Abstract
The results of pollen analyses of hyaena coprolites from the Early Pleistocene cave of Trlica in northern Montenegro and the Late Pleistocene cave of Baranica in southeast Serbia are described. The Early Pleistocene Pachycrocuta brevirostris, and the Late Pleistocene Crocuta spelaea are coprolite-producing species. Although the pollen concentration was rather low, the presented analyses add considerably to the much-needed knowledge of the vegetation of the central Balkans during the Pleistocene. Pollen extracted from a coprolite from the Baranica cave indicates an open landscape with the presence of steppe taxa, which is in accordance with the recorded conditions and faunal remains. Pollen analysis of the Early Pleistocene samples from Trlica indicate fresh and temperate humid climatic conditions, as well as the co-existence of several biotopes which formed a mosaic landscape in the vicinity of the cave.
Highlights
Pleistocene pollen data from the central Balkans are very scanty (JANKOVI] et al 1984; NIKOLI] 1992)
The number of pollen grains extracted from the coprolites from the two cave localities, Late Pleistocene Baranica in Serbia and Early Pleistocene Trlica in Montenegro, was rather low and gave only modest possibilities for the reconstruction of the vegetation milieu of the surroundings of the two caves
This may be the case for other cave localities in which coprolites are found, since cave sediments are often unsuitable for fossilisation of plant remains, and pollen grains
Summary
Pleistocene pollen data from the central Balkans are very scanty (JANKOVI] et al 1984; NIKOLI] 1992). According to the faunal list from the two localities, these coprolites might originate from two different hyena species, Early Pleistocene Pachycrocuta brevirostris, and Late Pleistocene Crocuta spelaea One from the Baranica Cave, and another one from the site of Trlica were extracted for pollen analysis in 2004.
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