O. G. Dely szerk.: Vertebrata Hungarica 18. (Budapest, 1978)
Kordos, L.: Historico-zoogeographical and ecological investigation of the subfossil vertebrate fauna of the Aggtelek Karst 85-100. o.
forest association, at the northern sides of the dolinas the remains of Tilio- Fraxinetum forest association can be found, while the owerhelming part of the plateau of the Nagyoldal belongs to the hornbeam-oak (Querceto-Carpine- tum) climax association. Co-ordinating the floristic data with the accuracy level of the faunistical investigations we can realize that up to about 350 m a.s.l. the Szelce Valley and the Nagyoldal were covered with a forest turning into karstic scrub forest, while till the margins of the plateaus there are aboriginal ruprestral grasses. The plateau is covered by a closs oak-forest, generally mixed with hornbeam. Having a knowledge of the vegetation we can explain and mark out fairly well which territories were subjected to forest clearing, as well as the possible influence of this process made on natural vegetation. The results of investigations made on the vertebrate remains can afford a possibility to make studies of this character because the collection area of the owl, accumulating micromammals, covers the areas of these associations in an equal proportion and casts can alweys reflect the ratio of micromammals of a given area (JÁNOSSY and SCHMIDT, 1970). During the Late Bronze Age (6th layer) the forest, being already straggling for climatic reasons, too, was cleared presumably by burning (the layer was full of charcoal). The landscape of open areas was much like in our days. During the Late Bronze Age the inhabitants of the region made barrages in the valleys. In consequency hygrophilous species, e.g. Arvicola rapidly bred in karstic regions. Since the total quantity of forests was eclipsed by that of rupestral grass and karstic scrub forests, the relative quantity of lizards, snakes and certain dormice increased. Because of the enlargement of agricultural areas Cricetus and Talpa bred rapidly in culture steppe. After the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages (layers 6-5) the region became depopulated, while the valley-bottom and the peak of the mountain reforested. At the same time, however, a scanty open area with a thicker soil has remained at the bottom of the valley proved by e. g. the survival of Talpa. The region remained inhabitable probably until the Migration Period. During the 12th and 13th centuries a large-scale immigration took place in the surroundings (layers 3-2). This process was arrested by the invasion of Tartars. Forest clearing was possible at the valley-bottoms and on the slopes. In the latter case the soil was soon eroded, thus, later matured forest could not develop on them, while karstic scrub forest spread all over. Together with forest clearing, in the first phase of the conquest of open areas Crocidura and Microtus arvalis , in the second phase, paraUel with the expansion of karstic scrub forest, also dormice (Dryomys , Eliomys and Glis) as well as lizards and snakes became widespread. The number of such hygrophilous species as Sorex araneus, S. minutus and Myodes accustomed to forests and a humid, shaded environment diminished. Parallel with human immigration those animals which were ready to live near human settlements (e. g. house mouse (Mus) and striped field mouse (Apodemus agrárius ) appeared. The number of long-tailed field mouse increased, too. Talpa and Erinaceus also bred rapidly in culture areas. At the culmination of human activity (layer 3) snake and pine vole (Pitymys) retreated. Together with the expansion of scrub forests and after the initial attack of forest clearing the exploration of forest became stable. A new large-scale
