The staircase of Hallstatt.

<p>The 3100 years old staircase is 8 m long and 1.20 wide, and is representative of the construction typical of the Bronze Age (C: NHM/A. Rausch) (<b>A</b>). After its discovery, a wooden shelter was built over the staircase to ensure its preservation (C: NHM/A. Rausch) (<b>B</b>).</p

Phylogenetic affinities of the ITS coding sequences amplified from pure fungal strains isolated from the staircase of Hallstatt.

<p>Phylogenetic affinities of the ITS coding sequences amplified from pure fungal strains isolated from the staircase of Hallstatt.</p

Stairs surface.

<p>Fungal mycelia developing on the wood and on the old dark deposits on the surface of the stairs (<b>A</b>). Evolution of salt crusts due to the storing conditions promoting local variations in the salt content on the stairs (<b>B</b>).</p

Clustering of bacterial and archaeal strains according to RAPD-PCR and phylogenetic classification of the isolated bacteria and archaea.

<p>Clustering of bacterial and archaeal strains according to RAPD-PCR and phylogenetic classification of the isolated bacteria and archaea.</p