Volume III ● Issue 2/2012 ● Pages 281–283

Interdisciplinaria archaeologica Natural Sciences in Archaeology

homepage: http://www.iansa.eu III/2/2012

Reviews

Drobci ledenodobnega okolja. Zbornik seventeen chapters in which experts from of a mammoth tusk which was discovered ob življenjskem jubileju Ivana Turka various scientific fields discuss specific in the Kamnica gravel pit near Drnovo in / Fragments of Ice Age Environments. topics related to the Ice Age in Europe. This the Krka river basin and which has been Proceedings in Honour of Ivan Turk’s review should serve as an overall guide ascribed to the Late Pleistocene species Jubilee. Borut Toškan (editor), Opera through all the articles published therein. Mammuthus primigenius (Blumenbach). Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae, 21, Ivan Turk’s life, work, primary Such finds are extremely rare in the broader Ljubljana: Inštitut za arheologijo ZRC achievements and selected bibliography area of the Krka river basin. SAZU, Založba ZRC, 2011, 280 pages, (from 1971 to 2009) are briefly presented The Austrian paleontologist Martina 44 b-w photographs, 10 drawings, in the introductory chapter by Anton Pacher presents fossil and subrecent 52 tables, 71 graphs, 9 maps. Velušček. He describes how Ivan Turk and ibex (Capra ibex) from Austrian and ISBN 978-961-254-257-3 his research significantly influenced the Eastern Alpine , particularly from development of Slovenian archaeology. Salzofenhöhle (excavated between 1924 Turk has always supported interdisciplinary and 1964). The material containing 221 research and has had the opportunity to specimens is presented in detail for the first engage in archaeozoology himself. He time and compared with ibex remains from became an expert on the bear (Ursus the Drachenhöhle near Mixnitz, Styria and the spelaeus). He was undoubtedly also one of Upper Palaeolithic loess site of Willendorf, the first Slovenian scientists who understood Lower , along with the inclusion of the importance of radiometric methods for remains of ibex from sites in . Ibex dating in archaeology. He introduced precise remains are mentioned here for the first time and interdisciplinary handling of sediments from the Potočka Zijalka cave. and additional residue, which represent Only one article in these proceedings an important source of information about discusses finds from the . previous environments, economies, etc. for Cajus G. Diedrich from the PaleoLogic, Slovenian archaeology. Another of Turk’s Private Geoscience Reserach Institute in important achievements has been the up- Halle, , devoted his contribution to-date publishing of the results of each to a male lion skull of Panthera leo spelaea excavation season at the cave site of Divje (Goldfuss 1810) and postcranial remains babe I and the results of sample trenching at from the Sloup Cave in the Moravian a number of other caves. A number of them (found in 1998 and housed in the Anthropos are also mentioned in additional articles in Museum Brno), together with a partial this monograph. historical find of a skeleton (housed in the The chapters in this proceedings are Natural History Museum Vienna). The lion In the year 2011, the Institute of Archaeology consequently devoted to the presentation, material from Sloup was found along with of the Slovenian Academy of Arts and analysis and interpretation of palaeontological a number of postcranial bones at a Sciences in Ljubljana came up with the data concerning various large mammal den area with other accumulated hyena idea of publishing proceedings dedicated to species ranging from the mastodon and prey bones, but also with a skull and limb the prominent researcher of the Slovenian mammoth to the cave hyena, ibex, cave lion bones deeper in the cave among numerous Palaeolithic, Ivan Turk. These proceedings and bears, with an emphasis placed on the remains in the cave bear den have been named “Fragments of Ice Age cave bear. area. The absence of juvenile lion material Environments”. The editor, Borut Toškan, The first academic article by Vasja Mikuž demonstrates once again that these extinct contacted a considerable number of both and Jernej Pavšič from the Department of carnivores were imported by as prey local and foreign scientists resulting in a Geology of the University in Ljubljana or carcasses. Such a taphonomic situation collection of papers compiled in honour of deals with the remains of a mastodon tusk with adult lion remains found deep in cave Ivan Turk on the occasion of his sixty-fifth from the species Anancus arvernensis bear hibernation den caves helps to explain birthday. which was discovered in 1997 in the Early the presence of lion skeleton remains in The content of these proceedings Villafranchian clastites in the broader area of Europe. Those steppe lions were cave generally reflects areas which Turk’s career Kicar near Ptuj. It is thus far one of the few dwellers who would steal their prey at has been dedicated to, or which have been mastodon remains that have been registered hyena commuting den cave entrances, and the subject of his scientific interest. The in this part of Slovenia. In another article would hunt down cave bears during their monograph thus presents a compilation of both authors also present two larger parts hibernation, particularly in winter time.

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The antagonistic battle between lions and gender groups. In the two-sample tests, Würm in the surroundings of Divje babe I hyenas/cave bears must have ended fatally 89% of the examined parameters revealed (Slovenia), major climatic changes revealed in certain cases in the cave itself for the significant differences between males and by tiny fossils. The all-round manner of lions. females, verifying sexual dimorphism. dealing with the Divje babe I cave site provides Another article from by Vesna Two to three variables each were extracted a good opportunity to combine palaeoclimatic Dimitrijević deals with one of the few finds in eight out of ten skeletal elements using (palaeoenvironmental) approximations based of hyenas. The fact is that the majority of discriminant analysis, which showed a on the individual remains of mammal caves in Serbia which contain Pleistocene significant distinction between the gender microfauna to those emerging from other deposits have been “bear caves”. The groups. The results should help separate palaeontological, palaeobotanical and only up until now confirmed hyena den fossil material into gender groups. The sedimentological data. Although individual cave is Baranica Cave (south-east Serbia, findings of these separate investigations on groups of finds as a source of information valley of the river Trgoviški Timok, near fossil gender groups should help to reach are not always synchronized, the setting of Knjaževac). It is a composite cave with two an understanding of genetic changes over a the boundary between moderate and cold parts designated as Baranica I and Baranica certain geological period of time. climates, between dry and humid ones, in II. There is a wealth of herbivorous and A similar study which could help scientists the period between 70,000 and 80,000 years carnivorous species remains, although hyena understand the Pleistocene period is provided ago does not seem to be questionable. remains predominate. Bone fragmentation is by the biologists Đuro Huber (Biology An interesting study has been provided high, mostly due to damage made by hyena Department of the Veterinary Faculty, by Janez Turk, the son of Ivan Turk. teeth. There was competition for the living University of Zagreb) and Goran Gužvica He described here an issue which was space among the cave hyena and other (OIKON Institute for Applied Ecology). first noticed by his father in his doctoral carnivores, as well as humans, although Their study presents basic data on the biology dissertation: the climatostratigraphic the hyenas had assumed a major role in of recent brown bears (Ursus arctos) which classification of sediments in the western Baranica I and maintained an inviolable den may help towards understanding certain sector of Potočka Zijalka cave, based on site in Baranica II. The article discusses the elements of cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) life. a reconstruction of snow conditions at the competition for the living space in Baranica Both species belong to the same genus and time of their deposition. He analysed the between the carnivores in which cave hyena were sympatric in large parts of current day differences between sediments accumulated dominated. and Slovenia at one period of their during cool and humid climatic periods in As written above, the primary emphasis evolutionary history. A long term study the Pleistocene, and warm periods, such as in these proceedings has been placed on (since 1981) of brown bears in Croatia the Holocene. cave bears. The study by Preston T. Miracle provided a certain amount of scientific data. Two studies are related to palaeobotanical from the Cambridge University presents The fields of research that may be relevant research in Slovenia. Metka Culiberg from a detailed analysis of the sex structure of for a comparison with cave bears consist of the Institute of Biology of the Slovenian the Krapina cave bear assemblage and denning ecology, reproduction and growth, Academy provides an overview of certain compares it with other sites in the region. movements, habitat requirements, activity Palaeolithic sites with a special focus on Moreover, the results are related to the patterns and feeding habits. These themes charcoal and pollen. A significant part of life style. should be concerned with the fundamental the study is dedicated to the Mousterian The Spanish authors Aurora Grandal- question: why did the brown bear survive to cave site Divje Babe I from the Middle d’Anglade, Marta Pérez-Rama and Daniel the present day, while the cave bear did not? Würm which is undoubtedly the richest Fernández-Mosquera from the University The Italian scientists Giovanni Boschian Palaeolithic site in Slovenia (the profile of Coruña review in their article the andAnnamaria Desantis from the Department includes 23 layers). Maja Andrič from available isotopic data arising exclusively of Archaeology from the University of Pisa the Institute of Archaeology in Ljubljana from well-contextualized cave bear sites, present a geoarchaeological study of the compares late glacial (Bølling, Allerød and and explore how the climate can influence Caverna degli Orsi / Medvedja jama that Dryas I–III) vegetation at two sites, Lake the physiology of cave bears through their is at present the only site of the early Late Bled (northeastern) and Griblje marsh hibernation length and, in turn, the isotopic Pleistocene age whose sequence can be (southeastern Slovenia). signatures registered in their bones. Both studied in terms of palaeoenvironmental A special article from Matija Turk and diet and physiology depend very directly evolution in the Trieste Karst area. Even if Ljuben Dimkaroski (academic musician) on the environmental conditions in which no geochronometric datings are available is devoted to a comprehensive review of the organisms lived, conditions which have at present, the age of the sequence has previous analyses of a Neanderthal bone flute varied considerably along the Pleistocene. been estimated by biostratigraphy, and (a perforated femur of a cave bear found in The German scientist Kerstin Athen considering that Mousterian tools – i.e. 1995) from Divje babe I, but also includes provides a gender analysis of brown bears about 40 ka BP – were also found. new musicological research findings on the based on the metrical data of brown bear Several chapters in these proceedings extraordinary technical capabilities of this (Ursus arctos) metapodial bones of the address the topic of Last Glacial climatic ancient musical instrument which has been Naturhistoriska riksmuseet in Stockholm. conditions in the southeastern Alps the subject of many a heated discussion The data were statistically analysed using by studying fossil micromammal and on its origin since its discovery. They are univariate as well as discriminant methods palaeobotanical remains as well as persuaded that there is no doubt that it is of in order to find distinguishing features geoarchaeologiocal data. artificial origin. The layer, in which the flute linked to sexual dimorphism. The results Borut Toškan and Janez Dirjec from the was found, is ESR dated to between 60 and indicated that this material, of which Institute of Archaeology of the Slovenian 50 ky in the past. The flute from Divje babe the gender was known a priori, could Academy discuss the Palaeoenvironment at is currently considered the oldest instrument successfully be separated into the two the boundary between the Early and Middle and the first known to have been made

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by Neanderthal hands. In their opinion its life in the Ice Age in an interdisciplinary wider audience. It is bilingual, in both the technological perfection points to the high manner. Ivan Turk, whom this monograph Slovenian and English language and thus cognitive abilities of . is dedicated to, was and is one of those can provide an improved understanding The concluding chapter from Dragan progressive scientists who understands of research on the international and Božič presents a retrospective study of old a need for interdisciplinary cooperation. interdisciplinary level and can lead to new manuscripts and printed sources, providing This collection of articles provides international and interdisciplinary scientific certain interesting insights into the discovery both old and new research ranging cooperation. Moreover, these proceedings of one of the most significant palaeontological from archaeozoology, palaeobotany, to can be found on the Internet free of charge. sites in Slovenia, the cave of Mokriška jama, archaeology, in order to provide a better Online access to papers written in different and also deals with two interesting finds, view of the palaeoenvironment, in Slovenia languages is an excellent way to reach a cave bear skeleton and a wild boar skull and elsewhere. a better understanding of international found there in the 19th century. The entire Slovenian monograph is research (not only in archaeology) and can To sum up, these proceedings are an a brilliant example of how to publish bring the results of this research to light excellent contribution to understanding scientific articles and present them toa throughout the world.

Roman Bortel

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