Auel | - Frozen Forests

One of the most significant findings from the Auel site involves the presence of (spores that grow on animal dung like Sordaria and Sporormiella ). These markers prove that the "frozen forests" of the Eifel were never empty.

: High concentrations of quartz-bound Si in Auel sediments reveal the intensification of eolian (wind-blown) dust during colder stadial periods, marking the transition from stable, forested land to exposed, wind-swept tundras. Megafauna and Human Coexistence

: Insights from these ancient forests are often used in modern ecological research to understand the resilience of coppice forests and other European woodland types in the face of modern climate change. Coppice Forests in Europe AUEL - Frozen Forests

The Auel sediment cores are vital for reconstructing "frozen" or glacial-era landscapes. Unlike many other sites, the Auel maar contains laminated (layered) sediments that acted as a natural trap, preserving pollen, spores, and chemical proxies of the surrounding environment.

: Large mammals (megafauna) actually reached higher numbers during colder stadial climates, likely because the shift from dense forest to open steppe provided more grazing material. One of the most significant findings from the

The Auel records highlight how vegetation cover dictates landscape stability.

: Research indicates that from roughly 60,000 to 48,000 years ago , the landscape was dominated by a boreal forest featuring cold-temperate wood taxa and steppe components. Megafauna and Human Coexistence : Insights from these

: During warmer, wet interstadials, the expansion of trees promoted landscape stability and active soil development.