DIVJE BABE I. Upper Pleistocene Palaeolithic site in Slovenia
Part I: Geology and Palaeontology

8. Palaeobotanical research in Divje babe I

Metka CULIBERG

Abstract

We analysed more than 2,300 specimens of charcoal from at least 20 hearths. The charcoal was either concentrated in hearths or hearth hollows or scattered through the layers. We found a permanent presence of forest in the Middle Glacial (Middle Würm) in the period from approximately 80,000 to 40,000 years ago. In addition to different conifers (Pinus, Pinus cf. cembra, Abies, Picea, Larix, Taxus, Juniperus) various deciduous species grew in the vicinity of the site (Quercus, Acer, Ulmus, Carpinus, Carpinus-Ostrya, Fraxinus, Alnus, Sorbus, Clematis) including beech (Fagus). ). The presence of deciduous species is restricted mainly to the warmer periods of the glacial, while some conifers also thrived in the coldest periods, including during the early glacial maximum ("first pleniglacial"). In addition to charcoal, in two of the hearth levels we found non-carbonised and mineralised pieces of wood of unidentified conifers.

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2007, (Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae, 13), 480pp, 10 colour photoogaphs, 178 b-w drawings, photoogaphs and maps, 89 tabels and 38 annexes; 20 x 29 cm, hardcover, ISBN 978-961-254-019-7.

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