Research Interests: Geography, Archaeology, Bioarchaeology, Geoarchaeology, Archaeobotany, and 15 moreEnvironmental Archaeology, Archaeozoology, Czech, Palynology, Middle Bronze Age, Fortifications, Bronze Age, Bronze, Archeozoology, ELISA, Fortification, Magnetic Susceptibility, Hillforts and Enclosures, Anthracology, and Pollen analysis
Abstract The northern Bohemian sandstone region brings an exceptionally rich record of Mesolithic settlement, particularly in the form of fireplaces as key structures to be studied when addressing cooking and consumption practices. A... more
Abstract The northern Bohemian sandstone region brings an exceptionally rich record of Mesolithic settlement, particularly in the form of fireplaces as key structures to be studied when addressing cooking and consumption practices. A large number of different fireplace structures – including kettle-shaped pits and surface or sunken fireplaces, some lined with stones – can be interpreted in terms of performing roasting, boiling, steaming or smoking procedures. The organic remains directly associated with them reveal which resources were exploited and almost certainly consumed, although in many cases they seem to have been discarded into the fire after processing. A Mesolithic inland settlement of northern Bohemia was undoubtedly economically based on the exploitation of plant and animal resources occurring in varied local forest and river environments. According to the evidence, hazelnuts were a staple component of the plant diet, probably processed using roasting hearths. Some fireplaces also yielded carbonised remains of other edible plants, such as raspberry (Rubus idaeus, Rubus sp.), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) and fat hen (Chenopodium album). The faunal vertebrate assemblages suggest a broad-spectrum economy, exploiting terrestrial mammals, birds, amphibians and fish. The molluscan record suggests the exploitation of edible land snails as well as thick-shelled river mussels. Rather than assuming a simple connection between fireplace type and the resources identified, a complex set of biases is considered and discussed.
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Soubory zvířecích kostí a zubů datované do 8. až 14. století byly shromážděny při archeologických výzkumech na několika místech Prahy (Pražský hrad, Malá Strana a Staré Město). Získaný osteologický materiál představuje odpad vznikající... more
Soubory zvířecích kostí a zubů datované do 8. až 14. století byly shromážděny při archeologických výzkumech na několika místech Prahy (Pražský hrad, Malá Strana a Staré Město). Získaný osteologický materiál představuje odpad vznikající převážně při úpravě a konzumaci masa. Jeho detailní vyhodnocení se zaměřením na druhové složení, úmrtní věk a pohlaví zvířat přináší bližší informace nejen o složení stravy a kvalitě masa, ale i využívání dalších živočišných produktů. Porovnáním více souborů na prostorové a časové úrovni jsme se pokusili lépe porozumět trendům v hospodaření se zvířaty a spotřebě jejich produktů v prostoru středověké Prahy.
Monumental enclosures are a widespread phenomenon of the European Neolithic. One category of enclosure is the mid-fifth-millennium BC rondel sites of Central Europe. In parts of this region, rondel sites are grouped, drawing attention to... more
Monumental enclosures are a widespread phenomenon of the European Neolithic. One category of enclosure is the mid-fifth-millennium BC rondel sites of Central Europe. In parts of this region, rondel sites are grouped, drawing attention to notable differences in individual rondel forms. Here, we use Bayesian modelling of radiocarbon dates from the ditches of two rondels at Praha-Krč, Bohemia, to demonstrate their contemporaneity. In turn, this informs interpretations of the role played by multi-rondel sites in symbolic competition between regional communities, who invested in rondels as part of translocal negotiation. The concept of translocality may prove fruitful for the investigation of the monumental architecture of other periods and regions.
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ABSTRACT The origin of this book was somewhat more complex than is usual amongst titles of this kind. First we aimed to publish a volume of long abstracts from a conference of the “Czech Archaeobotany Working Group” that took place in... more
ABSTRACT The origin of this book was somewhat more complex than is usual amongst titles of this kind. First we aimed to publish a volume of long abstracts from a conference of the “Czech Archaeobotany Working Group” that took place in âeské Budûjovice, South Bohemia, in January 2006. This group is an informal collection of people dedicated to archaeobotany and related disciplines within different institutions in the Czech Republic. This is why archaeobotany is also at the centre of interest in the present book. Over time we came to the opinion that this volume should focus on a wider audience and therefore we asked local specialists from other related disciplines – palaeoecology, archaeozoology, and archaeological anthropology to contribute. Putting it simply we employed an editorial strategy of the progressive filling of gaps in the thematic and chronological framework. Finally we arrived at a form of publication that is slightly more ambitious than a simple conference volume. Its scope is to map current movements in the field of environmental archaeology that focus on the remains of living organisms in the Czech Republic. Therefore we present this “Bioarchaeology in the Czech Republic” volume where all the contributions have been peer-reviewed.
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The changes in Central Europe at the end of the Linear Pottery Culture (LBK) are one of the most discussed issues in recent Neolithic archaeology. The initial uniformity, which was reflected in some aspects of material culture, seems to... more
The changes in Central Europe at the end of the Linear Pottery Culture (LBK) are one of the most discussed issues in recent Neolithic archaeology. The initial uniformity, which was reflected in some aspects of material culture, seems to have fallen apart into smaller regional cultures. This paper aims to present recently analysed Stroked Pottery Culture (SBK) material from the Hrdlovka and Hrobčice sites (Teplice district), in the Czech Republic. Ceramics, lithics and animal bones have been analysed at the chronological levels of Early and Late SBK. For comparison, other Northwest Bohemian contemporary sites with a sufficient amount of finds and state of processing have been chosen: Hrbovice and Vchynice, and partly also Mšeno. Within this framework, uniformity in ceramic decoration is reported in Early SBK, while greater variability is observed in Late SBK. The evidence for inter-regional contact is also documented. The ceramic assemblage from the Hrobčice site shows a relationship...
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A rescue excavation of the prehistoric and early medieval site of Rakovice – Na Pile. The subject of the publication is the evaluation of current research results of an excavation carried out by the Prácheň Museum in Písek at a location... more
A rescue excavation of the prehistoric and early medieval site of Rakovice – Na Pile. The
subject of the publication is the evaluation of current research results of an excavation carried
out by the Prácheň Museum in Písek at a location occupied during the early Roman period and
the Early Middle Ages within the site of Rakovice – Na Pile, Písek District. The archaeological
excavation undertaken in 2015 found a situation disturbed by plowing which represented
a superposition of two components diff ering in recovered material culture and its dating. Feature
1 was dated to the early phase of the Roman period (the so-called Plaňany horizon of the
Großromstedt culture), feature 1.1 falls into the period of the Early Middle Ages. A genesis of
a superposition of earlier and later features seems to be clear at fi rst sight, however, this is
further complicated by the evidence of C14 dated charcoal samples from feature 1 which surprisingly
fall into the Early Middle Ages. Thus it seems that the fi ll of feature 1, which contains
Roman period potsherds, only originated secondarily during the Early Middle Ages as a result
of human activity in combination with erosion. The situation was topped off by a purely early
medieval horizon, feature 1.1, dated both by potsherds and ecofacts. The article also deals
with the problem of the absolute-chronological position of the Plaňany horizon in southern
Bohemia and the issues of continuity of the preceding late La Tène horizon. A separate chapter
is devoted to the chronological position of the early medieval material whose dating falls into
the Middle Hillfort period, perhaps into its later phase. The processed assemblage of archaeobotanical
and osteological material has a special importance.
subject of the publication is the evaluation of current research results of an excavation carried
out by the Prácheň Museum in Písek at a location occupied during the early Roman period and
the Early Middle Ages within the site of Rakovice – Na Pile, Písek District. The archaeological
excavation undertaken in 2015 found a situation disturbed by plowing which represented
a superposition of two components diff ering in recovered material culture and its dating. Feature
1 was dated to the early phase of the Roman period (the so-called Plaňany horizon of the
Großromstedt culture), feature 1.1 falls into the period of the Early Middle Ages. A genesis of
a superposition of earlier and later features seems to be clear at fi rst sight, however, this is
further complicated by the evidence of C14 dated charcoal samples from feature 1 which surprisingly
fall into the Early Middle Ages. Thus it seems that the fi ll of feature 1, which contains
Roman period potsherds, only originated secondarily during the Early Middle Ages as a result
of human activity in combination with erosion. The situation was topped off by a purely early
medieval horizon, feature 1.1, dated both by potsherds and ecofacts. The article also deals
with the problem of the absolute-chronological position of the Plaňany horizon in southern
Bohemia and the issues of continuity of the preceding late La Tène horizon. A separate chapter
is devoted to the chronological position of the early medieval material whose dating falls into
the Middle Hillfort period, perhaps into its later phase. The processed assemblage of archaeobotanical
and osteological material has a special importance.
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Bioarchaeologická rekonstrukce pohřebního ritu – případová studie na základě organického materiálu z halštatské mohyly na lokalitě Zahrádka (jižní Čechy, Česká republika)
Research Interests: Entomology, Geography, Archaeology, Bioarchaeology, Archaeobotany, and 12 moreTextiles, Palynology, Archaeometry, Archaeometallurgy, Burial mounds (Archaeology), Iron Age, Iron Age archaeology, Hallstatt, Pollen analysis, Vitis Vinifera, Death and Burial Archaeology, and Burial Practices Archaeology
Present-day domestic cattle are reproductively active throughout the year, which is a major asset for dairy production. Large wild ungulates, in contrast, are seasonal breeders, as were the last historic representatives of the aurochs,... more
Present-day domestic cattle are reproductively active throughout the year, which is a major asset for dairy production. Large wild ungulates, in contrast, are seasonal breeders, as were the last historic representatives of the aurochs, the wild ancestors of cattle. Aseasonal reproduction in cattle is a consequence of domestication and herding, but exactly when this capacity developed in domestic cattle is still unknown and the extent to which early farming communities controlled the seasonality of reproduction is debated. Seasonal or aseasonal calving would have shaped the socioeconomic practices of ancient farming societies differently, structuring the agropastoral calendar and determining milk availability where dairying is attested. In this study, we reconstruct the calving pattern through the analysis of stable oxygen isotope ratios of cattle tooth enamel from 18 sites across Europe, dating from the 6th mill. cal BC (Early Neolithic) in the Balkans to the 4th mill. cal BC (Middl...
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Domestic animals and plants were introduced to Europe from the Near East and subsequently spread across Europe, entailing adaptations to different environments with consequences for the biology of organisms, agropastoral technical systems... more
Domestic animals and plants were introduced to Europe from the Near East and subsequently spread across Europe, entailing adaptations to different environments with consequences for the biology of organisms, agropastoral technical systems and socio-economic organisation. Agriculture was introduced to Central Europe by Linearbandkeramik (LBK) societies between 5600 and 4900 cal. BC, in predominantly forested environments. LBK farming systems involved intensive permanent field cultivation in natural openings. Milking was practiced as evidenced from cattle mortality profiles and lipid residues in ceramics. Questions arise as to what extent LBK cattle husbandry relied on woodland, and as to whether the seasonal scarcity of fodder conditioned cattle reproduction cycles, with consequences on milk availability. Results from the δ13C and δ18O analysis of cattle tooth enamel at Chotěbudice and Černý Vůl (Bohemia, Czech Republic) suggest a limited use of dense forest for cattle herding, even on a seasonal scale: cattle were kept in the open component of the forest/steppe mosaic landscape. Winter forest browsing/provision of leafy fodder was evidenced in one specimen. At Chotěbudice, cattle births mainly occurred over a two to three-month period, suggesting environmental constraints on cattle fertility cycles, and possibly seasonal fodder scarcity. A direct consequence of this would be a shorter period of milk availability throughout the year.
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The number of species of crop plants in Central Europe increased constantly during the Bronze Age. The structure of the composition of cultivated plants was probably connected to the cultural contacts of human populations. During the... more
The number of species of crop plants in Central Europe increased constantly during the Bronze Age. The structure of the composition of cultivated plants was probably connected to the cultural contacts of human populations. During the Bronze Age (2300/2000–800 BC), the region of South Bohemia (Czech Republic) increasingly became the focus of long-distance trade and exchange networks with regions to the east and many other regions (the Eastern Alps, the Alpine Foreland, the central lowlands of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Western Slovakia). The aim of the paper is to examine archaeobotanical assemblages of charred plant remains to see if these changes within Bronze Age societies, and their spheres of interaction, are also recorded within their agricultural practices. In particular, the importance of specific individual crop species can be reflected in the study region in comparison with other individual regions of Central Europe. Humans in the region of South Bohemia had more connections with the Eastern Alps and the Alpine Foreland region during the Early and Middle Bronze Ages. Regarding the structure of crop species, the composition of sub/dominant crops in South Bohemia and the Eastern Alps and the Alpine Foreland had many similarities. The cultural trajectory of the human populations of the South Bohemian region changed substantially in the Late and Final Bronze Ages: intensive contacts are documented, primarily with the region of Central Bohemia. This is reflected in the composition of the sub/dominant crops in South Bohemia, which shows many similarities to the other regions of the Czech Republic. Changes in migration and exchange networks—in particular those that involvedmore formalised trade—are associated with a large number of innovations and specific goods and led to much wider levels of cultural and social integration within Bronze Age Europe than had been previously seen.
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Cattle dominate archaeozoological assemblages from the north-central Europe between the sixth and fifth millennium BC and are frequently considered as exclusively used for their meat. Dairy products may have played a greater role than... more
Cattle dominate archaeozoological assemblages from the north-central Europe between the sixth and fifth millennium BC and are frequently considered as exclusively used for their meat. Dairy products may have played a greater role than previously believed. Selective pressure on the lactase persistence mutation has been modelled to have begun between 6000 and 4000 years ago in central Europe. The discovery of milk lipids in late sixth millennium ceramic sieves in Poland may reflect an isolated regional peculiarity for cheese making or may signify more generalized milk exploitation in north-central Europe during the Early Neolithic. To investigate these issues, we analysed the mortality profiles based on age-at-death analysis of cattle tooth eruption, wear and replacement from 19 archaeological sites of the Linearbandkeramik (LBK) culture (sixth to fifth millennium BC). The results indicate that cattle husbandry was similar across time and space in the LBK culture with a degree of spec...
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The trace elements distribution embedded in tooth enamel offers a means to study exposure of toxic metals and allows the reconstruction of dietary behaviors. The quantification of most of the elements with a spatial high resolution... more
The trace elements distribution embedded in tooth enamel offers a means to study exposure of toxic metals and allows the reconstruction of dietary behaviors. The quantification of most of the elements with a spatial high resolution (~50μm) is routinely achieved using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). However, the lack of a comprehensive framework of trace elements distribution in enamel jeopardizes any endorsed sampling strategy using LA-ICPMS. The present work is an effort to improve our knowledge on this issue. We studied a suite of 22 sectioned teeth with known dietary history, including 12 3rd molars from 12 living individuals and 10 primary teeth from 3 living individuals. Using LA-ICPMS, we measured Ca, Cu, Zn, Ni, Sr, Ba and Pb variations along 2 or 3 rasters from cervical to occlusal enamel. Calcium concentrations are lower in primary than in permanent teeth and do not vary spatially within a tooth suggesting that enamel matures homogene...
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The paper is focused on the period of cultural change at the turn of 6th and 5th millennia BC, when the uniform Linear Pottery Culture (LBK) occupying an extensive area disintegrated in several local groups or cultures, including the... more
The paper is focused on the period of cultural change at the turn of 6th and 5th millennia BC, when the uniform Linear Pottery Culture (LBK) occupying an extensive area disintegrated in several local groups or cultures, including the Stroked Pottery Culture (SBK) emerging in the regions of Bohemia and Saxony. The data comprising pottery, animal bones, lithics, as well as architectural attributes from Hrdlovka site, situated in northwest Bohemia, are presented. In accordance with the sites of Hrbovice-Chabařovice and Dresden- Prohlis a rather uninterrupted LBK/SBK transition has been observed, which contrasts with the image of “LBK crisis” observed in other regions. Lithics production and distribution networks of raw material seem to be stable. The change in stockkeeping strategies correlating with the transitional period are considered rather as modification of local environmental conditions. On the level of households, a similar architectural development has been documented at the ...
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During Early Modern period animal farming was an important part of the urban economy. Traces of this relationship of towns people to animals can therefore be traced not only in historical reports, but also in archaeological contexts. Due... more
During Early Modern period animal farming was an important part of the urban economy. Traces of this relationship of towns people to animals can therefore be traced not only in historical reports, but also in archaeological contexts. Due to discovery of animal bones during the archaeological research of house no. 55 in Latrán in Český Krumlov, a team of authors tried to focus on selected house and define the specifics of theres idents´ relation to animals, both in terms of breeding and hunting of different species, and from the perspective of meat processing and consumption, which was affected by the guild of butchers.
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Cattle dominate archaeozoological assemblages from the north-central Europe between the sixth and fifth millennium BC and are frequently considered as exclusively used for their meat. Dairy products may have played a greater role than... more
Cattle dominate archaeozoological assemblages from the north-central Europe between the sixth and fifth millennium BC and are frequently considered as exclusively used for their meat. Dairy products may have played a greater role than previously believed. Selective pressure on the lactase persistence mutation has been modelled to have begun between 6000 and 4000 years ago in central Europe. The discovery of milk lipids in late sixth millennium ceramic sieves in Poland may reflect an isolated regional peculiarity for cheese making or may signify more generalized milk exploitation in north-central Europe during the Early Neolithic. To investigate these issues, we analysed the mortality profiles based on age-at-death analysis of cattle tooth eruption, wear and replacement from 19 archaeological sites of the Linearbandkeramik (LBK) culture (sixth to fifth millennium BC). The results indicate that cattle husbandry was similar across time and space in the LBK culture with a degree of spec...
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The contamination of archaeological find assemblages at multi-period (and other) sites can sometimes go undetected. In this article we seek to highlight this problem through analysis of the fill of settlement features from a site at... more
The contamination of archaeological find assemblages at multi-period (and other) sites can sometimes go undetected. In this article we seek to highlight this problem through analysis of the fill of settlement features from a site at Rakovice, South Bohemia, Czech Republic. After a detailed spatial evaluation of different categories of finds, an analysis of plant macroremains, and radiocarbon dating, what had originally appeared to be a clear-cut archaeological situation of the superposition of two features from the Roman and Early Mediaeval periods was shown to be much more complex. This discovery confirmed the value of a multi-disciplinary approach and especially of radiocarbon dating even in
apparently simple contexts. What we are especially concerned about is the risk of assigning particular periods to multi-period sites that have been insufficiently radiocarbon dated.
apparently simple contexts. What we are especially concerned about is the risk of assigning particular periods to multi-period sites that have been insufficiently radiocarbon dated.
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The authors present the results of a rescue excavation of an Early La Tène period settlement in Kopidlno, okr. Jičín, northeastern Bohemia. The 2013 excavation explored an area of 225×10m identifying several La Tène period structures... more
The authors present the results of a rescue excavation of an Early La Tène period settlement in Kopidlno, okr. Jičín, northeastern Bohemia. The 2013 excavation explored an area of 225×10m identifying several La Tène period structures (pits and post holes) along with settlement traces of the Funnel beakers period and single Medieval and modern era artefacts. The excavation results are fully presented and analysed in detail. Early La Tène period-settlement-northeastern Bohemia Zjištěním nové lokality doby laténské v Kopidlně (okres Jičín, Královéhradecký kraj) přibyl roku 2013 do mozai-ky laténského osídlení regionu důležitý nový segment, a to již proto, že šlo o terénní výzkum většího rozsahu. Tomu odpovídá následující podrobnější vyhodnocení. Předmětem publikace nejsou jiné časové úseky osídlení této lokality, ať neolitické, eneolitické (kultura nálevko-vitých pohárů) nebo disperzní středověké až novověké keramické fragmenty. Artefakty i ekofakty byly ulože-ny pod č. přír. 619/2015 nebo jako dokladový materiál do sbírek Regionálního muzea a galerie v Jičíně. CELKOVÁ CHARAKTERISTIKA TERÉNNÍHO VÝZKUMU Z ROKU 2013 Podnětem k záchrannému archeologickému výzkumu se stala výstavba infrastruktury pro obytnou zónu na západ-ním okraji intravilánu města Kopidlna (Obr. 1), parc.č. 504/6 a 504/45-46, dnes ulice Luční. Terénní akce probí-hala v dubnu a květnu 2013. Ornice o mocnosti 40-60 cm byla odstraněna mechanizací na úroveň podloží. Na plo-še (10 × 225 m), o průměrné nadmořské výšce 216,9 m, bylo identifikováno 211 zahloubených objektů (Obr. 2). Ve většině případů šlo o kůlové/sloupové jámy, které ne-vykazovaly jednoznačné prostorové uspořádání a byly velice chudé na nálezy. Výjimku tvoří dva nálezové kom-plexy pocházející (nebo obsahující artefakty) ze starší doby železné. V prvém případě šlo o část půdorysu chro-nologicky problematické nadzemní obdélné stavby (obj. 188) a v druhém o část laténské polozemnice (obj. 178), které je věnován tento text. VYHODNOCENÍ LATÉNSKÉHO OSÍDLENÍ Přírodní poměry lokality Parametry přírodních poměrů odpovídají staré české sí-delní oblasti. Město Kopidlno leží v severovýchodním vý-běžku Středolabské tabule na hranici s Jičínskou pahor-katinou. Oblast má charakter mírně zvlněné vrchoviny s nadmořskou výškou 215-260 m. Územím protéká říčka Mrlina, která tu vyhloubila široké a mělké údolí, dnes vy-plněné jejími akumulacemi. Topografická poloha lokality Zachycená část lokality leží v nadmořské výšce okolo 217 m nad mořem, v rovině nad inundací řeky Mrliny (převýšení od břehu ≤ 1 m). JV okraj lokality je od sou-časné vodoteče vzdálen 220 m, tato vzdálenost nicméně mohla být v době laténské o polovinu až dvě třetiny krat-ší. Inundační zóna zasahuje až téměř k lokalitě (Obr.
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In 2015 remnants of a settlement area from the Baalberg phase of the Funnel Beaker culture were detected near the southwestern edge of the village of Bačalky. A fragment of the so-called Baalberg jug is the culturally-determining find... more
In 2015 remnants of a settlement area from the Baalberg phase of the Funnel Beaker culture were detected near
the southwestern edge of the village of Bačalky. A fragment of the so-called Baalberg jug is the culturally-determining
find here. From among other pottery shapes, funnel-shaped beakers and pots, an amphora and a storage
pot and probably also bowls are represented. One of the excavated structures was a sunken feature which we
interpret as a storage pit that was secondarily used for the deposition of refuse. Commonplace settlement acti -
vities are documented by finds of various artefacts and ecofacts: chipped stone industry of purely workshop
character, daub and animal bones – especially pig, cattle, but also marten and an unspecified kind of bird. The
find of a stone polished axe with a massive butt, which was made approximately 70 m southwest of the men -
tioned feature in 2016, indicates the existence of a much larger settlement area at the given location.
the southwestern edge of the village of Bačalky. A fragment of the so-called Baalberg jug is the culturally-determining
find here. From among other pottery shapes, funnel-shaped beakers and pots, an amphora and a storage
pot and probably also bowls are represented. One of the excavated structures was a sunken feature which we
interpret as a storage pit that was secondarily used for the deposition of refuse. Commonplace settlement acti -
vities are documented by finds of various artefacts and ecofacts: chipped stone industry of purely workshop
character, daub and animal bones – especially pig, cattle, but also marten and an unspecified kind of bird. The
find of a stone polished axe with a massive butt, which was made approximately 70 m southwest of the men -
tioned feature in 2016, indicates the existence of a much larger settlement area at the given location.
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V této práci se budeme zabývat nálezy z předstihového výzkumu v letech 2008-2009, před výstavbou dál-nice D8 na katastru obce Vchynice (okr. Litoměřice; SZ Čechy). Půjde o kontexty z období kultury s lineární keramikou (dále jen LBK;... more
V této práci se budeme zabývat nálezy z předstihového výzkumu v letech 2008-2009, před výstavbou dál-nice D8 na katastru obce Vchynice (okr. Litoměřice; SZ Čechy). Půjde o kontexty z období kultury s lineární keramikou (dále jen LBK; zhruba 5500-5000 cal. BC) v jižní části prozkoumané plochy. V práci nejdříve popíšeme objekty, které podle nálezů keramiky v jejich výplních spadají do období LBK, dále vyhodnotíme keramické fragmenty s cílem bližšího chronologického zařazení a srovnání se známou lokalitou v severozápadních Čechách-Březnem u Loun . Kromě keramických nálezů nás budou zajímat kamenné artefakty, nástroje vyrobené z kostí a kosterní zvířecí po-zůstatky. V jedné z jam s keramikou LBK byly odkryty lidské kosterní pozůstatky. V příspěvku se zaměříme na otázku, zda je možné potvrdit využívání totožného prostoru k podobným aktivitám, jaké byly doloženy v kontextech mladšího neolitického osídlení, během období kultury s vy-píchanou keramikou (dále jen STK; zhruba 5000/4900-4500/4400 cal. BC).
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In our contribution, we offer several interpretative models for discussing the individual categories of finds and finds contexts from the Late Neolithic site of Vchynice in north-west Bohemia (Czech Republic). Here, the remains of a... more
In our contribution, we offer several interpretative models for discussing the individual categories of finds and finds contexts from the Late Neolithic site of Vchynice in north-west Bohemia (Czech Republic). Here, the remains of a Neolithic rondel ditch were uncovered in 2008. The site formation processes that took place at the settlement during its active use and long after its demise were certainly complex. However, among other finds such as sherds, lithics and animal bones, the analysis of daub from the rondel ditch and from the contemporary features in the vicinity indicates the possibility that the settlement witnessed a larger conflagration at a certain time. This can be explained as an accidental catastrophe, an attack by foreign communities or as due to ritual reasons, for instance during the abandonment of the site.
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Záchranný archeologický výzkum v obci Tuřany (k. ú. Byseň, okres Kladno) zachytil čtyři sídlištní objekty ze starší doby železné (bylanské kultury (Ha C2 – Ha D1) a byla zdokumentována polozemnice, přilehlá sídlištní jáma, zásobnice a... more
Záchranný archeologický výzkum v obci Tuřany (k. ú. Byseň, okres Kladno) zachytil čtyři sídlištní objekty ze starší doby železné (bylanské kultury (Ha C2 – Ha D1) a byla zdokumentována polozemnice, přilehlá sídlištní jáma, zásobnice a otopné zařízení. Vzhledem k tomu, že jen z výplně polozemnice byl získán soubor více než 66 kg keramických zlomků, byl tento a další materiál poskytnut pro zpracování v rámci závěrečné studentské práce. Vyhodnocení nálezů, které je stěžejní částí textu provedla Petra Volná ve své bakalářské práci " Sídliště bylanské kultury v Tuřanech " obhájené na Ústavu historických věd Fakulty filozofické na Univerzitě Pardubice.
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Two secondary backfilled wells and remnants of a walled building, likely a school, were excavated during a salvage excavation of a medieval part of Písek, Bakaláře Square (South Bohemia, Czech Republic) in 2008. Well 1 was completely... more
Two secondary backfilled wells and remnants of a walled building, likely a school, were excavated during a salvage excavation of a medieval part of Písek, Bakaláře Square (South Bohemia, Czech Republic) in 2008. Well 1 was completely uncovered, whereas only the upper part of well 2 was
excavated; the wells being dated to the 14th century A.D.
Well 1 was examined by bioarchaeological methods (analyses of plant macroremains, anthracology and xylotomy, pollen, dendrochronology, archaeozoology, palaeoparasitology, and diatoms), as well as by traditional archaeological typology of central European artefacts (ceramics, wood, fragments of
glass, slag, and daub). It was possible to detect imported materials of various origins and to reconstruct
the environment of the town and town background, as well as the common practices for hunting, growing, and waste management in medieval times.
excavated; the wells being dated to the 14th century A.D.
Well 1 was examined by bioarchaeological methods (analyses of plant macroremains, anthracology and xylotomy, pollen, dendrochronology, archaeozoology, palaeoparasitology, and diatoms), as well as by traditional archaeological typology of central European artefacts (ceramics, wood, fragments of
glass, slag, and daub). It was possible to detect imported materials of various origins and to reconstruct
the environment of the town and town background, as well as the common practices for hunting, growing, and waste management in medieval times.
Research Interests:
The Early Medieval settlement at Roztoky (Prague-west district, Central Bohemia) represents an extraordinary case and, at the same time, a difficult challenge in terms of interpretation among sites of the Prague-type Culture (6th–7th... more
The Early Medieval settlement at Roztoky (Prague-west district, Central Bohemia) represents an extraordinary case and, at the same
time, a difficult challenge in terms of interpretation among sites of the Prague-type Culture (6th–7th century AD). Primarily, the high
overall number of settlement features of the given culture is what makes this site unique and puzzling. To date, more than 300 sunken
houses of this culture have been captured at the site (with an area size of min. 22 ha) and their overall number can be estimated as
being at least double this amount. On the one hand, the site is specific also by its landscape setting (at the base of a canyon-like
valley) and by its discontinuity in relation to the preceding and the following periods. On the other hand, the site lacks finds that
would allow for a clear interpretation in terms of its function (e.g. production features, tools or waste materials, luxury goods, etc.).
Finds of the Prague-type Culture were first discovered at Roztoky in the 1980s (Kuna — Profantová a kol. 2005). A further extensive
excavation took place at the site in 2006–2010 due to road relocation. An integral part of the new excavation was the systematic collection
of ecofacts, conducted with the aim of gaining as much information as possible on the nature environment and the basic economic
character of the Early Medieval settlement agglomeration. This led to the obtaining and processing of an extensive assemblage
of, for example, charcoal fragments, plant macroremains, animal and fish bones, and malacofauna; also conducted was a phosphate
analysis of the house floors, a micromorphological analysis of their fill strata and the radiocarbon dating of a series of samples. The
results of this work are presented in this article.
Interesting findings concern, for example, the relatively minor impact of the Early Medieval settlement on the environment (in contrast
to the large amount of settlement features), the focus on pig husbandry (most probably linked to a high population in the community),
the growing of millet (the most significant cultural plant in terms of find numbers, but apparently not primary in economic
terms), and the minor use for fishing. A range of indicators confirms that the site was settled by a large community of people. At the
end of this paper, the hypothesis is presented that the site was originally divided into two parts, one of which (the southern, with the
largest concentration of Early Medieval houses), must have been a specialized settlement (activity) area that was mostly used for
non-agrarian activities. On the basis of the current results it is impossible to identify the type of activities more precisely, mostly because
they must have belonged to activities leaving no clear archaeological traces. Nonetheless, the results of this paper offer a new
starting point and a reliable ecological and economic framework to be integrated into further research.
time, a difficult challenge in terms of interpretation among sites of the Prague-type Culture (6th–7th century AD). Primarily, the high
overall number of settlement features of the given culture is what makes this site unique and puzzling. To date, more than 300 sunken
houses of this culture have been captured at the site (with an area size of min. 22 ha) and their overall number can be estimated as
being at least double this amount. On the one hand, the site is specific also by its landscape setting (at the base of a canyon-like
valley) and by its discontinuity in relation to the preceding and the following periods. On the other hand, the site lacks finds that
would allow for a clear interpretation in terms of its function (e.g. production features, tools or waste materials, luxury goods, etc.).
Finds of the Prague-type Culture were first discovered at Roztoky in the 1980s (Kuna — Profantová a kol. 2005). A further extensive
excavation took place at the site in 2006–2010 due to road relocation. An integral part of the new excavation was the systematic collection
of ecofacts, conducted with the aim of gaining as much information as possible on the nature environment and the basic economic
character of the Early Medieval settlement agglomeration. This led to the obtaining and processing of an extensive assemblage
of, for example, charcoal fragments, plant macroremains, animal and fish bones, and malacofauna; also conducted was a phosphate
analysis of the house floors, a micromorphological analysis of their fill strata and the radiocarbon dating of a series of samples. The
results of this work are presented in this article.
Interesting findings concern, for example, the relatively minor impact of the Early Medieval settlement on the environment (in contrast
to the large amount of settlement features), the focus on pig husbandry (most probably linked to a high population in the community),
the growing of millet (the most significant cultural plant in terms of find numbers, but apparently not primary in economic
terms), and the minor use for fishing. A range of indicators confirms that the site was settled by a large community of people. At the
end of this paper, the hypothesis is presented that the site was originally divided into two parts, one of which (the southern, with the
largest concentration of Early Medieval houses), must have been a specialized settlement (activity) area that was mostly used for
non-agrarian activities. On the basis of the current results it is impossible to identify the type of activities more precisely, mostly because
they must have belonged to activities leaving no clear archaeological traces. Nonetheless, the results of this paper offer a new
starting point and a reliable ecological and economic framework to be integrated into further research.
Research Interests:
This is a report on the successful application of Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) in archaeozoology, particularly for the taxonomic determination of severely fragmented bone material from archaeological contexts of the locality... more
This is a report on the successful application of Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) in archaeozoology, particularly for the taxonomic determination of severely fragmented bone material from archaeological contexts of the locality (Czech Republic) dated to the Central European Neolithic period (approx. 5500–4500 BC). Physical, chemical and biological features of soil deposits in the sites examined are the likely cause of the crumbly consistency of the bone material supplied to the laboratory. These factors dwarfed the ratio of specimens determinable by their physical morphology to 28%, thus limiting the reliability of inferences on the character of the economy practiced in the excavated sites. The mass spectrometric approach is the suitable standard for ancient protein investigation, but the high financial requirements prevent practical adoption of the method for fast and routine identification of bone fragments. One way to more easily and cheaply differentiate the taxons of domestic animals on the basis of bone chips is the ELISA test. In the past, experiments trying to improve the unfavourable ratio by a protein radioimmunoassay (pRIA) method yielded positive results. However, similar outcomes can be achieved by commercially available and therefore less laborious ELISA kits that were originally designed for use in inspections of the food industry.
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The article presents the methodological approach used in the case of a Neolithic building complex, where the subject of investigation is the long tripartite house III from the Hrdlovka site in the Czech Republic. A method of chronological... more
The article presents the methodological approach used in the case of a Neolithic building complex,
where the subject of investigation is the long tripartite house III from the Hrdlovka site in the Czech
Republic. A method of chronological analysis is suggested and demonstrated. The site located in northwest
Bohemia was excavated in the area of an open-cast mine between the years 1987 and 1990 as
part of a rescue excavation. The house is an extraordinarily long building of a slightly trapezoid shape
with a length of 47.5 m. Archaeological assemblages originating from sunken features around the
building enabled the formulation of the relative chronology, based on data acquired from ceramic
fragments decoration, supported by a multivariate analysis. An analysis of ceramics individuals,
lithics and animal bones combined with radiocarbon data made several argumentation steps possible,
attempting to shed some light on the house III chronological position with respect to the transitional
Linear Pottery Culture/Stroked Pottery Culture (LBK IV/SBK I) period. The majority of the sunken
features appertain to the house unit; however, certain sunken features in the chosen 5 perimeter were
assigned as chronologically unrelated. Analysis of lithics recorded the use of local quartzite and
northern Bohemian metabasite, while the investigation of animal bones detected a common structure
of a domestic herd. Finally, the extraordinarily large house itself is discussed, representing an example
of huge Neolithic architecture, which may have demonstrated prestige and power.
where the subject of investigation is the long tripartite house III from the Hrdlovka site in the Czech
Republic. A method of chronological analysis is suggested and demonstrated. The site located in northwest
Bohemia was excavated in the area of an open-cast mine between the years 1987 and 1990 as
part of a rescue excavation. The house is an extraordinarily long building of a slightly trapezoid shape
with a length of 47.5 m. Archaeological assemblages originating from sunken features around the
building enabled the formulation of the relative chronology, based on data acquired from ceramic
fragments decoration, supported by a multivariate analysis. An analysis of ceramics individuals,
lithics and animal bones combined with radiocarbon data made several argumentation steps possible,
attempting to shed some light on the house III chronological position with respect to the transitional
Linear Pottery Culture/Stroked Pottery Culture (LBK IV/SBK I) period. The majority of the sunken
features appertain to the house unit; however, certain sunken features in the chosen 5 perimeter were
assigned as chronologically unrelated. Analysis of lithics recorded the use of local quartzite and
northern Bohemian metabasite, while the investigation of animal bones detected a common structure
of a domestic herd. Finally, the extraordinarily large house itself is discussed, representing an example
of huge Neolithic architecture, which may have demonstrated prestige and power.
Research Interests:
The article presents the methodological approach used in the case of a Neolithic building complex, where the subject of investigation is the long tripartite house III from the Hrdlovka site in the Czech Republic. A method of chronological... more
The article presents the methodological approach used in the case of a Neolithic building complex, where the subject of investigation is the long tripartite house III from the Hrdlovka site in the Czech Republic. A method of chronological analysis is suggested and demonstrated. The site located in northwest
Bohemia was excavated in the area of an open-cast mine between the years 1987 and 1990 as part of a rescue excavation. The house is an extraordinarily long building of a slightly trapezoid shape with a length of 47.5 m. Archaeological assemblages originating from sunken features around the
building enabled the formulation of the relative chronology, based on data acquired from ceramic fragments decoration, supported by a multivariate analysis. An analysis of ceramics individuals, lithics and animal bones combined with radiocarbon data made several argumentation steps possible,
attempting to shed some light on the house III chronological position with respect to the transitional Linear Pottery Culture/Stroked Pottery Culture (LBK IV/SBK I) period. The majority of the sunken features appertain to the house unit; however, certain sunken features in the chosen 5 perimeter were assigned as chronologically unrelated. Analysis of lithics recorded the use of local quartzite and northern Bohemian metabasite, while the investigation of animal bones detected a common structure of a domestic herd. Finally, the extraordinarily large house itself is discussed, representing an example of huge Neolithic architecture, which may have demonstrated prestige and power.
Bohemia was excavated in the area of an open-cast mine between the years 1987 and 1990 as part of a rescue excavation. The house is an extraordinarily long building of a slightly trapezoid shape with a length of 47.5 m. Archaeological assemblages originating from sunken features around the
building enabled the formulation of the relative chronology, based on data acquired from ceramic fragments decoration, supported by a multivariate analysis. An analysis of ceramics individuals, lithics and animal bones combined with radiocarbon data made several argumentation steps possible,
attempting to shed some light on the house III chronological position with respect to the transitional Linear Pottery Culture/Stroked Pottery Culture (LBK IV/SBK I) period. The majority of the sunken features appertain to the house unit; however, certain sunken features in the chosen 5 perimeter were assigned as chronologically unrelated. Analysis of lithics recorded the use of local quartzite and northern Bohemian metabasite, while the investigation of animal bones detected a common structure of a domestic herd. Finally, the extraordinarily large house itself is discussed, representing an example of huge Neolithic architecture, which may have demonstrated prestige and power.
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The book presents a complex study of the phenomenon of periphery within prehistoric occupation. It is examined in case region of South Bohemia where the long-term interest of authors mingles here with factors that, in comparison to... more
The book presents a complex study of the phenomenon of periphery within prehistoric occupation. It is examined in case region of South Bohemia where the long-term interest of authors mingles here with factors that, in comparison to neighbouring regions, formed a specific environment for prehistoric inhabitants. The book is seeking answers to questions concerning the dynamics by which periphery was settled and, on contrary, when and why did the occupation decline. How important was the interaction of periphery with neighbouring core regions and how did this relationship develop in time? Is it possible to consider communities that inhabited peripheries as societies being different in any aspect? Answers to these questions are sought in a longue dureé perspective comprising eight millennia of cultural development from the beginning of the Mesolithic to the end of Bronze Age.