Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 87. (Budapest 1995)

Bajzáth, J.: Plant macrofossils from Hungarian Pleistocene I. Gymnospermatophyta from Győrújfalu, West Hungary (Preliminary report)

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Tomus 87. Budapest, 1995 p. 5-9 Plant macrofossils from Hungarian Pleistocene I. Gymnospermatophyta from Győrújfalu, West Hungary (Preliminary report) by J. BAJZÁTH, Budapest BAJZÁTH, J. (1995): Plant macrofossils from Hungarian Pleistocene I. Gymnospermatophyta from Győrújfalu, West Hungary (Preliminary report). - Annls. hist.-nat. Mus. natu. hung. 87: 5-9. Abstract - Rich fossiliferous fauna and flora were found in the fluvial deposit of gravel-pit from the Lower-Pleistocene (Giinz-Mindel) layer in Győrújfalu. This assemblage is unique in Hungary, because among the very well preserved fossils there are micro- and macrovertcbrates, molluscs and plants as well. The rich fossiliferous macroflora consists of uncharred or slightly charred tree trunks, charred cones, fruits and seeds, which were discovered in peat-lens and clay-lens. Two species of gymnosperms could be exactly identified by the cones and seeds: Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies. The existence of Larix sp. is very doubtful. With 9 figures. INTRODUCTION Győrújfalu is a little village in Szigetköz, next to the Danube. There is a big gravel-pit near the village, which is covered by water 2 meters deep. From this pit-lake the gravel deposit is exploited by an enormous floating dredger. Very rich and important Pleistocene remain assemblage, molluscs, vertebrates and plants have been found in the lower level of the fluvial deposit (20-35 m) from this site since 1983. It can be assessed that these fossils are from the last part of the Early Pleistocene (GiinzMindel interglacial). Based on the stratigraphy of vertebrates as given by JÁNOSSY (1986), they are exactly in the stage of Nagyharsány-hegy, as the existing indicator species of this period suggest. This remain assemblage seems to be very homogenous stratigraphically. The species of mammals that were discovered here have not been found in Hungary till now, so Győrújfalu plays an important role in national and international research of Pleistocene as well. The detailed geological and paleontological description of this site was given by JÁNOSSY & KROLOPP (1994), so we summarize their statements in this publication. Because of missing core-sequences I cannot give exact results as far as vegetation and climate reconstruction from the fluvial sediment is concerned. I hope to complete them in the future. I would like to introduce those plant macrofossils which came from peat-lens 20 m deep from the top of the sediment. In this part of the paper I deal only with the cones of gymnosperms. E. HORVÁTH from Savaria Museum, Szombathely, had started the paleobotanical investigation in this site, but because of his death in 1990 he could not finish the work. He examined the tree trunks and determined them as conifers. Among the collection he noticed larch. Unfortunately, no written record of this research was found in his legacy. J. LÁSZLÓ from the Hungarian Geological Institute (MAFI) was working in Győrújfalu since 1984, but he did not record his results, and finished his work. I started to work on the project in April 1994. This is the first published locality of fossiliferous cones and seeds of gymnosperms from