Folia archeologica 51.

István Vörös: A magyarországi fosszilis Elephantidák biokronológiája

BIOCHRONOLOGY OF FOSSIL

. ELEPHANTIDAE IN HUNGARY 19 (Mo rn, 1942, 1943), to stress their early, archaic features. The evolved form Arch, m. ürömensis was found in the "sandy clay" sedimented over the Buda Marl (KADIC 1939, Fig. 3. Layer 2.). Mammuthus (Parelephas) trogontherii was found in a filling up of a river bed cut in the thick layer of "sandy clay" in a "ferrous gravel layer" settled over a barren clay layer (layer 4.). Palaeloxodon antiquus was found in the "loess-like soft limy clay - lime silt" (MOTTI

. 1943) forming the cover of the "riverine sediment series" (KADIC 1939, Fig. 3. Layers 2-9!), settled over the Buda Marl. The terminus post quam for P. antiquus is the formation of the riverine sediment sequence of Győrújfalu with Mimomys savini appearing from the earliest level of the Lower Biharian substage (JÁNOSSY et KROI.OPP 1994); its terminus ante quam is the calcareous tuff complex dated by Castellimi fauna phase of the Middle Pleistocene Oldenburgian (Steinheim) age (Mindel-Riss interglacial, JÁNOSSY 1979). The molars of P. antiquus coming from four other gravel layers of the Castle hill of Buda are, on the basis of dental parameters, of archaic character. Older forms of P. antiquus

, known from Central and Western Europe in the Lower Pleistocene (Günz-Mindel) sediments and "young" (Riss-Würm) forms occurring in relatively large number are not known from the Carpathian Basin as yet (Table 2.). MAMMUTHUS BURNETT 1830 Mammuthus primigenius (BLUMENBACH 1799) M. primigenius is known so far from 410 localities in Hungary. Of these, material of 267 localities can be studied while that of 143 localities and the relevant fossils are known from technical literature only (JÁNOSSY et VÖRÖS 1979; VÖRÖS 1 980, 1983, Fig. 6. 1-2.). The chronological position of M. primigenius in Hungary is relatively well known. Old and young forms conventionally separated ("alt-primigenius" and "jung-primigenius" types, MAYET et ROMAN 1923) in the species evolutionary trend of the M. primigenius taxon can be separated adequately in the finds. Among the "alt-primigenius" forms, we lind the forestal M. primigenius hungaricus KRETZOI 1941 indicating the forestal vegetation allometrically, with its holo(loc. Pécs-Bányatelep) and paratypes (KRETZOI 1941; VÖRÖS 1975, 1981). The archaic form of the M. primigenius taxon appeared probably in the Upper Biharian substage. At the Castle hill of Bucla, there were remains of M. primigenius in "loess-like soft limy clay" - limy silt with antiquus (!) - (KADIC 1939) at the localities Országház str. 12 and 14, as well as Szentháromság str. 5. and 9. M. primigenius is still a typical element of the fauna in the Upper Pleistocene, Utrecht stage Istállóskő fauna phase. After this, the frequency of occurrence is essentially decreasing. Its occurrence on Palaeolithic settlements younger than 18-20000 BP seem to be connected not with active hunting, but with accidental collecting of carcasses and bones in river-bed infilling or river valleys. (VÖRÖS 1991, 1998, Table 2.). Translated by: Katalin T. Bíró