• Terrestrial Vertebrate Taphonomy with special emphasis on cave sites
• Cave bear (taphonomy, palaeobiology, morphometry, man and cave bear)
• Bone modification and bone artefacts
• Pleistocene faunal remains and palaeoenvironments
• Palaeolithic archaeolozoology
• Ethnoarchaeology - animals and man
  

Projects

Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Kommission für Quartärforschung seit 1999

1. 1999 - 2004: Taphonomical, metrical investigation of cave bears from Potocka zijalka, Slovenia as well as co-editor of the monograph (director Prof. Dr. G. Rabeder)
   Potocka zijalka is situated on the south-western slope of the Olseva (1930m) in the mountain range of the Karawanken mountains in Slovenia, near the Austrian border. The cave has a length of 115m. After private investigations first scientific excavations took place from 1928 until 1935 under the direction of Srecko Brodar. From 1997 until 2000 recent excavations were carried out by the Institute of Palaeontology in Vienna in co-operation with the Institute of Geology in Ljubljana. In course of the campaigns 305 lithic artifacts, 130 bone points, and a rich palaeontological material was recovered. Because of certain characteristics of the palaeolithic remains a distinct early Upper Palaeolithic tradition, the "Olschewien", was assumed. The faunal assemblage mainly consists of cave bear. Radiometric dating places the remains into the Middle Würmian, around 30.000a BP. Evidence of other large mammals is rare whereas micro-mammals are abundant. Unfortunately the palaeontological material of the first excavation campaigns was destroyed during the Second World War. The recent investigations mainly focus on climatology, chronology, morphometric, evolutionary level and DNA analyses of cave bears, analyses of other faunal remains, pdie alynology, sedimentology and taphonomic aspects of the assemblage as well as on new artifacts remains and implications of the palaeolithic use of the site. The results will be published in a monograph.
   
   
2. 1999 - 2000: Fauna remains of the Gravettian site Langenlois, Grube Kargl, Lower Austria (director Dr. Chr. Neugebauer-Maresch)
   The open air site Langenlois - Grube Kargl is situated in an old brickwork at the village of Langenlois near the city of Krems in Lower Austria. From 1961 until 1963 excavations were carried out by F. Felgenhauer. Hearths, structures of mammuth-bones, lithic artifacts and bone tools as well as faunal remains were recovered. Palaeolithic remains are of Gravettian tradition. The determination is confirmed by radiometric dating. Lithic artifacts will be examined by Mag. Thomas Einwögerer and bone tools are studied by Martina Hinterwallner.
   The faunal assemblage mainly consists of middle-sized ungulates. Ibex and reindeer are predominant, followed by horse. Bone modifications prove ibex and reindeer as main hunting game of Palaeolithic man at this site. Results will be published in course of the doctoral thesis my Mag. Einwögerer.
   
   
3. 2001: Hyena prey pattern at Teufelsucke cave, Lower Austria (director Prof. Dr. G. Rabeder, in co-operation with Prof. D. Nagel)
   Teufelslucke cave is situated on the northern slope of the Königsberg near Roggendorf in Lower Austria. The cave is developed in the soft Gauderndorfer sand due to erosive processes. The ceiling consists of calciferous Eggenburg layers. After many years of unauthorised excavations, the first scientific research was carried by Krahuletz from 1874 to 1889. Various excavations followed until 1975. Teufelslucke cave produced rich remains of vertebrates (amphibians, birds, micro mammals, large mammals). The mixed assemblage consists of domestic animals, extant species, late Glacial fauna elements and Upper Pleistocene remains. At least the majority of large mammal remains can be attributed to hyena activity. According to radiocarbon dates hyena used Teufelslucke cave as a den around 40.000a BP. Revision of the faunal remains focuses on hyaena prey pattern. Chronology and morphometric characteristics of hyena at Teufelslucke cave are part of the work from Prof. D. Nagel.
   
   
4. 2004: Pleistocene faunal remains of the cave site Ajdovska jama, Slovenia (director Prof. Dr. G. Rabeder)
   Ajdovska jama lies in the south-western part of Slovenia near the city of Krsko. The two entrances lie at 240 m and 244 m a.s.l. Investigations were carried out from 1884 onwards. The site is well known for its Neolithic burial remains but the recent excavations in 2002 carried out by the Institute of Geology in Ljubljana and Institute of Palaeontology in Vienna focused on the Pleistocene sediments in this cave. In course of this project the Pleistocene faunal remains of Ajdovska jama will be investigated.
   

Publications (since 2000)

Pacher, M., 2000. The excavation 1997 in Potocka zijalka. Proceedings of the 4^th International Cave Bear Symposium Velenje 1998. — Geoloski zbornik, 15:99-106, Ljubljana.

Pacher, M., 2000. Höhlenbär und Mensch: Tatsachen und Vermutungen. [in:] Rabeder, G., Nagel, D. & Pacher, M. Der Höhlenbär. — Species 4:82-104, Jan Thorbecke Verlag, Stuttgart.

Rosendahl, W., Darga, R., Kühn, R. & Pacher, M., 2000. Der Höhlenbär in Bayern. Friedrich Pfeil Verlag, München, 48 S.

Pacher, M., 2000. Taphonomische Untersuchungen der Höhlenbärenfundstellen in der Schwabenreith-Höhle bei Lunz am See (Niederösterreich). — Beitr. Paläont., 25:11-85, Wien.

Pacher, M., 2001. New excavation campaigns in the Upper Pleistocene cave bear site Potocka zijalka, Slovenia – state of investigation. — [in:] Grandal d’Anglade, A. (ed.), Proceedings of the 7^th cave bear symposium, La Coruna. — Cadernos do Laboratorio Xeolóxico de Laxe, 26:301-310, La Coruna.

Pacher, M., 2002. Polémique autour d’un culte des l’ours des cavernes. — [in:] Tillet, Th. & Binford, R. (eds.), L’Ours et L’Homme. — ERAUL, 100:235-246, Liège.

Pacher, M. 2004: Murmeltierreste (Marmota marmota L., 1758) aus dem Moosschacht (Kat. Nr. 2836/237) auf der Tanneben bei Semriach, Steiermark. — Die Höhle, 55(1-4):78-82, Wien.

Pohar, V. & Pacher, M., 2004. History of Investigation at the Upper Pleistocene Cave Site Potocka zijalka (Slovenia). — [in:] Pacher, M., Pohar, V. & Rabeder, G. (eds.), Potocka zijalka - palaeontological and archaeological results of the excavation campaigns 1997-2000. — Mitt. Komm. Quartärforsch. Österr. Akad. Wiss., 13:1-12, Wien.

Rabeder, G., Döppes, D., Pacher, M., Pohar, V., Rauscher, K.L. & Withalm, G., 2004. List of fossil Fauna of Potocka zijalka (Slovenia) ). — [in:] Pacher, M., Pohar, V. & Rabeder, G. (eds.), Potocka zijalka - palaeontological and archaeological results of the excavation campaigns 1997-2000. — Mitt. Komm. Quartärforsch. Österr. Akad. Wiss., 13:47-48, Wien.

Pacher, M. & Marinelli, M., 2004. Taphonomic Analyses of Cave bear Remains from Potocka zijalka (Slovenia): Spatial Distribution Analysis). — [in:] Pacher, M., Pohar, V. & Rabeder, G. (eds.), Potocka zijalka - palaeontological and archaeological results of the excavation campaigns 1997-2000. — Mitt. Komm. Quartärforsch. Österr. Akad. Wiss., 13:89-96, Wien.

Pacher, M., 2004. Taphonomic Analyses of Cave bear Remains from Potocka zijalka (Slovenia): Further Analyses and Conclusion). — [in:] Pacher, M., Pohar, V. & Rabeder, G. (eds.), Potocka zijalka - palaeontological and archaeological results of the excavation campaigns 1997-2000. — Mitt. Komm. Quartärforsch. Österr. Akad. Wiss., 13:97-114, Wien.

Pacher, M., 2004. Metrical and palaeobiological Investigations of Cave bear Crania from Potocka zijalka (Slovenia) ). — [in:] Pacher, M., Pohar, V. & Rabeder, G. (eds.), Potocka zijalka - palaeontological and archaeological results of the excavation campaigns 1997-2000. — Mitt. Komm. Quartärforsch. Österr. Akad. Wiss., 13:115-122, Wien.

Pacher, M., 2004. Metrical and palaeobiological Investigations of Cave bear Mandibles from Potocka zijalka (Slovenia) ). — [in:] Pacher, M., Pohar, V. & Rabeder, G. (eds.), Potocka zijalka - palaeontological and archaeological results of the excavation campaigns 1997-2000. — Mitt. Komm. Quartärforsch. Österr. Akad. Wiss., 13:123-140, Wien.

Hofreiter, M., & Pacher, M., 2004. Using ancient DNA to elucidate Raw material Origin of Bone points from Potocka zijalka (Slovenia): preliminary Results. — [in:] Pacher, M., Pohar, V. & Rabeder, G. (eds.), Potocka zijalka - palaeontological and archaeological results of the excavation campaigns 1997-2000. — Mitt. Komm. Quartärforsch. Österr. Akad. Wiss., 13:201-210, Wien.