Universität zu Köln

The first contribution, titled "Carbon and Oxygen Isotopes in Teeth of Caribou from Greenland as Indicators of Season and Migration Behaviour" by Kerstin Pasda, Stefan Ziegler, and Christoph Mayr, focuses on the application of stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ18O) on caribou tooth enamel (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus). By analyzing samples from 41 individuals from central West Greenland, the authors establish a high-resolution, biologically informed baseline for understanding caribou isotope ecology. The study successfully reconstructs the season and duration of dental crown formation for specific tooth types (Pd4, M1, M2, and M3). Furthermore, the isotopic data provide critical insights into individual migratory behaviors and sex-specific dietary shifts, demonstrating how intra-tooth sampling serves as a robust proxy for reconstructing local paleoenvironmental conditions that broader climatic records often overlook. The second study, "Untersuchungen zur michelsbergzeitlichen Besiedlung im Rheinland anhand von Oberflächenfunden unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Tagebaus Garzweiler" by Nina Avci, addresses the challenges of mapping Neolithic settlement patterns in the Rhineland. While the Michelsberg culture is well-known for its monumental earthworks, open-air settlements remain historically elusive, often manifesting only as fragmented, non-specific surface finds or "scatters" (Fundschleier). Avci investigates the validity of using these surface inventories—specifically from the Garzweiler and Hambach open-cast mines—as reliable indicators of subsurface settlement activity. The research provides a methodological framework for characterizing these surface finds and demonstrates that distinct find concentrations can effectively serve as proxies for identifying otherwise obscured settlement sites. This work significantly enhances the capacity for landscape-scale archaeological interpretation in regions where traditional, large-scale excavations are not feasible.

English