Vorträge - Universität Salzburg

Abstracts Primus Conventus Austriacus Archaeometriae - MMIX
White Truffle from the Neolithic pile-dwelling site of Pfyn-Breitenloo,
Switzerland: The analysis of Non-Pollen-Palynomorphs (Extrafossils) as a
new tool for the reconstruction of local food traditions and past
environments
Jean Nicolas Haas 1 , Reinhard Starnberger 2 , Sabine Karg 3 , Thomas Brodtbeck 4
& Urs Leuzinger 5
1
Institut für Botanik der Universität Innsbruck, Sternwartestrasse 15, A-6020 Innsbruck, Österreich Jean-
Nicolas.Haas@uibk.ac.at
2
Institut für Geologie und Paläontologie der Universität Innsbruck, Innrain 52, A-6020 Innsbruck, Österreich,
Reinhard.Starnberger@uibk.ac.at
3
The National Museum of Denmark, Environmental Archaeology, Ny Vestergade 11, DK-1471 Copenhagen K,
Denmark & Copenhagen University, SAXO Institute, Njalsgade 80, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark,
Sabine.Karg@natmus.dk
4
Elsternweg 5, CH-4125 Riehen, Schweiz
5
Amt für Archäologie des Kantons Thurgau, Schlossmühlestrasse 15a, CH-8510 Frauenfeld, Schweiz,
Urs.Leuzinger@tg.ch
During the last few years the study of Non-Pollen-Palynomorphs (NPPs) became a standard
technique in palaeoecological studies of archaeological sites in the Canton of Thurgau
(Switzerland) and elsewhere. Locally produced, microscopically small algal cysts, fungal
spores and/or eggs from aquatic worms did thereby highly add to our understanding of the
way of living as well as agricultural systems of past lake-side communities. Given the NPP
and pollen results from the sediments deposited during the lifetime (3708-3703±1 BC) of the
Neolithic village Pfyn-Breitenloo it became clear, that the sediment matrix was dominated by
faeces. Extraordinary findings such as resting stages of snow algae (Chlamydomonas nivalis)
as well as spores of White Truffle (Choiromyces venosus) allow additional insight into the
Neolithic life. Even if we do not know if Neolithic people did already enjoy about the
exquisite taste of such truffles, such NPP finds are archaeological finds of invaluable value for
the understanding of past societies.
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