Petr Skrdla

In the article a series of Middle Aurignacian in situ sites and surface loci situated in the Carpathian Basin of the Eastern Central Europe is analysed using industrial and geochronological criteria recently developed for the respective Middle Aurignacian materials in Southwestern France. As a result, there were not only recognized the respective materials for the Carpathian Basin but were also identified both common and specific techno-typological features for taken together Pan-European Middle Aurignacian materials. Geochronologically, the Carpathian Basin’s sites (starting from GI -8a, ca. 36,300 cal. BP) are a little younger of the French materials (GI -8c, ca. 37,900 – 37,500 cal. BP). The realized study also demonstrated a possible series of various site types for Middle Aurignacian settlement pattern observations in the Carpathian Basin. The resulting analyses also allowed us to see on the new data and knowledge levels a basic Middle Aurignacian human dispersal from Europe into the East Mediterranean Levant.

Our study discusses the industrial-chronological status of the Szeletian and Kostenki-Streletskaya industries in Central and Eastern Europe based on our present knowledge and using exclusively in situ excavated materials. The study resulted in the following main observations. The two industries geochronologically are associated with the Initial Upper Palaeolithic preceding Heinrich Event 4 (HE4) and the Campanian Ignimbrite (CI) super-eruption at ca. 40 ka cal BP. For now, absolute dates of the Szeletian are older than of the Kostenki-Streletskaya but the geochronological contemporarity of the two industries cannot be ruled out. At the same time, no archaeological data support a developed or final stage for them. Techno-typological data of the lithic artefacts show basic similarities, and certain typological diff erences based on which the Eastern European industry seems more developed than the Central European one. We consider two equally possible hypotheses about the Kostenki-Streletskaya industry’s origin. We suggest that Szeletian human groups moved from Central to Eastern Europe, but a much earlier claim (Gladilin & Demidenko 1990) of an Asian origin for the industry is also plausible. True Szeletian and Kostenki-Streletskaya assemblages do not contain any proper Aurignacian core or tool types, apart from palimpsest situations and artefact classifi cation issues. Presently, Hlinsko-Kouty I is the only in situ site in Central and Eastern Europe where bifacial triangular points and carinated burin-cores were found in real association, as part of one lithic assemblage confi rmed by refi tting (Demidenko et al. 2018). This Moravian site represents the probably late Early Upper Palaeolithic “Morava-type Aurignacian”, which almost certainly was not connected genetically to the Szeletian industry. More studies are needed for the evaluation of potentially similar sites in both Central and Eastern Europe.

The Szeletian site of Moravany-Dlhá was excavated in several campaigns: by Lothar Zotz in 1943, Karel Absolon in 1946, and Juraj Bárta in 1963 and 1990. Most of the artifacts from these excavations and from surface surveys at the site were made predominantly from White Carpathian radiolarite obtained from nearby outcrops. Poplar-leaf shaped leafpoints (known as Moravany-Dlhá-type leaf point in the literature) make these collections typologically significant. Recently, a series of test pits dug at the site confirm previously published stratigraphic observations. A charcoal sample collected during Zotz ́s excavation dated at Poznań Laboratory to 33 600±300 14C BP confirms the Upper Szeletian age of this site. Besides the eponymous site of Moravany-Dlhá and other sites in Váh valley, the only individual occurences of Moravany-Dlhá-type points were documented in neighboring regions but in different cultural contexts.

The salvage excavation of stone structure KSD was completed (an area of 27 m2) during subsequent campaigns in 2020 and 2021. Preliminary analysis of all excavated material was completed. Characteristics of the lithic industry and spatial patterning of artefacts and pavement are like previously excavated stone structures at the site (KSA, KSB, KSE). More detailed analyses of the KSD material will follow.
The structure consists of a paved area and an adjoining northeastern fold – this shape is like some of the other documented stone structures.
In a similar vein to the previously excavated structures, the raw material spectrum consists of prevailing local raw materials including rock crystal, quartz, plasma, smoky quartz, and Krumlovský les-type chert, supplemented by imported erratic flint and radiolarite. The technological spectrum is characterized by abundant splintered artefacts that were used as bipolar anvil cores for microlithic blanks (Fig. 9.6, 9.7). The prevailing tool types are endscrapers (however, some of the pieces were used as cores for carenoidal blanks) and burins. Fourteen microlithic tools were identified
(Sagaidak-Muralovka-type microliths), however, their number may increase when the collection of small finds is systematically studied under magnification.
Knapped stone artefacts were supplemented with heavy-duty implements made on coarser rocks including quartz, granulite, and amphibolite. Salvage excavation will continue in order to connect the individual trenches, i.e. in the areas between
individual structures. This will aid a detailed study of spatial distribution and testing hypotheses concerning contemporaneity / non- contemporaneity of the individual structures.

Stránská skála is a limestone hill in the eastern part of Brno, Czech
Republic. Local Upper Jurassic cherts, referred to as the Stránská skála
type, were used as raw materials in various prehistoric periods, especially
at the turn of the Middle and Upper Paleolithic and in the
Old Eneolithic. Among archaeological remains discovered on the hill,
there is a dug-in settlement structure linked with a younger stage
of the Moravian Bell Beaker culture (abbr. MBBC), excavated in 2016.
The following paper raises the question of the exploitation of Stránská
skála cherts by MBBC people.

The landscapes of the Mohelno settlement microregion are mostly gently undulating, but also dissected by two deeply incised river valleys – the Oslava River valley in the north and the Jihlava River valley in the south. The western boundary is formed by Zelený kopec (491 m above sea level, while the eastern boundary is marked by Biskoupský kopec (397.3 m above sea level) and Vodanský kopec (397.5 m above sea level). This microregion was settled at different intensities during the whole duration of prehistory. The ‘Boleniska’ elevation is located in the central part of the microregion and forms a strategic point – the entire microregion is visible from this elevation. This elevation comprise of an occupational palimpsest with intensive occupation during three different periods: at the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic (probably more than one techno-complex), the Late Neolithic (Lengyel culture) and at the end of the Eneolithic period (Bell Beaker culture). There is a high density of sites in this microregion from all three periods of interest. A similar settlement pattern (similar topography and cultural sequences) is known from other Moravian microregions. A preliminary testing of the site’s spatial distribution and a visibility analysis support the hypothesis indicating
Mohelno – ‘Boleniska’ as a central site within the entire microregion
only in the Paleolithic. The number of similar palimpsests composed of Paleolithic, Neolithic and Eneolithic sites is low within the entire microregion and the interpretation of this phenomenon must also take into consideration climatic factors, subsistence strategies, and socio-economic conditions in future research.

The new Early Neolithic settlement was discovered in the Spytihněv – “Na vrších” field (Zlín District) during a 2007 survey. Its hilltop position, which allowed the control of the surrounding landscape, including both the Lower and the Upper Morava River valleys and Napajedla Gate (a narrow passage connecting both the valleys), makes the location unique. Since its discovery, the site has been subject to repeated surface surveys, a geomagnetic survey, and two small-scale area excavations conducted in 2007 and 2016. Five sunken settlement features dated back to the Ia phase of LBK, both according to relative chronology and radiocarbon dating, have been excavated to date. The site is also unique for its numerous occurrences of chipped industry. The Spytihněv – “Na vrších” lithic artefacts collection prevailingly consists of imported raw materials and currently represents the most numerous Early Neolithic assemblage in Moravia, although the dimensions of the excavated area were spatially limited. The paper aims at a comprehensive analysis of the chipped stone industry from this settlement in the context of the Middle Danube area.

Archaeological evidence shows that Paleolithic hunters occasionally used the difficult-to-access Pod Hradem Cave for short-term visits. The small collection of artefacts spanning a c. 15,000-year period were made from a range of different raw materials collected from known sources in the surrounding regions up to 120 km away. In this paper, we interpret the sum of the archaeological evidence associated with artefacts from Pod Hradem Cave against an updated chronology, and report a previously unpublished stone artefact. Combined, this information suggests variable cave use throughout the site history. During the Early-Upper Paleolithic this likely involved visits by small, mobile bands using Pod Hradem Cave as a short stop over while passing through the Pustý Žleb valley.

The temporary lowering of the water level in Dalešice Reservoir for maintenance in the autumn of 2021 created an opportunity to conduct an archaeological investigation of the Kramolín hillfort – a site permanently flooded since the 1970s. A small group of archaeologists reached the shore of Kramolín island by boat and performed the survey with metal detectors and GPS hand held devices. This survey produced a large collection of lithic artefacts, pottery sherds, and isolated metal artefacts from different prehistoric periods (including the Neolithic, Eneolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman period and Early Middle Ages), which had already been identified during previous excavations. However, although the site was illegally surveyed with metal detectors earlier, several important artefacts were still found. In addition, the current state of the overlying sediment and its erosion was documented. The survey showed that the site is not yet exhausted and repeated survey in the case of the lowered water level can again provide more important information about this site.

In the article, Eastern and Central European Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) specific Epiaurignacian industry with Sagaidak-Muralovka-type microliths (EASMM) is discussed in terms of its lithic artefact fossil types. The proposed fossil types are carinated atypical endscraper-cores and Sagaidak-Muralovkatype microliths. These two lithic artefact types with some other techno-typological features of the considering EASMM industry type make it distinct within the LGM Early Late UP archaeological context in both Eastern and Central Europe.

The Stránská skála-type chert is a local Moravian chert of Jurassic age, which is available only within a limited area restricted to the Stránská skála rock outcrop and secondary sources in nearby gravels. As this raw material has been well-studied petrographically, its distribution is easy to trace. Its use and proportions within individual archaeological assemblages in particular vary over time – ranging from the dominant raw material during several chrono-cultural periods to a complete absence of this raw material in other periods. Periods of significant use include the Initial and Early Upper Palaeolithic, Late Neolithic and Early Eneolithic. Less pronounced evidence of distribution is also known from the Late/
Final Eneolithic and from the Early Bronze Age. Periods of no use include the Middle to Late Upper Palaeolithic, Early – Middle Neolithic and Middle Eneolithic. This raw material was mostly used locally with a limited distribution – the maximum extent of its occurrence is a few tens of kilometres from the source outcrop. The Stránská skála-type chert should be accepted as a fossile directeur sensu lato thanks to its easy determination and the isolation of the outcrop in combination with the techno-typological analysis.

Compared to the unparalleled cultural achievements and population boom of the Gravettian hunter-gatherers in
Eastern Central Europe, the succeeding Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) occupation is signified by extremely low
populations densities, which is reflected in the scant archaeological record. This chrono-cultural contrast can be
generally attributed to the severe climatic downturn of the LGM. An attempt to find common cultural patterns
that could link individual LGM populations has been only partially successful. An evaluation of the environmental
factors using GIS and multivariate spatial analysis has tested twelve geomorphological characteristics and
has found a strong pattern where sites were chosen for their seclusion in small valleys and natural amphitheatres
probably because they offered partial protection from the elements. The overall difficulty in finding common
patterns between the scattered LGM populations is partly due to our gaps in knowledge of the cultural lifeways of
this period, but it is also due to a likely greater cultural heterogeneity of the scattered, small and highly mobile
LGM populations living in the cold, arid environment of Eastern Central Europe at the time.

In 2019 a collection amassed by the now deceased amateur archaeologist and collector Milan
Daněk (1958–2019) from Dolní Němčí was passed on to the Museum of Moravian Slovakia in
Uherské Hradiště. This collector focused his archaeological research not only on the area of Dolní
Němčí (Uherské Hradiště district), but also on several neighbouring villages where he amassed a large
collection of finds. One smaller assemblage consists of knapped Palaeolithic artefacts from Babí hora
(BH 3). Considering the character of the knapped artefacts, the state of preservation, and spatial
aspects, the assemblage can be interpreted as a deliberately placed deposit. It is noteworthy that even
after three decades of additional surveys, no associated debitage or manufacturing waste, which are
characteristic features of Palaeolithic sites, have been recovered. The collection in question consists
of seven patinated knapped artefacts, all of which (except one) were made on extremely large blanks.
These artefacts are technologically developed retouched tools which could have also served as cores for
manufacture of smaller bladelets. The raw material type of all of these artefacts is erratic flint which,
in the region of middle Pomoraví, represents an imported material of northern origin from the area
of glacio-fluvial sediments which stretches from present-day northern Moravia to southern Poland
(minimum distance from the site to the source area is 70 kilometres as the crow flies). Technologically
speaking, the collection consists of one core, four massive blades, one small blade and one flake.
Typologically speaking, implements identified include one unilaterally continuously retouched
pointed blade with a broken off proximal fragment (Fig. 3:7, 4:6), a dihedral burin on a massive blade
(Fig. 3:6, 4:7), a bilaterally retouched point on a thick blade (Fig. 3:3, 4:5), an atypical Kostenki knife on
a pointed bilaterally retouched flake (Fig. 3:5, 4:2), a combination of a blade endscraper and a simple
dihedral burin on a unilaterally retouched blade (Fig. 3:4, 4:3), a mostly exhausted core with a changed
orientation of exploitation (Fig. 3:2, 4:1) and a locally retouched bladelet (Fig. 3:1. 4:4). Based on
the technological-typological characteristics we classify this collection as Gravettian/Epigravettian.
A Gravettian affinity is suggested by its similarity to finds from Boršice-Chrástka. Epigravettian affinity
is suggested by the choice of location for this hoard - in a secluded side valley, which is characteristic
mainly for the Epigravettian (landscape type B2, Svoboda 1995). On the basis of analysis of the broader
find circumstances we consider the hoard of stone artefacts to be an example of a cache in a distinct
place in terrain close to a spring, but mainly outside the settlement, deposited as ‚insurance gear‘,
perhaps in case of an unexpected need. The exact place of the find is unknown and there is uncertainty
whether the entire hoard was recovered. For this reason, we expect that our conclusions my be amended or reassessed in the future.

A salvage excavation was conducted in harsh conditions to recover stone structure E (KSE). In spite of a very short time window available for digging, an area of 20 m 2 was completely excavated and the entire structure (KSE) was carefully documented. Spatial distribution of artifacts closely follows the boundary of the paved area. The raw material spectrum is characterized by prevailing rock crystal, supplemented by quartz, plasma, erratic flint, radi-olarite, smoky quartz and Krumlovský les-type chert. The artifacts are similar to those recovered from KSA and KSB, including carinated atypical end-scraper-cores, bipolar anvil cores, and Sagaidak-Muralovka-type microliths. A detailed analysis of granulite used to construct the pavement structure indicates smoothing, abrasion, pounding marks, and flake removals-they probably served as pads for activities that we have not identified as yet.

Stránská skála represents an important geological and archaeological site. It is also known for its rich deposits of Jurassic cherts that were utilized in various ways during different stages of Moravian prehistory. The substantial Early Upper Paleolithic occupation events are of great significance and have been subject to several international research projects. Archaeological excavations targeting mining and workshop areas were resumed in the last years with a focus on Late Neolithic and Early Eneolithic activities. This paper introduces this project and summarizes recent results. Trends in the chipped industry within the Stránská skála workshop area are outlined, focusing on raw material variability, technology-typology, chronology, and socioeconomic aspects. The first indicators of the location and other aspects of post-Paleolithic mining activities in the field of Stránská skála III are introduced and discussed in the context of mining and workshop activities of similar contemporary features in the Czech Republic and neighboring regions.

The Mohelno-Plevovce site is located in the valley of the Jihlava River, which is deeply incised into the Bohemian-Moravian Highland, ca. 30 km to the west of the present city of Brno. Due to its close proximity to a pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant, the site is continually eroded by water level fluctuations on a daily basis, and thus regularly monitored by archaeologists. Until now, rescue excavations have uncovered two spatially separated paved areas-stone structures labeled A and B. These stone structures are associated with a peculiar lithic industry characterized by tiny microliths, produced on atypical carinated end scrapers/cores, and splintered tools/bipolar anvil cores. The artefacts were made from both local and exogenous rocks. The spatial distribution of finds follows the boundary of the pavement, suggesting a barrier effect. The structures are therefore interpreted as interior floor features of sheltered constructions-possibly huts.

The site of Mohelno-Plevovce is located on a small plateau near the bottom of a deeply incised Jihlava
River canyon. While this concealed position is protected by rocky slopes from the east, north and west, it is
exposed to insolation from the south. The site is affected by erosional forces of fluctuating water levels caused
by Dalešice pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant since the 1970‘s. The site was intermittently occupied
by humans from the Late Upper Paleolithic to recent times as documented by repeated salvage excavations
since 2013. Lengyel Culture occupation has already been identified in surface surveys, but corresponding
cultural features were not excavated until the last two years. The excavation yielded characteristic material
including pottery and stone industry, as well as charcoal which allowed dating and a detailed anthracological
analysis. Relative chronology suggests the MMK-Ib phase, while radiocarbon dating places the occupation
at the end of MMK-I / beginning of MMK-II phase. Anthracology analyses suggest an open canopy woodland
forest as the dominant biome.