Achaeometrical Research in Hungary II., 1988

ENVIRONMENT - Levente FŰKÖH: The role of malacological examinations in arheology

have also been carried out (FŰKÖH 1991). It could be demonstrated, that Holocene climatic changes modified the molluscan fauna as well. Significant changes took place in the quantitative compositions of species representative of the fauna. Describing the characteristic features of these changes has lead to examinations whose results make the fauna suitable for palaeoecological reconstruction, biostratigraphic rankings and zoogeographies analyses (FŰKÖH 1993). Gastropodan faunas that reflect climatic changes the best can be found in cave deposits, subsided areas (in the sediments of lakes formed at the Pleistocene - Holocene boundary) and at archaeological sites. The localities of these gastropodan faunas are, in general, also rich in vertebrate remains and archaeological finds. These materials excellently complement conclusions drawn from the evaluation of malacological data. Thus, different scientific areas develop mutually helping each other. First, the modes in which gastropods can be deposited in sediments should be reviewed. Malacofauna living in situ should be mentioned at the first place. Recent distributions of molluscs show that in study areas they usually occur in numbers that are insufficient for the purposes of quantitative examinations. Therefore, natural traps must be found, in which the species accumulated under natural circumstances. Caves and refuse pits of archaeological localities are the most typical forms of such accumulations. Such natural traps preserve malacological materials characteristic of the environment. How did gastropods accumulate at the aforementioned mentioned places? To our knowledge, four possibilities can be reckoned with: 1. There are cave-dwelling, so-called troglophilous gastropodan species. The number of these species is very small in Hungary. One of them is Daudebardia cavicola, that lives in Baradla Cave, at Aggtelek; the other such species is Paladilhia hungarica that occurs in deep waters in the Mecsek Mountains. In addition to the troglophilous species, gastropods leading a hidden life (mainly species of Limacidae family) and species demanding much humidity (species of Zonatidae family) can also be found at the entrances of caves. 2. Other species live on the surfaces of rocks or in crevasses, such as Chondrula dientet, Granaria frumentum, Pyramidula rupestris and certain species of the Clansilidae family. 3. Gastropods end up in caves as a result of water transport. Presumably, the gastropodan fauna of the surrounding environment is deposited in cave sediments this way. 4. The fourth way of accumulation of gastropods is indirect. In caves inhabited by ancient humans, quantities of waste accumulated. It served as food for numerous gastropodan species. This phenomenon can be observed in the side recess of Rejtek rock-shelter No. I, in the Bükk Mountains. It was used as a „kitchen dustbin" by neolithic people. When the origins of molluscan faunas at open archaeological localities is examined, firstly one must consider the in situ malacofauna. It could be completed excellently by the so-called alluvium faunae. However, the role of refuse pits is also significant in protecting faunal remains. A good example for this is the refuse pit recovered at the Copper Age site of Mónosbél; FŰKÖH 1990). Especially in riverside settlements, dwelling places could have been inundated by floods. In that case, the occurrence of alluvium faunae can be observed. If marshland elements are dominant, it may be concluded that after the flood, depressions and closed206