Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 68. (Budapest 1976)
Jánossy, D. ; Kordos, L.: Pleistocene-holocene Mollusc and Vertebrate fauna of two caves in Hungary
Explanation of Table II. Mölluscan fauna does not show any difference from present-day sylvan fauna. It does not indicate significant changes either in climate or in vegetation, hi other words such changes could not be detected because of the scarcity of material. Sample from Block III 140-160 cms of the continuous profile indicates a relatively drier climate. In samples taken from the side-niche there is a relative frequency of hydrophilous species (Zonitidae, Limacidae) which can be probably regarded as a local phenomenon. In the vertebrate fauna the following characteristics of sedimentological/climatological importance can be mentioned: Rana mehelyi is lacking from the fauna and Ranidae are subordinated to Bufo. As for birds Lagopus and Tetrao urogallus are only in layers older than Neolithic while Tetrastes bonasia exists in Neolithic and younger layers. Rhinolophus hipposideros appears in layers younger than Neolithic. Sicista and Cricetus are common in Mesolithie layers but their number is gradually decreasing in the Neolithic. In layers representing the Mesolithic-Neolithic boundary the order of the disappearing of cold-preferring species is : Microtus nivalis —Microtus oeconomus —Microtus gregalis. Ursus, Ochotona, Rangifer and Bison are only in Mesolithie layers. Of the young immigrant species only Mus musculus can be observed beyond doubt in the uppermost layer. The sequence of layers contain the following faunal changes : The circumstances of accumulation could be the same during the whole sequence. Owl pellets played the greatest part in it yet the small rock shelter was sometimes a hibernaculum for bats and the earth for fox and badgers. The great number of Bufo indicates that in older layers also frogs retreated into the interior of the cave. A protracted staying of Man is represented by the mud-flake layer at 1.10 metres' depth. Maximum quantity of insectivores is in Neolithic layer. The number of Sciurus is slightly increasing toward younger layers. All the four dormice can be found in the fauna nevertheless their quantity is considerably less than in Petényi Cave. In this cave the sequence of layers offers a greater possibility to detect the fade-out could bearing vole-species and the diffusion of modern ones than in Petényi Cave where just the key layer (H v ) yielded only a few finds. In Mesolithie layers Microtus arvalis is dominant, Microtus nivalis and Microtus oeconomus are also present in a small quantity and Microtus arvalis is followed by Mijodes. Microtus oeconomus and Microtus nivalis disappear in the Neolithic while Microtus gregalis in a small individual number survives Neolithic. The youngest occurrence of this species is in the mixed level 2 of Block II. The proportion-diagram of Microtus arvalis and Myodes glareolus is very characteristic (Fig. 4). While Microtus arvalis is most common in the oldest (Mesolithie) layers and later its quantity is abruptly and continually decreasing till our ages, Myodes represents approximately 80 per cent of voles in Mesolithie layers and after its number is gradually increasing till our age where in contemporary layers reaches 60-70 per cent of voles. Similar is the diagram of Pity my s showing however less proportional changes. In Mesolithie layers Apodemus constitues only a low per cent of the fauna. Later it has not such great predominance as in Petényi Cave. Faunal changes in the sequence of layers in Rejtek 1. can be summarized as follows : In Mesolithie some Pleistocene forms are still present like Lagopus lagopus, Lagopus mutus, Microtus nivalis, Microtus gregalis, Microtus oeconomus, Sicista, Ursus, Ochotona, Rangifer and Bison but only Microtus gregalis and Sicista lived to see Neolithic. From the Neolithic till our age we can already find species living still now, nevertheless the locality is not the most suitable one for tracing changes took place after Neolithic because of the mixed character of its layers. Like in Petényi Cave the characteristic elements of contemporary fauna are micromammals classed among Myodes —Pitymys~Apodemus genera. Data offered by vertebrate fauna can be completed with those referring to changes in flora known from anthrakotomical investigations (STTEBER 1969). Charcoal analyses were made on the material of Mesolithie and Neolithic (?) layers. According to STIEBER'S graph (1969) (Fig. 4) the oldest layers — beside the dominance of conifers — contain already modern deciduous trees, too. Later we modified this graph in accordance with the thickness of the layers. Unfortunately we have not enough data to evaluate Mesolithic-Neolithic statisfactorily, it is beyond doubt however that in the Neolithic already deciduous trees are predominant and the number of Corylus is increasing, too. Comparing the graph of vole species and that of charcoal data it is clear that the most important change both in fauna and flora occurred at the boundary of Blocks II and III, in the transitional period of Mesolithic-Neolithic. Although the graph suggests that this
