Multidisciplinary research at Höwenegg

Höwenegg is one of the most significant Late Miocene sites of Europe, and one of relatively few known from Southern Germany. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, several seasons of field excavations were undertaken by Prof. Tobien (then Darmstadt), Dr. Jörg (Naturhistorisches Museum Karlsruhe) and their colleagues at Höwenegg. Their research efforts led to their collecting a spectacular assemblage of about 30 more or less complete mammalian skeletons, including those of the horse, Hippotherium primigenium, the antelope, Miotragocerus pannoniae, the rhino, Aceratherium incisivum, artiodactyles, Dorcatherium sp. and Muntiacinae indet.. More than 20 other vertebrate taxa, represented mostly by isolated findings, have been documented, among them fishes, reptiles, birds and mammals. In 1985 and 1992, relatively small scale geological explorations were made at Höwenegg to secure a radioisotopic age. This was accomplished and securely dated Höwenegg as being 10.3 million years old.
A new collaborative multidisciplinary project was initiated between the Natural History Museums of Stuttgart (Dr. Heizmann), Karlsruhe (Prof. Wirth) and Howard University (Washington D.C., Prof. Bernor) in 2002 . The aims of this project are to continue making collections of all fossil materials within a secure stratigraphic setting so as to secure a complete and accurate interpretation of the circumstances under which the Höwenegg assemblage was accumulated, its paleoecologic setting, and the insights that Höwenegg can give us to compared to other late Miocene sites in Europe.

heizmann_2ab_4a_fundstelle.jpg: The Höwenegg vertebrate site

In the Summer of 2003, a four week pilot project was undertaken at Höwenegg to ascertain whether there were significant fossil bearing horizons preserved at the site. The 1992 geological trench was reopened, and by the end of the first week it was clear that Höwenegg still entombs abundant plant, invertebrate and vertebrate fossil materials The 2003 field season yielded two virtually complete skeletons of the antelope Miotragocerus, one of which was a pregnant female, and a skeleton of the turtle, Trionyx. All data collected in 2003 leads us to believe that Höwenegg remains a very rich fossil locality.

heizmann_2ab_4b_profil.jpg: The section at the excavation site

heizmann_2ab_4c_ausgrabung.jpg: Excavation of a Miotragocerus-skeleton

Our continuation of this project will add a new emphasis on the collection of micromammal material. Screen washing for micromammals can yield large samples of these animals and allow diverse paleontologic studies. Addition of micromammals to the Höwenegg collections will assist us in biochronologic correlations to other European localities that do not have secure radioisotopic ages and give us new additional insights into the local paleoecology and biogeographic connections with other European localities. Study of micromammals is of further intrinsic interest because of the dramatic turnover in Middle and Late Miocene (15-5 million years) assemblages, which in themselves reflect the great climatic changes that took place during this temporal interval. Thusfar, we have collected a small assemblage of micromammal teeth in the screenwashing, but more efforts are needed to find specific horizons that yield abundant small mammal material.
Besides a rich and diverse fossil vertebrate record, Höwenegg has produced diverse assemblages of plants, seeds and invertebrates. Further collection and analysis of these fossil remains will allow us to broaden our study of the local ecology and climatology of Höwenegg.

heizmann_2ab_4d_gips.jpg: Protection of a Miotragus-skeletton with plaster

heizmann_2ab_4e_praeparation.jpg: Miotragocerus-skeleton during preparation

heizmann_2ab_4f_schaedel.jpg: Skull of the Miotragocerus-skeleton

Systematics, taxonomy and evolution of oligocene and miocene carnivores and artiodactyles

heizmann_2ab_2_micromeryx.jpg: Reconstruction of skeleton and body of the tiny deer Micromeryx from the Middle Miocene of Steinheim am Albuch. Shoulder height 45 cm.

Analysis of factors responsible for extinction, colonisation and radiation events (exemplified by the Early Miocene faunal change)

heizmann_2ab_3_hauerelefant.jpg: Skull of the proboscidean Deinotherium from the Lower Miocene of Langenau. The downward directed tusks of the lower jaw are characteristic. The large bony nasal opening indicates the existence of a trunk in the living animal.