistocene giant deer, Megaloceros giganteus (Blumenbach), describing its distribution in time and space, geographical and sexual variation and general biology. Twenty-three south Scandinavian fossils found in situ in lacustrine sediments or redeposited in glaciofluvial material form the basis of this investigation. Fourteen C-14 dates show that the giant deer inhabited southern Scandinavia in the ice-free late Middle Weichselian from c. 40000 to 28000 BP (the Sandnes Interstadial) and again in the Late Weichselian from c. 12000 to 10700 BP (Older Dryas, Allerod and early Younger Dryas Chronozones), corresponding to a calibrated range from c. 14300 to 12400 cal. yr BP. Osteometric analyses show that the Scandinavian giant deer belonged to the upper size range of the lateglacial Irish population and that a marked sexual dimorphism existed, the males being 10-11% larger than the females. Investigations furthermore point at an antler cycle similar to that among extant northern cervids, and subsequently at a rutting season in autumn. The skeletal remains also prove the occurrence of twin delivery and the possibility of reaching an ontogenetic age of at least 23 years. During both occurrences the Scandinavian giant deer population was part of the northernmost distribution of the species in Europe and the palaeogeographical settings and palaeoenvironmental conditions of the two periods show striking similarities. Clearly, the giant deer were able to colonize and survive in a landscape dominated by grasses and sedges with scattered shrubs and dwarf shrubs. They came as close as 200-250 km to the ice front and their distribution included coastal areas along a cold sea with drifting icebergs. They were present in the area at least from March until November. However, the pure arctic conditions created during the early phase of the Younger Dryas event led to a new local extinction around 10700 C-14 yr BP. This was the beginning of a total Eurasian extinction which, at least in Europe, was completed before the Pleistocene/Holocene transition.
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| 2. |
- Larsson, Lars, et al.
(författare)
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Archaeo-faunal aspects of bog finds from Hassleberga, southern Scania, Sweden
- 2002
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Ingår i: Recent studies in the Final Palaeolithic of the European plain. - 0107-2854. - 9788788415124 ; 39, s. 61-74
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In recent years, small bogs at Hassleberga in southwestern Scania have been turned into crayfish ponds after the removal of the organic sediments. Bones and antlers were noticed in the excavated material and have been systematically collected. The finds include reindeer of both sexes and of different ages. Bones of wild horse, elk, arctic hare and arctic fox were also identified. Radiometric dating shows that the bones from these species were accumulated in the small bogs during the period from late Allerod to late Younger Dryas. It is of special interest that modifications interpreted as being caused by humans have been identified on bones from reindeer and horse. In contrast, artefact finds from any Late Palaeolithic settlement appear to be limited. Among the finds there is a piece of worked reindeer antler. A small number of flint artefacts show the characteristics of Late Palaeolithic tools. The finds at Hassleberga might provide evidence for a very special type of kill site used during the winter. When the ice melted in spring, the remains sank down to the bottom of the kettle holes. The location of Hassleberga gives us a hint of the landscape and its use by man during the Late Palaeolithic.
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