Excavations at the Late Miocene MN9 (10.3 Ma) Locality of Höwenegg (Hegau), Southwest-Germany, 2004-2006 5-13 ©Staatl

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Zeitschrift/Journal: Carolinea - Beiträge zur naturkundlichen Forschung in Südwestdeutschland

Jahr/Year: 2007

Band/Volume: 65

Autor(en)/Author(s): Munk Wolfgang, Bernor Raymond L., Heizmann Elmar P. J., Mittmann Hans-Walter

Artikel/Article: Excavations at the Late Miocene MN9 (10.3 Ma) Locality of Höwenegg (Hegau), Southwest-Germany, 2004-2006 5-13 ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at carolinea, 65 (2007): 5-13, 6 Abb., 4 Farbtaf.; Karlsruhe, 15.12.2007 5

Excavations at the Late Miocene MN9 (10.3 Ma) Locality of Höwenegg (Hegau), Southwest-Germany, 2004-2006

WOLFGANG MUNK, RAYMOND L. BERNOR, ELMAR P. J. HEIZMANN & HANS-WALTER MITTMANN

Abstract als von JÖRG und TOBIEN geöffnet, in dem sich sowohl We provide a short history of the development of the Wirbeltierreste zeigten als auch ein Pfl anzen führender Höwenegg quarry between 1985 and 1996, the ra- Horizont freigelegt werden konnte. Die Grabungen in tionale for continuing the excavations in 2003, and the den Jahren 2005 und 2006 dienten zunächst dazu, progress made during the 2004-2006 campaigns. In eine neue Grabungsfl äche direkt oberhalb (westlich) the 2004 fi eld season we completed our excavation at an den Hauptprofi lschurf angrenzend zu erschließen. the western extent of the Main Höwenegg Trench, and Mit schwerem Gerät wurden auf über 100 m² Bäume retrieved a disturbed Miotragocerus skeleton in close und eine mehr als ein Meter dicke Schicht Waldboden proximity to the other two skeletons retrieved in 2003. abgeräumt und an den nun freiliegenden Höwenegg- We also opened a 5 m thick section in a trench 50 m Schichten die Grabung in stratigrafi schen Horizonten north of the JÖRG and TOBIEN Quarry, and established aufgenommen. Dabei wurde versucht, die Befunde mit the presence of vertebrate fossils and even richer de- JÖRG und TOBIEN’S Schichtbeschreibungen zu korre- posits of fossil plant material. The 2005 and 2006 fi eld lieren, und nach einer geodätischen Einmessung der seasons were dedicated to establishing and opening a Schichtenfolge und der Funde zu einem räumlichen new quarry adjacent to, and on the immediate western Modell der Fundstelle zu gelangen. Eine statistische border of the Main Höwenegg Trench. The establish- Auswertung der bisher während der Ausgrabungen ment of this new Western Quarry required extensive 2003-2006 gemachten Wirbeltierfunde zeigt, dass die support from the Town of Immendingen for cutting Schicht 11, ein heller Mergel, in dem 2003 und 2004 die down trees, removing a 1 m thick soil horizon with a Miotragocerus- und Trionyx-Skelette-Skelette gefunden wwordenorden thick mat of roots, and undertaking trenching and bull- waren, bislang sowohl am fossilreichsten war als auch dozing of disturbed sediments. The Western Quarry, die höchste Diversität aller im Augenblick erschlosse- approximately 100 m² in area, was extensively exca- nen Höwenegg-Schichten aufwies. Diese Schicht wird vated by stratigraphic horizon, and initial correlations aber auf der neuen Grabungsfl äche erst während der to the JÖRG and TOBIEN stratigraphic section made. We Grabung im Jahr 2007 erreicht werden. provide here statistics on the relative percentages of biotic elements collected, and their representation in our excavations. These analyses demonstrate that Unit Autoren 11, a marl where the Miotragocerus and Trionyx skel- WOLFGANG MUNK, & HANS-WALTER MITTMANN, Staatliches etons were excavated in 2003 and 2004, is both the Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe, D-76133 Karls- richest and contains the most diverse biotic elements ruhe, Erbprinzenstr. 13, E-Mail: wolfgang.munk@smnk. at the Höwenegg. These horizons were not excavated de, [email protected] in 2004-2006 in the new Western Quarry, but will be in RAYMOND L. BERNOR, College of Medicine, Department of the 2007 fi eld season. Anatomy, Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Howard University, 520 W St., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20059, Kurzfassung USA, E-Mail: [email protected] Grabungen in der Spätmiozänen (MN9, 10,3 Mio. ELMAR P. J. HEIZMANN, Staatliches Museum für Naturkun- Jahre) Wirbeltierfundstelle Höwenegg (Hegau, Süd- de, 70191 Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, E-Mail: heizmann. westdeutschland) in den Jahren 2004-2006 [email protected] Nach einer kurzen Zusammenfassung der Aktivitäten an und um die Fossilfundstätte Höwenegg im Zeit- raum von 1985 bis 1996 und der Gründe, die im Jah- 1. Introduction re 2003 zur Wiederaufnahme der Grabungen geführt Fossil vertebrates were fi rst discovered at Hö- haben, wird über die Grabungskampagnen 2004 bis th 2006 berichtet. Während der Grabung 2004 wurden wenegg at the beginning of the 20 century, and die Arbeiten am Höwenegg-Hauptprofi lschurf weiter- the main site itself was discovered in 1936. It is geführt, wobei ein weiteres Skelett der Antilope Mio- renowned for its preservation of complete mam- tragocerus in der Nähe der beiden 2003 gefundenen malian skeletons, including a number of females geborgen werden konnte. Zusätzlich wurde ein weite- with fetuses lying in situ utero. The tridactyl horse rer Profi lschurf etwa 50 m nördlich des Grabungsare- Hippotherium primigenium, the archaic bosela- ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

6 carolinea, 65 (2007) phine antelope Miotragocerus pannoniae, and Town of Immendingen (Hegau). The discovery of the rhinoceros Aceratherium incisivum are all this skull represented important new evidence known from multiple skeletons, and a dicerorhine that complete, museum quality specimens still deer and a tragulid species are represented by existed within the Höwenegg deposits. Also in partial skeletons. Small mammals are also repre- 1991 MITTMANN was charged with databasing all sented by complete skeletons (Prolagus oenin- of TOBIEN’S original data on the original Höwenegg gensis; TOBIEN 1986) and with the successes of excavations. This included 3-dimensional coordi- our project, by teeth. A comprehensive history of nates from a fi xed point, still clearly identifi able the site was given by TOBIEN (1986). The impor- within the original quarry. This data will form the tance of the locality has been demonstrated to basis of a stratigraphic and spatial comparison of the public in several popular reports (RIETSCHEL et JÖRG and TOBIEN’S collections to ours. al., 1985, HÜNERMANN, 1995) and recent scientifi c The MHT was opened again in 1992 in prepara- meetings (BECHLY et al.,2005; BERNOR & HEIZMANN, tion for an on-site fi eld excursion by 25 scientists 2006). attending the Immendingen-Schloss Reisens- Until June, 2003 there had been no quarry-level berg symposium on the Evolution of Western fossil excavations undertaken at Höwenegg since Eurasian Neogene Mammal Faunas ( BERNOR, 1965. Several groups of mammals have been FAHLBUSCH & MITTMANN, 1996). A review of the ge- studied since 1965: carnivores (DE BEAUMONT, ological context of the site and its importance for 1986), rhinoceroses (HÜNERMANN, 1982); chalico- reinterpreting the chronology of the “Hipparion theres (ZAPFE, 1989); hipparionine horses (BER- Datum” was provided by WOODBURNE et al. (1996). NOR et al., 1997). Yet, there were many outstand- A single crystal 40Ar/39Ar date of 10.3 +/- 0.19 Ma ing, unresolved issues about the Höwenegg site, was published by SWISHER (1996) based on his including further refi nement of its actual chrono- 1991 sampling at the site. At this juncture it was metric age, the sedimentologic and taphonomic apparent that initiating new investigations at Hö- regimes under which the vertebrate skeletons wenegg had the potential to yield important new were accumulated, the actual diversity of biotic data on the site. elements at Höwenegg and their distribution Field research was fi nally reinitiated at Höwenegg throughout the stratigraphic section. Ultimately, in the summer of 2003. Professor Dr. VOLKMAR we wish to achieve an integrated reconstruction WIRTH, director of the Staatliches Museum für of Höwenegg’s taphonomic and paleoenviron- Naturkunde, Karlsruhe (SMNK) authorized a mental contexts. So reconstructed, Höwenegg new, extensive fi eld campaign at Höwenegg. will become an even more important reference The campaign was organized in cooperation with locality for Central Europe, and facilitate Europe- the Stuttgart Natural History Museum (SMNS). an chronologic correlations, biogeographic and During the fi rst week of the 2003 excavation paleoenvironmental reconstructions. we discovered the distal limb elements of a Mio- In 1985 TOBIEN invited BERNOR to undertake col- tragocerus skeleton in the trench. In the second laborative studies of the Höwenegg hipparion, week we uncovered this specimen and found that Hippotherium primigenium (BERNOR et al., 1997). it was a complete skeleton (female with two full With funding awarded by NATO (to BERNOR) and term fetuses in situs utero). In addition to these DFG (to TOBIEN) work on the hipparions took individuals, we found abundant in situ remains of place. In order to better understand the geological molluscs, leaves, fruits and a new species of fos- context of the Höwenegg assemblage, Professor sil cervid. These results were amplifi ed upon in Dr. SIEGFRIED RIETSCHEL, director of the Staatliches an excavation report published in 2003 (HEIZMANN Museum für Naturkunde, Karlsruhe, organized a et al., 2003). three week excavation of a 10 m long, East-West Beyond the brief overview given above, this re- trending geological trench hereafter referred to port will give a concise accounting of our progress as the Main Höwenegg Trench (MHT). BERNOR excavating at Höwenegg during the 2004, 2005 and MUNK were members of this fi eld party. and 2006 summer fi eld seasons. We report herein In 1991, we opened the MHT again in order to both the principal technical and scientifi c results of sample fresh volcanic material for Dr. CARL SWISH- these last three fi eld campaigns. A more detailed ER (Berkeley Geochronology Lab) to date. During systematic and paleoecologic treatment of the this excavation we also discovered a complete paleobotanical, invertebrate and vertebrate stud- skull and some foot bones of Miotragocerus, now ies will follow separately. The analyses we include on display at the paleontological museum of the here on proportions of Höwenegg biotic content, ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

MUNK & al.: Excavations at Höwenegg, Southwest-Germany 7 overall and by stratigraphic unit, is inclusive of the a new, approximately 100 m² quarry on the west 2003 fi eld season. side of JÖRG and TOBIEN’S quarry. This involved the use of heavy machinery on the steep slope 2. The 2004-2006 Excavations for cutting down trees, removal of large roots and In 2004, with funding provided by the LSB Leakey a thick soil horizon (Figure 1 & 2). After remov- Foundation, we continued working in the north- ing the forest and approximately 1 m of overbur- west corner of the JÖRG and TOBIEN quarry, at the den, we excavated a further 8 cubic meters of western limit of the Höwenegg excavation trench. Höwenegg sediment. Given that the excavation This area was on the northwestern extent of the occurred only in the higher part of the section MHT excavated in 1985, 1991 and 1992 (WOOD- (about 1.5 m above the vertebrate skeleton layer BURNE et al., 1996; HEIZMANN et al. 2003: Plate 2). and in sediments heavily affected by solifl uction), In this area we excavated a third partial and dis- no complete skeletons were found during this turbed Miotragocerus skskeletoneleton in the immediate campaign, but about 130 isolated specimens of vicinity of the other two skeletons. We illustrate a diverse vertebrate fauna (equids, bovids, cer- here the second well preseved Miotragocerus vids, rhinos, proboscideans, turtles, fi sh) were skeleton found in 2003, which included a cara- recovered. Of major importance was the fi rst in pace of a Trionyx within it (Plate 2 a) & b). Also situ discovery of micromammal (lagomorph main 2004 Professor WIRTH initiated a broader coop- terial) and several fi sh skeletons. The washing eration between the SMNK and the Staatliches and screening of about 200 kg of sediment pro- Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart (SMNS). As vided the fi rst fossil remains of rodents (a cricetid part of this cooperation, three formal working molar; Plate 3 a) & Figure 3). groups were organized to assist in the retrieval, In 2005, we excavated an exploratory trench curation and eventual publication of all biotic el- 50 m to the north of our new excavation quarry ements from Höwenegg. These include: Plants (hereafter, The Northern Trench; Figure 4). This (EDER, Project Leader), Invertebrates (RASSER, was done to establish whether or not fossil-bear- Project Leader), Vertebrates (BERNOR and HEIZ- ing sediments could be documented outside the MANN, Project Co-Leaders) and an Analytical classical quarry area. This section, 5 m in thick- Working Group (MITTMANN, Project Leader). ness, established the occurrence of principally In the summer of 2005, the SMNK and SMNS marl sediments with rich fossil plant and some undertook another four weeks of excavation at vertebrate material, including postcranial ele- Höwenegg. Our principal work was to establish ments of a rhinoceros. Also during the 2005 sum-

Figure 1. 2005 excavation showing machinery used in preparation of the Western Quarry. – Photographs: by the authors, if not noted differently. ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

8 carolinea, 65 (2007)

Figurge 2. Excavation progress in Western Quarry July 3, 2006. mer fi eld season, technicians from the SMNK m deep core was drilled on the northern edge of and SMNS undertook a latex peel (a “Lackprofi l”) the new excavation, and in close juxtaposition to of the 6.5 m section that constitues the western the local basaltic intrusion. This core transected wall of the JÖRG and TOBIEN excavations (fi gure the complete Höwenegg section as well as the 6). After the 2005 summer fi eld season, a 23.5 contact between the Höwenegg beds and the

Figure 3. Professor OLDRICH FEJFAR sorting matrix for small mammals. ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

MUNK & al.: Excavations at Höwenegg, Southwest-Germany 9

Figure 4. Northern Trench proﬁ le with WOLFGANG MUNK working with Wackerham- mer.

underlying Tertiary sediments. A detailed study tensive upper solifl uction level that was mostly of this core is planned by the Geochronologic excavated during the fi eld season (Plate 1). Ap- Institute, Heidelberg, but the initial results reveal proximately 100 m³ of sediment were excavated three sedimentary facies, from lowest to highest: in 2006, yielding a diverse assemblage of plants, a marine layer (? OMM), believed to be Lower Mi- invertebrates and vertebrates. Amongst the ver- ocene, a lower tuffi te level presumed to represent tebrate remains were a lower jaw fragment and Höwenegg volcanics, and Höwenegg Schichten complete metapodial of a large cat, attributed to (or informally Höwenegg Formation) which is es- Machairodus aphanistus (Plate 3 b), known also timated to constitute no more than 4 m of section from Eppelsheim, Rhenanian Palatinate, West- in a stratigraphic position below the JÖRG and TO- ern Germany. BIEN excavations. This core, and possibly an additional core, could provide us with new insights 3. Scientifi c Results into Höwenegg’s paleoenvironmental setting. We present here a brief overview of our scientifi c The 2006 fi eld season, funded by the National results from 2004-2006. In some cases we in- Science Foundation through the Revealing Hu- clude data from our 2003 fi eld season. A number man Origins Initative (award to BERNOR through of publications integrating our scientifi c results the SMNK), was dedicated to excavating the new with those of JÖRG and TOBIEN’s results (TOBIEN, western quarry. In 2006 we employed a profes- 1986) are in preparation and will be published sional survey team, Dipl.-Ing. KARSTEN MALIGE, separately. Muggensturm, to tie our collection of biotic elements into the German grid system, and relate Plants our fi nds both stratigraphically and spatially, to During JÖRG and TOBIEN’s 1950 - 1954 excava- JÖRG and TOBIEN’s collection. There was an ex- tions, few plant remains were observed in the ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

10 carolinea, 65 (2007)

yielded herb and shrub species. These samples indicated the presence of a mesophytic forest. The material from the samples 1-3 taken from the exposed section (but without exact location in the profi le) is well preserved. EDER et al. also identifi ed a rich assemblage of fossil fruits from our sample profi les: 1. In profi le Höw 03/I layers 9, 12-14 and 17 yield plant material 2. In profi le Höw 04/II layers 5-7 yield plant material These plant materials represent woody plants and reed plants from the lake surroundings, and aquatic taxa preferring shallow water. In general, the material is not very well preserved but represented by colourless impressions lacking cu- ticles. However, there are some remarkable ex- ceptions to this (Plate 3 d), e) & f).

Invertebrates During the 2004-2006 fi eld seasons, Dr. M. RAS- SER undertook a detailed collection of invertebrate fossil materials from the exposed wall on the western fl ank of the JÖRG and TOBIEN quarry (fi g- ure 5). The stratigraphic section was sampled by lithologic units in order to document time-space relationships of fossil material. About 30 isolated specimens were collected, as well as about 100 hand specimens. There were 70 samples col- Figure 5. MICHAEL RASSER sampling western wall of JÖRG lected for washing. These samples will be sieved and TOBIEN’S quarry. for invertebrates, plant remains and microverte- brates. These samples are currently under study, Höwenegg deposits. JÖRG et al. (1955) stated that but include the identifi cation of abundant limnic plant remains were rare and poorly preserved, and terrestrial gastropods, while bivalves are ab- except for Celtis stonefruits.stonefruits. FurtherFurther plant mate- sent. Large terrestrial gastropods are generally rial was collected during the excavations 2003 rare, but occur most abundantly within the debris and 2004. In 2005, a palaeobotanical working fl ows together with wood-remains, while small group was formed by Prof. Dr. J. EDER, which in- gastropods are also abundant within the autoch- cluded S. GIERSCH, Drs. M. SLAMKOVA, V. WÄHNERT thonous lake sediments. Also discovered in the and C. STRÖMBERG. The main quarry yielded plant 2004-2006 fi eld seasons were the fi rst reported remains through the section, but the Northern occurrences of beetles (BECHLY et al., 2005). Trench was particularly productive in yielding Until now, only species lists of invertebrates were whole leaves, fruits and seeds. Also, eight pollen known from this locality, while paleobiological samples, separated from sediments by Dr. ADAM and modern taxonomic studies have not been HÖLZER have been analyzed (3 from the exposure, undertaken to date. Our studies on taxonomy, location not exactly known, 5 from the drill core). paleoecology, and taphonomy will allow the re- A total of 155 specimens, mostly impressions of construction of the lake and hinterland environ- diaspores, and about 200 specimens of leaves ments. In the Molasse Zone, gastropods have have been retrieved. Of 23.5 m of drill core sam- frequently been used for biostratigraphic correla- ple 9.75 m were relatively rich in pollen. Samples tions. For the fi rst time, however, the gastropod at the 10.75 m and 15.75 m intervals yielded only biostratigraphy of the Höwenegg area can be few taxa and the samples at 20.7 m and 21.5 m correlated with both geochronological data and were lacking pollen. The sample taken at 9.75 m mammal biozones. ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

MUNK & al.: Excavations at Höwenegg, Southwest-Germany 11

Vertebrates tary gastropods occur throughout the section, Remains of fi sh are not common at Höwenegg, and that we only collected complete, or nearly but when they occur then they can be well pre- complete gastropods, making them underre- served. The current collection, as well as JÖRG presented in this plot. Altogether, our project re- and TOBIEN’S collection of fi sh, are currently under trieved three fossil mammal species previously study by Dr. R. BÖTTCHER. unknown from Höwenegg: Micromeryx sp., Cer- Amongst the Tetrapoda, the Höwenegg locality vidae gen. and sp. to be identifi ed, and Criceti- yielded a large quantity of chelonian fragments dae, gen. and sp. to be identifi ed. In contrast to and osteoderms of anguimorph lizards. Cheloni- previous excavations, very little material of the an material was initially discovered in the 1950’s 3-toed horse, Hippotherium was found during the (JÖRG et al., 1955, TOBIEN, 1997, T OBIEN & JÖRG, 2004-2006 fi eld seasons. 1959) and was briefl y evaluated by SCHLEICH Plate 4 b) provides data on the proportion of bi- (1986). The fi eld campaigns in the years 2004 otic elements, per stratigraphic horizon, collected through 2006 have yielded abundant chelonian in the 2003-2006 fi eld seasons. Our stratigraphic remains. Besides fragments of carapace and level 11 is where the three Miotragocerus and Tri- plastron, postcranial elements were also dis- onyx skeletons were discovered in 2003-2004 at covered. The material confi rms the existence of the northwestern edge of the geological trench. a possible Testudo or a taxonomically similar It is interesting to note that this stratigraphic level tortoise, and Cheirogaster, which are ref referableerable also contains the greatest diversity of biotic ele- to Testudinidae. The remains of these animals ments, including rare crustacean and insect re- mainly occur in the slump deposits, themselves mains. The 2007 fi eld season excavated this rich derived from steep shore deposits, where the tor- fossil-bearing horizon with results that will be re- toises most likely initially had been deposited. The ported elsewhere. fact that they rarely occur in the marls indicates that the Höwenegg tortoises avoided open water bodies as do extant representatives. The fossil record of Trionyx collected at HöwHöweneggenegg duringduring this interval of fi eld work is excellent and occurs mainly in the marls. The anguimorph osteoderms have been preliminarily referred to Ophisaurus. The only remnant of Amphibia is a tibia of an undetermined anuran (HÖW 05,37/ 03/I/13-15), which was discovered during the preparation of the peel profi le and represents the fi rst evidence of this group in Höwenegg. The turtles and am- phibians are important for our eventual paleo- temperature and paleoecologic interpretations. This fauna is under study by FREY and others. No avian remains have been discovered from our excavations so far. We have collected numerous remains of fossil mammals in the 2004-2006 fi eld seasons. Most spectacular thusfar are the skeletons of Miotragocerus (HEIZMANN et al., 2003). Howev- er, there are additional new taxonomic records at Höwenegg, including micromammals, a new species of cervid (Plate 3 c) and evidence of Mi- cromeryx. Plate 4 a) is a pie diagram showing the percentage of different biotic elements collected and inventoried in the SMNK fi eld catalogue. Fossil mammals constitute over 60% of the biotic elements collected by our research group between Figure 6. HARM-UWE FLÜGGE collects the “Lackprofi le” on 2003 and 2006. It should be noted that fragmen- western Wall of JÖRG and TOBIEN’S quarry. ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

12 carolinea, 65 (2007)

4. Conclusions BECHLY, G., BERNOR, R.L., BÖTTCHER, R., FEJFAR, O., The 2003 fi eld season provided conclusive evi- FREY, E., GIERSCH, S., HAAS, R., HEIZMANN, E.P.J., dence that more complete, well preserved skel- KOVAR-EDER, J., MITTMANN, H.-W., MUNK, W., NELSON, etons of fossil vertebrates occur at Höwenegg. S., RASSER, M., SLAMKOVA, M., WÄHNERT, V., ZIEGLER, R. & ZIEMS, A. (2005): Multidisciplinary Palaentologi- The 2004 fi eld season reinforced this conclusion cal Research at the late Miocene (MN9) locality of by further collection of complete skeletons. The Höwenegg (Baden-Württemberg). – In: HUBMANN, B. 2005 and 2006 fi eld seasons opened the new & PILLER, W. E. (Hrsg.): 75. Jahrestagung der Paläon- western quarry and established fossil bearing tologischen Gesellschaft – Beitragskurzfassungen. horizons 50 m to the north of this new quarry. – Ber. Inst. Erdwiss., K.-F.-Univ. Graz, 10: 146 S.; The 2004-2006 fi eld seasons documented a di- Graz. verse array of biotic elements, including plant, BERNOR, R.L. & HEIZMANN, E.P. (2006): Recent Advances invertebrate and vertebrate species within a se- in Multidisciplinary Research at Hoewenegg, Hegau, th cure stratigraphic and sedimentologic framework. Germany (late Miocene, MN9). 4 Annual Meeting This research will lead to a more highly resolved of the European Association of Vertebrate Paleon- tology. Budapest, July, 2006. Hantkeniana 5: 14-16; record of the life, ecology and paleoclimate that Budapest. existed at Höwenegg 10 million years ago, and BERNOR, R.L., FAHLBUSCH, V. & MITTMANN, H.-W. (1996): further augment its status as an important ref- The Evolution of Western Eurasian Neogene Mam- erence section for the Early Vallesian, MN 9 of mal Faunas: the 1992 Schloss Reisensberg Work- Europe. shop Concept. – In: BERNOR, R.L., FAHLBUSCH, V. & MITTMANN, H.-W. (eds.): The Evolution of Western Eu- rasian Neogene Mammal Faunas; pp. 1-6; Columbia Acknowledgements University Press, New York. First we wish to thank the Town of Immendingen, and BERNOR, R.L., TOBIEN, H., HAYEK, L.-A. & MITTMANN, H.W. in particular the Bürgermeister H. MAHLER and F. DREY- (1997): The Höwenegg Hipparionine Horses: Syste- ER for hosting our work at Höwenegg, and providing matics, Stratigraphy, Taphonomy and Paleoenviron- us substantial infrastructural support and countless mental Context. – Andrias 10: 1-230; Karlsruhe. courtesies during the last 5 years work here. The conti- HEIZMANN, E.P.J., MUNK, W., ZIEMS, A., BERNOR, R.L. & nuous assistance from DR. V. HIRNER, director Forstamt KÖNIG, H. (2003): Neue Grabungen am Höwenegg Immendingen and his staff, is gratefully acknowledged. (Gemeinde Immendingen, Landkreis Tuttlingen, We wish to thank Professor Dr. VOLKMAR WIRTH, director Baden-Württemberg) Bericht über die Pilotgrabung of the SMNK for granting permission to pursue research vom 16. 6. 2003 bis zum 11. 7. 2003. – Carolinea, 61: at Höwenegg, and providing extensive equipment and 5–16; Karlsruhe. technical support for this program. We likewise thank HÜNERMANN, K.A. (1982): Die Nashornskelette (Ace- Professor Dr. JOHANNA EDER, director of the SMNS, for ratherium incisivum Kaup 1832) aus dem JJungterti-ungterti- providing some technical and equipment support for är vom Höwenegg im Hegau (Südwestdeutschland, our excavations. We thank the LSB Leakey Foundation Vallesium, Obermiozän). – Andrias, 8: 13-64; Karls- and Revealing Human Origins Initative (RHOI), F. CLARK ruhe. HOWELL and T. D. WHITE, Co-PI’s, funded by the Natio- HÜNERMANN, K.A. (1995): Höwenegg. Jungtertiäre Wir- nal Science Foundation (BSC-0321893). We thank the beltiere. – In: WEIDERT, W.K. (ed.): Klassische Fund- Landesamt für Geologie, Rohstoffe und Bergbau, Dr. stellen der Paläontologie: 3, 229-237. Goldschneck- M. FRANZ, for the support by drilling the core in 2005. Verlag, Korb. We also gratefully acknowledge support from the Soci- JÖRG, E., REST, H. & TOBIEN, H. (1955): Die Ausgrabun- ety of the Friends of the Stuttgart Natural History Mu- gen der Jahre 1950-1954 an der jungtertiären Fos- seum for preparation of the two SMNS Miotragocerus silfundstelle Höwenegg/Hegau. Beitr. naturkundl. specimens and sorting matrix for MICHAEL RASSER. We Forsch. Südwestdeutschlands, 14: 13; Karlsruhe. thank Prof. L. ROOK, Firenze, Drs. U. GEBHARDT and A. SCHLEICH, H.H. (1986): Vorläufige Mitteilung zur Bear- RIEDEL (SMNK) for reviewing the manuscript. beitung der fossilen Schildkröten der Fundstelle Hö- We wish to dedicate this report to the memory of Pro- wenegg. – Carolinea, 44: 47-56; Karlsruhe. fessor Dr. F. CLARK HOWELL who was an enormous sup- SWISHER, C.C. III. (1996): New 40Ar/39Ar dates and porter of the Multidisciplinary Project at Höwenegg, their contribution toward a revised chronology for the and an inspiring leader of Neogene multidisciplinary late Miocene nonmarine of Europe and west Asia. research in his own right. – In: BERNOR, R.L., FAHLBUSCH, V. & MITTMANN, H.-W. (eds.): The Evolution of Western Eurasian Later Neogene Faunas. – pp. 64-77; Columbia University References Press, New York. BEAUMONT, G. DE (1986): Les carnivores (Mammifères) TOBIEN, H. (1986): Die jungtertiäre Fossilgrabungsstät- du Néogène de Höwenegg (Hegau, Baden-Württem- te Höwenegg im Hegau (Südwestdeutschland). Ein berg). – Carolinea, 44: 35-43; Karlsruhe. Statusbericht. – Carolinea, 44: 9-34; Karlsruhe. ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

MUNK & al.: Excavations at Höwenegg, Southwest-Germany 13

TOBIEN, H. & JÖRG, E. (1959): Die Ausgrabungen an AHMEDI, A. (SMNK) , BATTENSTEIN, M. (SMNS), BERNOR, der jung-tertiären Fossilfundstätte Höwenegg (He- R. L. (Howard University, Washington D.C.), BOEING, gau) 1955-1959. – Beitr. Naturkdl. Forsch. Südwest- S. (SMNK), BURKHARDT, C. (SMNK), CERMAK, A. (Karls- deutschlands, 18: 175-191; Karlsruhe Universtät, Prag), CLAUS, S. (Universität Heidelberg), WOODBURNE, M.O., THEOBALD, G., BERNOR, R.L., SWIS- ERKUT, B. (Karls-Universtät, Prag), FAHLKE, J. (Univer- HER, C.C. III, KÖNIG, H. & TOBIEN, H. (1996): Advan- stät Bonn), FEJFAR, O. (Karls-Universtät, Prag), FLÜG- ces in the Geology and Stratigraphy at Höwenegg, GE, H. (SMNS), GIERSCH, S. (SMNK), HEIZMANN, E. P. Southwestern Germany. – In: BERNOR, R.L., FAHL- J. (SMNS), HÖRTH, M. (Bühl, ehrenamtlich), JAHNKE, S. BUSCH, V. & MITTMANN, H.-W. (eds.): The Evolution of (SMNK), KAISER, S. (SMNS), KAMENZ, M. (SMNS), KAST- Western Eurasian Later Neogene Faunas. – pp. 106- NER, R. (SMNK), KÖNIG, H. (Ehrenkirchen, ehrenamt- 123; Columbia University Press, New York. lich), LEHMKUHL, A. (SMNS), LILLICH, R. (SMNS), MEIS- ZAPFE, H. (1989): Chalicotherium goldfussi KAUP aus NER, A. (SMNS), MITTMANN, H. - W. (SMNK), MÖSCHEID, P. dem Vallesium vom Höwenegg im Hegau (Südwest- (SMNK), MUNK, W. (SMNK), RABA, W. (Universität Wien), deutschland). – Andrias, 6: 117-128; Karlsruhe. RASSER, Dr. M.(SMNS), ROSIN, I. (SMNS), SCHNEIDER, C. (SMNS), STUKOWSKI, F. (Leonberg, ehrenamtlich), WÄH- Appendix I – List of Participants 2004-2006 Field NERT, V. (SMNS), WOLF, D. (Universität Bonn), ZIEGLER, Seasons Dr. R. (SMNS), ZIEMS, A. (SMNK). ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

MUNK & al.: Excavations at Höwenegg, Southwest-Germany Tafel 1 Plate 1. Profi le of the Solifl uction layer, western wall of the Western Quarry, July 6, 2006. July Quarry, Western westernof the wall uction layer, le of the Solifl Profi Plate 1. ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

Tafel 2 carolinea, 65 (2007)

Plate 2 a) Second well preserved Miotrago- cerus skeleton found in 2003. – Photograph: SMNS (R. HARLING).

Plate 2 b) Trionyx carapace found in the abdomen of same Miotragocerus skeleton. – Photograph: SMNS (R. HARLING). ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

MUNK & al.: Excavations at Höwenegg, Southwest-Germany Tafel 3

Plate 3 a) Cricetid tooth. Plate 3 d), e) & f) Fossil plant material from the 2004- 2006 excavations. d) Buxus fossil leaf from the Nort- hern Trench.

Plate 3 b) Machairodus aphanistus left mandibular fragment. Plate 3 e) Populus fossil leaf from the Northern Trench.

Plate 3 c) partial mandible of a new cervid species found Plate 3 f) Pollen sample. at Höwenegg in 2003 (E. HEIZMANN, in preparation). ©Staatl. Mus. f. Naturkde Karlsruhe & Naturwiss. Ver. Karlsruhe e.V.; download unter www.zobodat.at

Tafel 4 carolinea, 65 (2007)

Biotic Elements Collected 2004-2006 Field Seasons ((GastropodsGastropods Excluded)

Plate 4 a) Pie percentage diagramdiagram of HöwHöweneggenegg biotic elementselements..

Proportions of Biotic Contents by Stratigraphic Level

Plate 4 b) PercentagePercentage of biotic elements bbyy strstratigraphicatigraphic lelevel.vel.