To spatially characterize the palaeolakeshore environment at the archaeological kill site Schöningen 13 II-4 of the Middle Pleistocene Reinsdorf sequence, in-depth palynological, geochemical, aquatic microfossil and archaeological analyses were undertaken on sediment sections with an average thickness of about 15 cm, concordantly overlain by faunal remains, dominated by horse, from the unique ‘Spear Horizon’ layers of the 1995 excavation campaign. The data reveal a distinctive lake level drop, documented by the change from a carbonate-rich lake marl to a carbonate-free organic mud with increased carbon content and decreasing C/N, Si/Al, Si/K and Fe/Al ratios, indicating a higher pedogenic supply of organic matter and drier conditions at the site. Compared with older, similar transitional phases of lake level changes occurring within the Reinsdorf sequence, it is important that these youngest sediments are undisturbed, indicating continuous development. Ostracod and diatom analyses indicate a lowering water level with higher salinities and rich aquatic vegetation. Mesorheophilic ostracod species along with tychoplanktic diatom taxa point to flowing waters and turbulence at the lakeshore, presumably related to spring-fed streams originating from nearby highlands. Palynological results reveal a very diverse zonal vegetation pattern around the palaeolakeshore considering an area of investigation of approximately 50 × 75 m and a tessellated type of regional vegetation during the formation of the archaeological horizons. On topographically lower elevated areas, birch groves and taxa favouring wet, marshy conditions such as Cyperaceae, indicative of terrestrialization, were predominating, while other stands of this transitional phase reveal a very dry, grass-dominated steppe woodland favouring a rich wildlife with a striking number of megaherbivores. Our results suggest that the lithological differences of the ‘Spear Horizon’ layers containing the archaeological finds were due to their respective topographical situation and that the layers were deposited almost simultaneously during the beginning of the lake level drop. Human activities seem to have concentrated in sparsely vegetated areas along the palaeolakeshore, rather than in areas of adjacent denser birch swamp forest stands.

中文翻译：

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德国 Schöningen 13 II-4 中更新世旧石器时代动物捕杀地点高分辨率环境代用数据的空间解释

为了对中更新世雷因斯多夫序列的考古杀戮地点 Schöningen 13 II-4 的古湖岸环境进行空间特征描述，对平均厚度约为 15 厘米的沉积物剖面进行了深入的孢粉学、地球化学、水生微化石和考古学分析，这些沉积物剖面一致地覆盖着以马为主的动物遗骸，来自 1995 年挖掘活动的独特“矛地平线”层。数据揭示了明显的湖泊水位下降，记录了从富含碳酸盐的湖泥灰到不含碳酸盐的有机泥的变化，碳含量增加，C/N、Si/Al、Si/K和Fe/Al比率降低，表明该地点有机质的成土供应更高，条件更干燥。与老一辈相比，与赖因斯多夫序列中发生的类似的湖水位变化过渡阶段一样，重要的是这些最年轻的沉积物不受干扰，这表明持续的发展。介形类和硅藻分析表明，水位降低，盐度升高，水生植被丰富。中嗜热介形类物种和浮游硅藻类群表明湖岸有流动的水和湍流，可能与源自附近高地的泉水溪流有关。孢粉学结果揭示了古湖岸周围非常多样化的地带性植被模式，考虑到大约 50 × 75 m 的调查区域和考古地平线形成过程中的棋盘状区域植被类型。在地势较低的高地地区，白桦林和类群喜欢潮湿，表明陆地化的莎草科等沼泽条件占主导地位，而这一过渡阶段的其他林分则显示出非常干燥、以草为主的草原林地，有利于丰富的野生动物和数量惊人的大型食草动物。我们的结果表明，包含考古发现的“矛地平线”层的岩性差异是由于其各自的地形情况造成的，并且这些层在湖水位下降开始时几乎同时沉积。人类活动似乎集中在古湖沿岸植被稀疏的地区，而不是邻近茂密的桦树沼泽森林地区。以草为主的草原林地，有丰富的野生动物和数量惊人的大型食草动物。我们的结果表明，包含考古发现的“矛地平线”层的岩性差异是由于其各自的地形情况造成的，并且这些层在湖水位下降开始时几乎同时沉积。人类活动似乎集中在古湖沿岸植被稀疏的地区，而不是邻近茂密的桦树沼泽森林地区。以草为主的草原林地，有丰富的野生动物和数量惊人的大型食草动物。我们的结果表明，包含考古发现的“矛地平线”层的岩性差异是由于其各自的地形情况造成的，并且这些层在湖水位下降开始时几乎同时沉积。人类活动似乎集中在古湖沿岸植被稀疏的地区，而不是邻近茂密的桦树沼泽森林地区。我们的结果表明，包含考古发现的“矛地平线”层的岩性差异是由于其各自的地形情况造成的，并且这些层在湖水位下降开始时几乎同时沉积。人类活动似乎集中在古湖沿岸植被稀疏的地区，而不是邻近茂密的桦树沼泽森林地区。我们的结果表明，包含考古发现的“矛地平线”层的岩性差异是由于其各自的地形情况造成的，并且这些层在湖水位下降开始时几乎同时沉积。人类活动似乎集中在古湖沿岸植被稀疏的地区，而不是邻近茂密的桦树沼泽森林地区。