Results of R adiocarbon A ges from Previous Excavations in Košice-Barca I and Košice-Barca II
Pit... more Results of R adiocarbon A ges from Previous Excavations in Košice-Barca I and Košice-Barca II Pits and other associated features found at sites along Hornád Valley of Eastern Slovakia have been put forth as examples of early settlement features associated with the early Upper Palaeolithic in Europe. To verify this, we radiocarbon dated charcoal samples from pits found at Košice-Barca I and Košice-Barca II that were recovered during the 1951 – 1954 excavations of F. Prošek. From the Košice-Barca I site, charcoals from Pit 1 with an associated Mesolithic industry were dated. The measured age of 8536 – 8389 cal BP corresponded to the presumed age of the lithic industry assigned to the Atlantic period. From the Košice-Barca II site, charcoal samples from three parts of Palaeolithic Pit 7 (complex II), in which the Bronze Age cremation graves of the Piliny culture were embedded, were dated. The dating results yielded ages for the graves of the Piliny culture (3450 – 3354 cal BP). A charcoal from Pit 7 was additionally dated to the Mesolithic (8600 – 8449 cal BP) and part to the Late Iron Age (2295 – 2000 cal BP). The charcoal from Pit 10 was dated to the Late Palaeolithic 11 465 ±45 BP. There is no evidence for occupation of Košice-Barca II in the periods mentioned above. We conclude that the early Upper Palaeolithic nature of these features is unverified and that the charcoals embedded within them stem from either later occupations or environmental fires.
Les pointes foliacees et les racloirs a retouche plate du site de Horka-Ondrej, lieu-dit "Sm... more Les pointes foliacees et les racloirs a retouche plate du site de Horka-Ondrej, lieu-dit "Smirecanyiho skala" de Slovaquie orientale peuvent etre consideres comme les "prototypes" des pointes foliacees du Paleolithique superieur, denommees "szeletiennes". La retouche plate etait appliquee non seulement sur les pointes mais aussi sur les racloirs, les couteaux et les eclats, trouves dans les sediments argileux (couches C.G) du locus A, datant de la fin de l'interglaciaire Riss/Wurm - debut du Wurm.
On selecting a constituent part of MU the" Overview of publishing activities" p... more On selecting a constituent part of MU the" Overview of publishing activities" page will be displayed with information relevant to the selected constituent part. The" Overview of publishing activities" page is not available for non-activated items.
Abstract The Gravettian is the most widespread Paleolithic culture in Slovakia. The Early Gravett... more Abstract The Gravettian is the most widespread Paleolithic culture in Slovakia. The Early Gravettian (30–25/24 ka BP) does not involve any significant network of sites. It represents mainly workshop sites for processing of radiolarite (Nemsova, Zamarovce) or short-term cave camps (the Dzerava skala cave near Plavecký Mikulas, the Slaninova cave near the village of Haj). Trencianske Bohuslavice, dated to 26–25/24 ka BP, is a rather important site. The Late Gravettian (24–20 ka BP) involves a thick network of sites in the Vah and Nitra river regions and in Eastern Slovakia, around the Zemplin Hills. The shouldered points horizon is named after its typical tool. The group of tools comprises frequent retouched blades and retouched pointed blades. Burins usually prevail over end-scrapers. The number of backed tools varies. In the Vah region, larger concentrations of settlement are documented, confirmed also by radiometric dating in the region of Moravany nad Vahom and Trencin, in the Nitra river region and the town of Nitra, in Cejkov and Kasov in Eastern Slovakia. Smaller groups of Gravettian hunters with high mobility often founded multiple settlements. Imports of Polish raw materials in Slovak sites document the connection of the Vah and Nitra river regions with the territory of the Upper Vistula river. Inventories of individual sites are different in terms of used raw materials and tool typology. Future investigation and new analyses of lithic inventories might confirm the assumption that the Late Gravettian in Slovakia consisted of several independent facies. The Epigravettian (20–17 ka BP) production used local raw materials: radiolarite in Western Slovakia and obsidian in Eastern Slovakia. End-scrapers on short blades and flakes prevail over burins. Aurignacoidal elements also occur and there are backed tools. The number of microbladelets with microretouch increases.
Abstract The way in which modern humans first entered Europe has been a recent focus of Upper Pal... more Abstract The way in which modern humans first entered Europe has been a recent focus of Upper Paleolithic research. A leading theory posits that the Danube served as a conduit for migration from Southeastern into Central and Western Europe. However, a challenge to this has been the scarcity of Early Upper Paleolithic sites along the Middle Danube (Carpathian) Basin. Though several sites with Early Upper Paleolithic features (Szeletian, Aurignacian) are known from surface prospections, few have been archeologically investigated in detail. Here, our aim is to elucidate this long-standing deficiency by evaluating two unknown and three known sites from the northern Carpathian Basin in Hungary and Slovakia through a series of “keyhole” excavations. The objectives were to see if in situ stratified material still existed and to characterize the sites’ archeological assemblages and sedimentological contexts. To do this, field observations supplemented by granulometry were employed to determine if the surrounding sedimentary matrix was eolian loess and/or if it had been mixed with underlying older deposits. The results indicate that the lithics represent Early Upper Paleolithic assemblages that experienced post-depositional mixing. However, two sites (Seňa I, Nagyrede 1) showed more nuanced site formation processes and may contain in situ artifacts warranting further exploration. These studies highlight the importance of including sedimentological research into archeological investigations, because the paucity of sites may not simply mean a lack of human occupation, but can indicate a dynamic geomorphological evolution of the Pleistocene landscape that may have erased past traces of human settlements through insufficient sedimentation. The results provide new insights into the Early Upper Paleolithic settlement and the sedimentary dynamics of the Carpathian Basin ultimately leading to a greater understanding of the early modern human settlement patterns in Europe.
The new excavations at the Dzerava skala cave opened a complex stratigraphic section, showing com... more The new excavations at the Dzerava skala cave opened a complex stratigraphic section, showing combination of in situ developed sediments, in-blown loess, and clays, paleosols and clasts removed from elswhere, most probably from the above cave chimneys. In terms of paleobotany and paleontology, this sequence illustrates the climatic record from the Holocene over the Last Glacial Maximum to the more temperate oscillations of the Interpleniglacial, and, possibly, even before that. Two aspects are of importance: the almost constant presence of cave bears throughout the Pleistocene layers, and the repeated human visits. The archaeological record comprises the Neolithic, probably Late Paleolithic, Gravettian (25 – 31,7 ka BP), and the Early Upper Paleolithic (34 – 37 ka BP). The isolated human molar (right lower M2), found by Hillebrand in 1913, may be correlated with the EUP layers.
Results of R adiocarbon A ges from Previous Excavations in Košice-Barca I and Košice-Barca II
Pit... more Results of R adiocarbon A ges from Previous Excavations in Košice-Barca I and Košice-Barca II Pits and other associated features found at sites along Hornád Valley of Eastern Slovakia have been put forth as examples of early settlement features associated with the early Upper Palaeolithic in Europe. To verify this, we radiocarbon dated charcoal samples from pits found at Košice-Barca I and Košice-Barca II that were recovered during the 1951 – 1954 excavations of F. Prošek. From the Košice-Barca I site, charcoals from Pit 1 with an associated Mesolithic industry were dated. The measured age of 8536 – 8389 cal BP corresponded to the presumed age of the lithic industry assigned to the Atlantic period. From the Košice-Barca II site, charcoal samples from three parts of Palaeolithic Pit 7 (complex II), in which the Bronze Age cremation graves of the Piliny culture were embedded, were dated. The dating results yielded ages for the graves of the Piliny culture (3450 – 3354 cal BP). A charcoal from Pit 7 was additionally dated to the Mesolithic (8600 – 8449 cal BP) and part to the Late Iron Age (2295 – 2000 cal BP). The charcoal from Pit 10 was dated to the Late Palaeolithic 11 465 ±45 BP. There is no evidence for occupation of Košice-Barca II in the periods mentioned above. We conclude that the early Upper Palaeolithic nature of these features is unverified and that the charcoals embedded within them stem from either later occupations or environmental fires.
Les pointes foliacees et les racloirs a retouche plate du site de Horka-Ondrej, lieu-dit "Sm... more Les pointes foliacees et les racloirs a retouche plate du site de Horka-Ondrej, lieu-dit "Smirecanyiho skala" de Slovaquie orientale peuvent etre consideres comme les "prototypes" des pointes foliacees du Paleolithique superieur, denommees "szeletiennes". La retouche plate etait appliquee non seulement sur les pointes mais aussi sur les racloirs, les couteaux et les eclats, trouves dans les sediments argileux (couches C.G) du locus A, datant de la fin de l'interglaciaire Riss/Wurm - debut du Wurm.
On selecting a constituent part of MU the" Overview of publishing activities" p... more On selecting a constituent part of MU the" Overview of publishing activities" page will be displayed with information relevant to the selected constituent part. The" Overview of publishing activities" page is not available for non-activated items.
Abstract The Gravettian is the most widespread Paleolithic culture in Slovakia. The Early Gravett... more Abstract The Gravettian is the most widespread Paleolithic culture in Slovakia. The Early Gravettian (30–25/24 ka BP) does not involve any significant network of sites. It represents mainly workshop sites for processing of radiolarite (Nemsova, Zamarovce) or short-term cave camps (the Dzerava skala cave near Plavecký Mikulas, the Slaninova cave near the village of Haj). Trencianske Bohuslavice, dated to 26–25/24 ka BP, is a rather important site. The Late Gravettian (24–20 ka BP) involves a thick network of sites in the Vah and Nitra river regions and in Eastern Slovakia, around the Zemplin Hills. The shouldered points horizon is named after its typical tool. The group of tools comprises frequent retouched blades and retouched pointed blades. Burins usually prevail over end-scrapers. The number of backed tools varies. In the Vah region, larger concentrations of settlement are documented, confirmed also by radiometric dating in the region of Moravany nad Vahom and Trencin, in the Nitra river region and the town of Nitra, in Cejkov and Kasov in Eastern Slovakia. Smaller groups of Gravettian hunters with high mobility often founded multiple settlements. Imports of Polish raw materials in Slovak sites document the connection of the Vah and Nitra river regions with the territory of the Upper Vistula river. Inventories of individual sites are different in terms of used raw materials and tool typology. Future investigation and new analyses of lithic inventories might confirm the assumption that the Late Gravettian in Slovakia consisted of several independent facies. The Epigravettian (20–17 ka BP) production used local raw materials: radiolarite in Western Slovakia and obsidian in Eastern Slovakia. End-scrapers on short blades and flakes prevail over burins. Aurignacoidal elements also occur and there are backed tools. The number of microbladelets with microretouch increases.
Abstract The way in which modern humans first entered Europe has been a recent focus of Upper Pal... more Abstract The way in which modern humans first entered Europe has been a recent focus of Upper Paleolithic research. A leading theory posits that the Danube served as a conduit for migration from Southeastern into Central and Western Europe. However, a challenge to this has been the scarcity of Early Upper Paleolithic sites along the Middle Danube (Carpathian) Basin. Though several sites with Early Upper Paleolithic features (Szeletian, Aurignacian) are known from surface prospections, few have been archeologically investigated in detail. Here, our aim is to elucidate this long-standing deficiency by evaluating two unknown and three known sites from the northern Carpathian Basin in Hungary and Slovakia through a series of “keyhole” excavations. The objectives were to see if in situ stratified material still existed and to characterize the sites’ archeological assemblages and sedimentological contexts. To do this, field observations supplemented by granulometry were employed to determine if the surrounding sedimentary matrix was eolian loess and/or if it had been mixed with underlying older deposits. The results indicate that the lithics represent Early Upper Paleolithic assemblages that experienced post-depositional mixing. However, two sites (Seňa I, Nagyrede 1) showed more nuanced site formation processes and may contain in situ artifacts warranting further exploration. These studies highlight the importance of including sedimentological research into archeological investigations, because the paucity of sites may not simply mean a lack of human occupation, but can indicate a dynamic geomorphological evolution of the Pleistocene landscape that may have erased past traces of human settlements through insufficient sedimentation. The results provide new insights into the Early Upper Paleolithic settlement and the sedimentary dynamics of the Carpathian Basin ultimately leading to a greater understanding of the early modern human settlement patterns in Europe.
The new excavations at the Dzerava skala cave opened a complex stratigraphic section, showing com... more The new excavations at the Dzerava skala cave opened a complex stratigraphic section, showing combination of in situ developed sediments, in-blown loess, and clays, paleosols and clasts removed from elswhere, most probably from the above cave chimneys. In terms of paleobotany and paleontology, this sequence illustrates the climatic record from the Holocene over the Last Glacial Maximum to the more temperate oscillations of the Interpleniglacial, and, possibly, even before that. Two aspects are of importance: the almost constant presence of cave bears throughout the Pleistocene layers, and the repeated human visits. The archaeological record comprises the Neolithic, probably Late Paleolithic, Gravettian (25 – 31,7 ka BP), and the Early Upper Paleolithic (34 – 37 ka BP). The isolated human molar (right lower M2), found by Hillebrand in 1913, may be correlated with the EUP layers.
Pleistocene Environments and Archaeology of the Dzeravá skala Cave, Lesser Carpathians, Slovakia, 2005
ABSTRACT: The new excavations at the Dzeravá skala cave opened a complex stratigraphic section, s... more ABSTRACT: The new excavations at the Dzeravá skala cave opened a complex stratigraphic section, showing combination of in situ developed sediments, in-blown loess, and clays, paleosols and clasts removed from elsewhere, most probably from the above cave chimneys. In terms of paleobotany and paleontology, this sequence illustrates the climatic record from the Holocene over the Last Glacial Maximum to the more temperate oscillations of the Interpleniglacial, and, possibly, even before that. Two aspects are of importance: the almost constant presence of cave bears throughout the Pleistocene layers, and the repeated human visits. The archaeological record comprises the Neolithic, probably Late Paleolithic, Gravettian (25–31.7 ka BP), Early Upper Paleolithic (34–37 ka BP), and the Late Middle Paleolithic (50.4 ka BP). The isolated human molar (right lower M2), found by Hillebrand in 1913, may be correlated with the EUP layers.
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Pits and other associated features found at sites along Hornád Valley of Eastern Slovakia have been put forth as examples of early settlement features associated with the early Upper Palaeolithic in Europe. To verify this, we radiocarbon dated charcoal samples from pits found at Košice-Barca I and Košice-Barca II that were recovered during the 1951 – 1954
excavations of F. Prošek. From the Košice-Barca I site, charcoals from Pit 1 with an associated Mesolithic industry were dated. The measured age of 8536 – 8389 cal BP corresponded to the presumed age of the lithic industry assigned to the Atlantic period.
From the Košice-Barca II site, charcoal samples from three parts of Palaeolithic Pit 7 (complex II), in which the Bronze Age cremation graves of the Piliny culture were embedded, were dated. The dating results yielded ages for the graves of the Piliny culture (3450 – 3354 cal BP). A charcoal from Pit 7 was additionally dated to the Mesolithic (8600 – 8449 cal BP) and
part to the Late Iron Age (2295 – 2000 cal BP). The charcoal from Pit 10 was dated to the Late Palaeolithic 11 465 ±45 BP. There is no evidence for occupation of Košice-Barca II in the periods mentioned above. We conclude that the early Upper Palaeolithic nature of these features is unverified and that the charcoals embedded within them stem from either later occupations or environmental fires.
Pits and other associated features found at sites along Hornád Valley of Eastern Slovakia have been put forth as examples of early settlement features associated with the early Upper Palaeolithic in Europe. To verify this, we radiocarbon dated charcoal samples from pits found at Košice-Barca I and Košice-Barca II that were recovered during the 1951 – 1954
excavations of F. Prošek. From the Košice-Barca I site, charcoals from Pit 1 with an associated Mesolithic industry were dated. The measured age of 8536 – 8389 cal BP corresponded to the presumed age of the lithic industry assigned to the Atlantic period.
From the Košice-Barca II site, charcoal samples from three parts of Palaeolithic Pit 7 (complex II), in which the Bronze Age cremation graves of the Piliny culture were embedded, were dated. The dating results yielded ages for the graves of the Piliny culture (3450 – 3354 cal BP). A charcoal from Pit 7 was additionally dated to the Mesolithic (8600 – 8449 cal BP) and
part to the Late Iron Age (2295 – 2000 cal BP). The charcoal from Pit 10 was dated to the Late Palaeolithic 11 465 ±45 BP. There is no evidence for occupation of Košice-Barca II in the periods mentioned above. We conclude that the early Upper Palaeolithic nature of these features is unverified and that the charcoals embedded within them stem from either later occupations or environmental fires.