THE BILZINGSLEBEN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE: NEW DATING EVIDENCE

New absolute dates have been obtained for the Bilzingsleben (D.D.R.) archaeological site, using uranium‐series analyses of travertine, and electron spin resonance (ESR) analyses of travertine and tooth enamel of rhinoceros. The results indicate that the site was apparently occupied during interglacial isotope stages 9 or 11. The surrounding terrain has been subsequently dissected by at least three discrete stages of fluvial erosion during succeeding glacial stages. Bilzingsleben is thus shown to be significantly older than the Lower Travertine at the nearby site of Ehringsdorf, assigned to isotope stage 7 by uranium‐series dating. The latter assignment is confirmed by new ESR data presented here.