Ungulate feeding ecology and middle Pleistocene paleoenvironments at Hundsheim and Deutsch-Altenburg 1 (eastern Austria)

The purpose of this study is to analyze the dietary traits in the ungulate communities from two middle Pleistocene localities in eastern Austria, Deutsch-Altenburg 1 and Hundsheim, and to revise the paleoecological reconstructions at each site using tooth wear analyses (mesowear and microwear). The data will also be used to test for intra- and inter-site differences and analyze resource partitioning among ungulates. Intra-site comparisons show significant differences at the two localities and reveal the use of different resources for the various ungulates studied. This suggests the existence of dietary partitioning and niche segregation that would not be detected using traditional morphological proxies. The local environment at the two sites is characterized by the availability of both open and forested habitats. This study indicates the presence of mixed environmental conditions which is a different conclusion from previous paleoenvironmental reconstructions.