Schöningen, Germany

T

he archaeological site of Schöningen is part of a brown-coal mine area located in the northern foreland of the Harz Mountains, in Lower Saxony State (Germany). Since the 90’s, several archaeological sites have been discovered in this mine area and have been dated to the late Middle Pleistocene. Schöningen is known for its particularly well preserved organic artefacts mostly represented by large mammal bones and wooden artefacts.  Since the first discoveries, the results of a multi-disciplinary research (archaeozoological, botanical, geological, functional (use-wear and residue)) contribute to a better understanding of the lower Palaeolithic subsistence activities.

Further reading

• Rots V., Hardy B.L., Serangeli J. & Conard N., 2015 – Residue and microwear analyses of the stone tools from Schöningen. Journal of Human Evolution 89: 298-308
• Serangeli J., Van Kolfschoten T., Starkovich B.M. & Verheijen I., 2015 – The European Saber-toothed cat (Homotherium latidens) found in the « Spear Horizon » at Schöningen (Germany). Journal of Human Evolution 89: 172-180
• Thieme H., 1997 – Lower Palaeolithic hunting spears from Germany. Nature 385: 807-810
• Van Kolfschoten T., Buhrs E. & Verheijen I., 2015 – The larger mammal fauna from the Lower Palaeolithic Schöningen Spear site and its contribution to hominin’s subsistence. Journal of Human Evolution 89: 138-153