**4. Comparison of mollusk assemblages with others in Central Europe (Pannonian Basin)**

Data obtained from paleontological analysis from the Zmajevac LPS are valuable, but it is necessary to put them in a broader context and compare them

**19**

**Table 2.**

*Pleistocene Climate Change in Central Europe DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93820*

from the Zmajevac LPS.

with paleontological research from other sites in the Pannonian plain. Previous research of malacofauna conducted on loess profiles in Eastern Croatia [10, 12] show significant congruence with the results obtained by Banak et al. [30, 31]

Erdut profile and *Columella columella* assemblage at Zmajevac LPS.

differ significantly from each other, especially in lower horizons.

**Sample Stable oxygen (δ18O) Stable carbon (δ13C)** Kot 1/1 −2,45 −7,45 Kot 1/2 −3,84 −6,96 Kot 1/3 −4,05 −6,84 Kot 1/4 −4,41 −7,75 Kot 1/5 −3,26 −8,83 Kot 1/6 −3,16 −7,47 Kot 1/7 −4,85 −8,04 Kot 1/8 −5,15 −8,82 Kot 1/9 −5,27 −8,31 Zma 1/1 −2,15 −9,21 Zma 1/2 −3,35 −8,62 Zma 1/3 −3,16 −7,84 Zma 1/4 −5,76 −7,23 **Average** −3,91 −7,95

*Stable isotope values from Zmajevac LPS malacofauna. Upper four samples represent MIS 2 stage.*

In Erdut loess profile [10] which is situated 30 km to the southeast from Zmajevac LPS determined malacofauna was detected in four loess horizons. The base horizon is characterized by a *Columella columella* assemblage, while in the three remaining horizons *Helicopsis striata* assemblages is dominant. These results are comparable and almost identical to the results obtained from the Zmajevac LPS on Bansko Brdo hill (30). Still, there are some minor differences in faunal assemblages that probably reflect micro climate conditions during the Upper Pleistocene. The L4, L5 and L6 loess horizons of the studied Zmajevac LPS with dominant *Helicopsis striata* assemblage show strong influence of *Arianta arbustorum* and *Columella columella* assemblage. In Erdut loess profile dominance of *Helicopsis striata* assemblage with minor influence of a *Chondrula tridens* assemblage is detected [10]. The topmost L1 horizon from this study and the topmost horizon from the Erdut LPS [10] display similarity, with the dominant *Helicopsis striata* assemblage being accompanied by a *Chondrula tridens* assemblage. The lowermost horizons at Zmajevac LPS (L7 and L6) and from the Erdut LPS [10] display differences which are marked by dominant *Helicopsis striata* assemblage at the

The mollusk species distribution of the Zmajevac LPS shows certain similarities also with the Irig loess profile on the southern slope of Fruška Gora Mt. in NW Serbia [2] which is less than 100 km away in east - southeast direction. *Chondrula tridens* and *Helicopsis striata* assemblages dominate in the Irig loess profile and are also present in the Zmajevac LPS, but *Chondrula tridens* is not so dominant in Zmajevac LPS. Further, in Irig loess profile *Vallonia costata* and *Clausilia dubia* species are present in the lowermost part of the LPS, but in contrast two lowermost loess horizons in the Zmajevac LPS bear cooler climate representative in form of *Columella columella* assemblage. This assemblage in Zmajevac LPS is reflecting the Middle Pleistocene Penultimate Glacial (MIS 6) conditions. Based on this compared data it is obvious that these two loess profiles are dominated by *Helicopsis striata* assemblage, but they

### *Pleistocene Climate Change in Central Europe DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93820*

*Pleistocene Archaeology - Migration, Technology, and Adaptation*

a lesser extent than δ18O values. The values in each sample vary depending on which mollusk species is analyzed, but that is to be expected. Regularity, which would indicate that one analyzed mollusk species shows constantly lower or higher δ18O and δ13C values in relation to the other analyzed species, was not registered. The values for stable oxygen isotope are in accordance with results from other loess profiles in

*MS values measured at Zmajevac LPS. Note: loess horizons in white and light gray color are numbered from 1 to 7. Four paleosols from top to bottom are: F2, F3a, F3b and F4; and they are represented with dark gray color.*

**4. Comparison of mollusk assemblages with others in Central Europe** 

Data obtained from paleontological analysis from the Zmajevac LPS are valuable, but it is necessary to put them in a broader context and compare them

the Pannonian Basin with emphasis on MIS 2 stage [18].

**18**

**Figure 3.**

**(Pannonian Basin)**

with paleontological research from other sites in the Pannonian plain. Previous research of malacofauna conducted on loess profiles in Eastern Croatia [10, 12] show significant congruence with the results obtained by Banak et al. [30, 31] from the Zmajevac LPS.

In Erdut loess profile [10] which is situated 30 km to the southeast from Zmajevac LPS determined malacofauna was detected in four loess horizons. The base horizon is characterized by a *Columella columella* assemblage, while in the three remaining horizons *Helicopsis striata* assemblages is dominant. These results are comparable and almost identical to the results obtained from the Zmajevac LPS on Bansko Brdo hill (30). Still, there are some minor differences in faunal assemblages that probably reflect micro climate conditions during the Upper Pleistocene. The L4, L5 and L6 loess horizons of the studied Zmajevac LPS with dominant *Helicopsis striata* assemblage show strong influence of *Arianta arbustorum* and *Columella columella* assemblage. In Erdut loess profile dominance of *Helicopsis striata* assemblage with minor influence of a *Chondrula tridens* assemblage is detected [10]. The topmost L1 horizon from this study and the topmost horizon from the Erdut LPS [10] display similarity, with the dominant *Helicopsis striata* assemblage being accompanied by a *Chondrula tridens* assemblage. The lowermost horizons at Zmajevac LPS (L7 and L6) and from the Erdut LPS [10] display differences which are marked by dominant *Helicopsis striata* assemblage at the Erdut profile and *Columella columella* assemblage at Zmajevac LPS.

The mollusk species distribution of the Zmajevac LPS shows certain similarities also with the Irig loess profile on the southern slope of Fruška Gora Mt. in NW Serbia [2] which is less than 100 km away in east - southeast direction. *Chondrula tridens* and *Helicopsis striata* assemblages dominate in the Irig loess profile and are also present in the Zmajevac LPS, but *Chondrula tridens* is not so dominant in Zmajevac LPS. Further, in Irig loess profile *Vallonia costata* and *Clausilia dubia* species are present in the lowermost part of the LPS, but in contrast two lowermost loess horizons in the Zmajevac LPS bear cooler climate representative in form of *Columella columella* assemblage. This assemblage in Zmajevac LPS is reflecting the Middle Pleistocene Penultimate Glacial (MIS 6) conditions. Based on this compared data it is obvious that these two loess profiles are dominated by *Helicopsis striata* assemblage, but they differ significantly from each other, especially in lower horizons.


**Table 2.**

*Stable isotope values from Zmajevac LPS malacofauna. Upper four samples represent MIS 2 stage.*

The Upper Pleistocene malacofaunal assemblages from the Petrovaradin loess profile in NW Serbia show colder and more humid conditions than in either the Irig or Zmajevac LPS [3, 32]. This is probably an effect of the palaeogeographic position at the northern slope of Fruška Gora Mt. [3, 32], which is opposite to the positions of Zmajevac and Irig LPS's at the southern slopes.

The fauna from middle and upper loess horizons (L3, L2 and L1) of the Zmajevac LPS displays certain similarity also with Madaras loess section in South Hungary [33]. There are some differences present as well. Uppermost L1 loess horizon in the Zmajevac LPS differs from K L1 LL1 loess horizon in Madaras because *Helicopsis striata* and *Chondrula tridens* assemblages dominate here, while *Columella columella* and *Vallonia tenuilabris* species dominate in Madaras LPS. Also, oposite to Madaras LPS *Columella columella* species is scarce at Zmajevac LPS. L2 loess horizon from the Zmajevac LPS differs from K L1 LL2 loess horizon at Madaras section, because *Vallonia costata* and *Pupilla muscorum* species dominate in that LPS, while in the Zmajevac LPS *Pupilla muscorum* is present, but not dominant. Also, *Vallonia costata* species is not present at all. L3 loess horizon in the Zmajevac LPS and K L1 LL3 loess horizon from Madaras LPS both contain *Helicopsis striata* assemblage and show the greatest similarity.

Described mollusk assemblages from Zmajevac LPS show small but important differences to other Pannonian Basin LPS's. It is especially noticeable in loess horizons L7, L6 and L3 of Zmajevac LPS. Results of malacofaunal assemblages from nearby loess profiles in Serbia and Hungary suggest that climate conditions that dominated in this part of Central Europe were similar, with some differences which were a result of paleogeography and microclimate conditions driven by it.

Sedimentological and magnetic susceptibility (MS) data obtained from Zmajevac LPS show similarities with other LPS's in the Pannonian Basin that were described in last decade [2, 7, 8]. MS values are in the expected range, especially in loess horizons (**Figure 3**). MS values from four paleosols are comparable with those from Irig LPS in neighboring Vojvodina region [2]. The lowermost P4 paleosol from Zmajevac LPS displays significantly weaker signals, than the P2 paleosol, but it is stronger than signals from the overlying P3b paleosol horizon. The MS value of 58.3 × 10–6 SI in the P4 paleosol is lower than expected for a long, interglacial period in which favorable climatic conditions prevailed, thus enabling fully developed soil. Even though P4 is the oldest paleosol in Zmajevac LPS, a weaker signal than in the youngest F2 paleosol may indicate that the relatively low MS values are result of mineral leaching. Such a decrease in the MS signal in clayey horizons was also detected in LPS in Germany [34] and in Hungary [35], therefore, it is not a specificity of Zmajevac LPS. It is very likely that similar processes affected the P4 paleosol horizon in Zmajevac. In agreement with previous research of this area [7], the P4 horizon is correlated with the MIS 5e interglacial period. The pedo-complex forming paleosol horizons P3a and P3b is similar to a pedo-complex from the Vojvodina [2]. Reminiscent of synchronous horizon of Hungarian Sütto LPS [4], the signal from the P3 pedo-comlex is higher than the one measured in Vojvodina. Finally, the strongly increased MS value of 82.5 × 10–6 SI suggests that the uppermost paleosol P2 could represent an interglacial, rather than an interstadial phase.
