In 1995, the construction of the
Trans-Mediterranean Pipeline excavated a
fluvio-lacustrine succession that had been buried under volcanic deposits. Fossil bones and pollen samples were collected and further exploration continued in 2005, with a new trench dug to better access faunal and floral materials. The obtained pollen showed there had been a diverse vegetation cover of
herbaceous and arboreal plants from different vegetation belts. There was a
deciduous forest with a mixture of
oak and
hickory trees, along with
hornbeam,
elm,
zelkova, and
linden. The more mountainous forest was likely formed by species of
cedars and
hemlocks, with more evidence of
fir and
spruce close to the timberline. Herbs found at the site came mainly from the
Poaceae and
Asteraceae families, while the steppe plants from genera such as
Artemisia and
Ephedra were less common. A single grain of
Quercus ilex, a Mediterranean oak, was discovered at the site in the second trench section. The animal fossils identified at the site are: an unidentified species of
rodent; an unidentified species
hyena; an unidentified species of
Elephantidae, believed to belong to the genus
Mammuthus rather than to
Elephas;
Stephanorhinus hundsheimensis, an extinct species of rhino;
Equus sussenbornensis, a species of equine;
Hippopotamus antiquus, an extinct species of hippopotamus found in Europe; an unidentified species of
Megacerini, an extinct genus of deer; and
Axis eurygonos, an extinct species of
cervid. Based on the combination of animal and plant remains, the time period of the fossils are considered part of the late
Early Pleistocene to early
Middle Pleistocene. == References ==