EMD - Equus Mesowear Datenbase

In the Eurasian and African palaeocommunities of the geologically younger systemy (neogene), horses of the genus Equus are among to the most often preserved members of the mammal fauna. This allows to use the range of different feeding regimes in Equus as a model to characterise the structure of palaeohabitats. We apply the methodology of extended mesowear analysis, which allows to infer the dietary regime of a specimen based on isolated premolars and molars, which are among the most often preserved skeletal elements in most fossil assemblages. Data for comparison are gathered from extant equid populations (zebras, feral donkeys, and feral horses), which live in well documented habitats. In a test study four taphonomically and stratigraphically well documented pleistocene sites representing Equus ferus (Wallertheim, OIS 5a-d, Villa Seckendorff, OIS 5a-3, Bockstein, OIS 5a-4 and Vogelherd, OIS 4-2) are examined for their dietary signals in Equus. Thus conclusions can be drawn about the availability of food components and the quality of the related palaeohabitats.

Co-operation with Prof. H. P. Uerpmann and Prof. N. Conard (Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte, University Tübingen).

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft