Loess–palaeosol sequences (LPS) represent important records of palaeoenvironmental dynamics throughout the Quaternary. During the Pleistocene's dry and cold phases, the Danube's riverbed was one of the major sources for loess sediments that built up LPS in southern Germany and southeastern Europe. Surprisingly, studies addressing Bavarian LPS along the Danube River often lack actuality. The Attenfeld site was one of them and is often cited as a typical LPS. Nevertheless, the site's previous interpretations are based on a few empirical data and field observations. Considering the site's closeness to the sediment's source area, the Alps, and the region's importance in Middle and Upper Palaeolithic migrational movements, those former renditions needed an evaluation. Therefore, we applied a multi-proxy approach (including analyses of grain-size distribution, element composition, and sediment colour attributes) combined with optically stimulated luminescence. Based on our findings, we conclude that the Attenfeld site's former interpretations might be too generalised. We identified units that were not mentioned by previous studies (e.g. Early Glacial dark greyish horizon). Field observations, sediment characteristics, and age estimates indicate sediment deposition of the dated units partly before MIS 4, which contrasts with previous interpretations. The results further demonstrate how sensitive LPS are to environmental settings and dynamics.

中文翻译：

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来自多方法方法的关于黄土-古土壤层序 Attenfeld（巴伐利亚，德国）的土壤和年代地层学的新结果

黄土-古土壤序列（LPS）代表了整个第四纪古环境动力学的重要记录。在更新世的干燥和寒冷阶段，多瑙河的河床是在德国南部和欧洲东南部形成 LPS 的黄土沉积物的主要来源之一。令人惊讶的是，针对多瑙河沿岸巴伐利亚 LPS 的研究往往缺乏现实性。Attenfeld 站点就是其中之一，并且经常被引用为典型的 LPS。尽管如此，该站点之前的解释是基于一些经验数据和实地观察。考虑到该地点靠近沉积物源区、阿尔卑斯山，以及该地区在旧石器时代中期和晚期迁移运动中的重要性，这些以前的再现需要进行评估。所以，我们应用了多代理方法（包括粒度分布、元素组成和沉积物颜色属性的分析）与光激发光相结合。根据我们的发现，我们得出结论，阿滕费尔德遗址以前的解释可能过于笼统。我们确定了以前研究中没有提到的单位（例如早期冰川深灰色地平线）。现场观测、沉积物特征和年龄估计表明，部分年代在 MIS 4 之前的单元的沉积物沉积，这与先前的解释形成对比。结果进一步证明了 LPS 对环境设置和动态的敏感程度。我们得出的结论是 Attenfeld 网站以前的解释可能过于笼统。我们确定了以前研究中没有提到的单位（例如早期冰川深灰色地平线）。现场观测、沉积物特征和年龄估计表明，部分年代在 MIS 4 之前的单元的沉积物沉积，这与先前的解释形成对比。结果进一步证明了 LPS 对环境设置和动态的敏感程度。我们得出的结论是 Attenfeld 网站以前的解释可能过于笼统。我们确定了以前研究中没有提到的单位（例如早期冰川深灰色地平线）。现场观测、沉积物特征和年龄估计表明，部分年代在 MIS 4 之前的单元的沉积物沉积，这与先前的解释形成对比。结果进一步证明了 LPS 对环境设置和动态的敏感程度。