Petr Šída

Questions of origins of stone raw material for Neolithic polished stone tools of LBK culture were independently solved by V. Šrein (Šrein et al. 2002) and A. Přichystal (2002). Both of them localized outcrops of the raw materials in lateral area of the Tanvald pluton in Jizera mountains (Czech republic) and drawn attention to presence of artifacts related to quarrying and processing raw materials in the Neolithic
(5,500 – 4,000 cal. BC). Raw material is represented by variable group of hornblende – actinolite – plagioclase (bytownite – labradorite) hornfels rocks which are called metabasites of the Jizera mountains type in order to simplify archaeological nomenclature.
This books takes an overview of geological, mineralogical and archaeological research until the year 2010.

Lubná is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Bohemia. With a total of 8 Gravettian components located in a small area, it represents the greatest concentration of Upper Palaeolithic sites and has no precedent in the area. The closest analogy is the Pavlovian site cluster of Dolní Věstonice II. However, Lubná is younger, dating between 24 to 21 thousand years old and is not so rich in material culture. Lubná is notable because it is where the oldest art object ever found in the Bohemiawas discovered.
Lubná I was the first Paleolithic site excavated in Bohemia. A high school teacher and amateur geologist named Jan Kušta discovered it in 1890. Excavations continued the following year and were completed in 1913 by J. Soukup. The second main location was discovered and excavated in 1933. The site was first located by B. Typolt and J. Renner and the excavation was undertaken by J. Böhm. The excavation of Lubná II can be considered to be the first modern excavation of a Paleolithic site in the country. Even today, after more than 80 years, we can perform advanced planigraphic analysis based on Böhmʼs field documentation.
In the first phase of research at Lubná, archaeological remains were also discovered in several other locations (IV, V, VII and VIII). Some of these components have preserved archaeological material (IV, VIII), whilst the rest are only reported in the literature. Lubná IV was excavated by S. Vencl in 1961. In the same year, Lubná III was also discovered and explored. Lubná VI was discovered in 2006 and the first trenching was undertaken in 2012.

Recently, several new sites dated to Upper Acheulean were discovered during the systematic prospection of surface done by P. Brichacek in Western Bohemia region. In this paper will be discussed only three sites, namely Stř兊ro, Hromnice I, II and Břetislav with medium to large collections of stone artifacts, including bifaces as a significant element of this chronological period. Additionally, two dozen sites yielding smaller, insignificant collections were detected in this region.

This monography presents a comprehensive evaluation of the results of excavations on the location Jistebsko on plot 350/1, which took place in 2009. After the monographies of Velké Hamry I (Šída et al. 2012) and the Velké Hamry II (Šída et al. 2013) it is the third book, which publishes the first large collection of that acquired during excavations in recent years. Publication of other excavation on this exceptional location will follow in a few other years in the future.
Jistebsko site is largest quarrying site in the Jizera Mountains. Its area is larger than 100 ha. Large part of the site was during the middle ages layered by mediaeval fields of village Maršovice, so that all traces of Neolithic quarrying on surface were obliterated. The underground situation remained not damage, as was proven by excavation in 2009. During excavation 4 fullfilled quarrying pits were excavated  with the concentration of neolithic semiproduct production waste.. Infilling was dated by radiocarbon dating to the period of the Linear Pottery culture. Among the pits 1 and 2 layer of workshop waste with fireplace relics lying in situ was first discovered. Its part was excavated by trenches 1 and 2, with an area of 1.7 m².
During the first surface collecting on the surface was collected first representative collection of 125 artifacts from metabasites. DuringIn documenting the basement excavation section we obtained a total of 253 artifacts. Followed up by research, which brought a total of 116 artifacts from the volume of trenches outside of workshop waste layer and then 4215 artifacts from the layer. At that debitage dominates (production waste) represented by 4184 pieces. In this group we find in 1145 flakes and 120 flakes flakes with technological retouching, 1583 amorphous fragments and 46 amorphous fragments with 46 technological retouching, 5 blades and 1285 small chips. Semiproducts are represented by 22 pieces, of which 3 pieces reflect the initial form. Retouched tools are represented only marginally by 4 pieces. The remaining 5 artifacts belong to the group of other industrie (this group includes hammerstones, quarrying tools and raw material).
Raw material on plot 350/1 is very good quality and is one of the best variety in Jistebsko. Not surprisingly so lower error rate is present, which is evident in comparison with the location of Velké Hamry I, nor greater representation flakes, which is given by better cleavage (bulbs are better seen).
The situation in 2009 on a plot 350/1 is a rare example of workshop space preserved in situ due to covering of situation in early next phase of quarrying. Quick covering illustrates the extremely low level of corrosion of artifacts in workshop waste. That artifacts are in situ was very well visible by their position (artifacts were oriented consistently with the surface on which they layed).
Based on data collected in 2009 workshop activities on the site can be closer characterised for the first time. At the beginning were used quarrying pits of different sizes. Quarryied rock was already tested during quarrying and poor quality piecs were left in the tailings. Production of semiproducts conducted in a specialized workshop space located on the edge of the quarrying pits. At its center was located fireplace around which the individual splitters sat out in a semicircle. Own production produced a considerable amount of waste that accumulate before splitters in space of fireplace and its vicinity. Fireplace further was firing directly on the layer of workshop waste. The length of the workshop events we are unable to reliably determine, but certainly it was not just a single hour on one side, or few months on the other. According to the abundance of findings we can think about the days to two weeks extend. After this one particular event production, whose remains we explored, the production moved to another place and after some time next quarrying event took place in the vicinity. During it the situation was covered with a layer of tailings.
Extreme concentration of waste we excavated in 2009 at one point of the Jistebsko site on 12 m long section shows the intensity of production, which took place at the site. It explain why the infillings of quarrying pits contains such a huge number of artifacts. They come precisely from such workshops, such as those explored in 2009, estroyed at younger stages of quarrying. Therefore, the average artifacts density in the surface of more than one square kilometer large quarrying site is greater than 100 pieces per square meter.

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of field research and excavation in the area of Velké Hamry II and overview of the findings from the field research of the surrounding smaller sites. Along with the monography Velké Hamry I (Šída et al. 2012) are so at this point all information on the Neolithic quarrying in the foothills of the Jizera mountains outside the largest site Jistebsko published. Processing of this exceptional site will follow in several other works in the future.
Velké Hamry II site has an area of 40 hectares, but the whole was during the medieval and modern period covered by fields. All surface neolithic traces were destroyed during field processing. Underground situations remain untouched, as was recognised during 2007 excavations. During theese excavations part of neolithic quarrying pit with the concentration of production waste of the Neolithic time was recognised. Infilling was dated by radiocarbon method to the period of the Linear Pottery culture. The concentration of burnt industry and charcoals show us the neolithic hearth was in the immediate vicinity of the quarrying pit.
During field processing in the Middle Ages and in modern times stones were routinely collected from the topsoil and were deposited in edge belts and piles of stones within the plots. Therefore topsoil contained a large number of artefacts, we can found many of them in the stone piles. The artefacts were also first identified there during 2004.
During the first surface collecting was assembled a representative collection of 159 artifacts from Metabasites. During the research on the plot 3209 in 2007 were firstly collected 59 artifacts on the destroyed surface. During excavations a total number of 1,167 artefacts was collected. Debitage (production waste) represented by 1,095 pieces is dominating. In this group we find 444 flakes and 76 flakes with technological retouching, 397 fragments and 43 fragments with technological retouching, 2 blades and 133 microchips. Semiproducts are represented by 48 pieces, of which 6 pieces reflect the initial form. Retouched tools are only marginally represented in 8 pieces. The remaining 16 artefacts belong to group of other industrie (this group includes hammerstones, quarrying tools and raw material).
Raw material in Velké Hamry II has very good quality and in many ways is similar to the best variety from Jistebsko. Not surprisingly so lower error rate can be seen, which is evident in comparison with the location of Velké Hamry I, even higher proportion of flakes, which is due to better cleavage (bulbs are more noticeable).
Other sites are known only from surface collecting that are dependent on the availability of ground for this type of archaeological survey. Two positions in Zbytky are probably a continuation of the same raw material outcrop, which was used in Velké Hamry II. They are diveded only by eluvia of granite, which has overlayed raw material outcrop. There are known only small quantities of artefacts from these sites until now because no archaological reserch was hold there. Just a single finds were captured on the Šumburk site, and they are probably in a secondary position. Site itself is probably located above the slope in an area covered by vegetation. There is now possibility to collect artefacts at the time.
Velké Hamry II site represent a medium-sized quarrying site on the best quality raw material source. Even today it is possible to find large blocks of raw material without a trace of chipping on the site. Its importance lies in the fact, that it represents a site on the border a large quarrying complex on Maršovice hill and small quarrying sites Velké Hamry I or Šumburk. Raw material was not quarryied out during Neolithic time.
Variability in the extent of quarrying in the foothills of the Jizera Mountains show a very sophisticated work of Neolithic quarryiers with this exceptional raw material source.

Sources of raw metamorphic materials for the production of Neolithic polished tools were sought throughout the 20th century. The problem of the neolithic tools raw material solved independently Vladimír Šrein and A. Přichystal in 2002 (Přichystal 2002; Šrein et al. 2002). Both located outcrops of raw materials in the mantle of Tanvald granite and pointed to the presence of artifacts associated with the quarrying and processing of raw materials in the Neolithic (5500-4000 cal. BC). Gradually it was discovered a few sites where quarrying and manufacturig of semiproducts of axes on the southern edge of the ridge of Černá Studnice. This book is dedicated to researches carried out on a site Velké Hamry I discovered in 2002 by A. Přichystal.
It is located on the south-facing slope hillside of Šulíkova rock from the confluence Kamenice river and Ješkrabec stream at an altitude of 520-540 m in the cadastral territory Bohdalovice. Coordinates of center locations are (03-32-05, 457:320; JTSK X: 980892, Y: 670209). Distance (as the crow flies) from Kamenice river is 350 m and to Ješkrabec stream 400 m. Vertical distance above their confluence is 110-130 m.
Scope of research so far has been small, in fact it is a fact-finding trench, which along with surface collections gave of 4 sq m collection of 850 artifacts documenting the entire production chain of Neolithic polished tools. Due to other Neolithic sites upstream of Jizera range is a collection and site range small (total area of quarrying fields is about 1.5 sq km, and only from Jistebsko today comes from the 20,000 artifacts from the area of just 100 sq m). Its meaning is different. Corresponds to the character of the locality rather quarrying experiments. This corresponds to its small size, the large amount of unused raw materials, small-scale quarrying pits and fewer artifacts. Quarrying and processing of raw materials on the spot apparently took place over other locations much less time, so the situation is not much covered and broken by other and other activities. Raw material at the site is not so perfect cleavage, as the best variety of Jistebsko or Velké Hamry II. Probably because we can watch a larger number of production errors.
At small assemblage that we have so, we have documented all stages of production from large cores and large flakes default, despite initial forms, advanced preparations and flakes and fragments from their formation to almost semi-finished of hoof-like wedges. The scope, duration of quarrying and quality of raw materials is related to the degree of quarrying out of raw material, which in the case of the site is low. On the site, we can find a large number of blocks of intact material, experimental blocks with large flakes and large cores and flakes. For example, the degree of Jistebsko quarrying out is much higher, so that the raw material, or large cores and flakes have almost not be found. Also, many times the number of workshop waste and much overlapping quarrying the situation significantly blur.
The infilling of Neolithic pits managed to get a unique set of pollen samples, documenting the composition of vegetation in the vicinity of the site in prime Atlantic period. Around grown deciduous forest composed of lime, hazel, elm, hornbeam, and other deciduous trees.

The basis of archaeological knowledge of the past are artifacts and their context. Over the last hundred years has seen a huge shift postexcavation stages of research and evaluation. It is devoted little attention to method field work itself. The quality of the result is primarily influenced by the procedure of field research and ongoing transformations with him. The emphasis on non-destructive methods of research and maximize protection of the archaeological heritage paradoxically leads to unwanted postpone methods of field research into the background of interest.
This book deals with methods of archaeological field work in destructive research and its interconnection with the methods of evaluation. Options for further evaluation are directly affected by the direction of archaeological research. Yield information be directly dependent on the method used field research.
Second part of the text is devoted to the research methodology and documentation of archaeological situations commonly found in the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic sites, and focuses primarily on how it interacts with its own methodology for evaluating archaeological research. Are presented in detail procedures for documentation and evaluation of the stratigraphy.
Text of the third part is devoted to the basic methods of visualization and analysis of spatial data gathered by archaeologists. Shows which data enter into the analysis and how can the different types of data transfer between them. Furthermore, a basic data parameters that define the parameters of the analysis, are presented. Attention is paid to the basic methods of visualization of point and non-point data and advanced calculations interpolating areal density as a spatial parameter. In short, the also refittings and structural analyzes of spatial data, are presented.
Detailed research methodology is presented during the fourth part of the seven model examples, which more or less follow the real research conducted in the field. Keep in mind that every archaeological situation is in some way unique. It is not possible to define in advance the only correct research methodology, and then it carelessly applied to any situation. Unique situations require unique solutions, and there must be seen a major role of archaeological research leader.

Supplemental material, sj-xlsx-1-hol-10.1177_0959683620919985 for The lost paradise of snails: Transformation of the middle-Holocene forest ecosystems in Bohemia, Czech Republic, as revealed by declining land snail diversity by Lucie Juřičková, Petr Šída, Jitka Horáčková, Vojen Ložek and Petr Pokorný in The Holocene

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...

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.

Abstract Until recently the Epigravettian occupation of Bohemia has remained relatively unknown. After re-evaluating an old assemblage from Ostroměř (first published by S. Vencl like the Ostroměř group of Late Palaeolithic) we can assign it to the Epigravettian cultural complex. A newly excavated site in Slatinky near Jicin probably dates to the Late Epigravettian, but only the specialised part of the site related to the production of microblades was excavated. Eastern Bohemian sites fit into the general form and framework of the Epigravettian stone industries with a dominance of short scrapers (often on flake) and a lower incidence of burins. Geographically, sites can be placed mainly in lower altitudes (256–400 m asl), while their number decreases with increasing altitude. There is no link to large watercourses, and on the contrary, the main ones seem to be rather smaller watercourses (sites are located 100–300 m from them) while at the same time it is clear that there was an effort made to search for places protected against adverse climatic phenomena. At the moment we can first provide a deeper insight into the Epigravettian site structure in Eastern Bohemia.

In a continuous, perfectly stratified sedimentary sequence which was discovered under a large sandstone overhang in northern Bohemia, Czech Republic, we analysed multiple biological remains, archaeological features and artefacts. This multi-proxy record has allowed us to examine the interactions between woodland and humans in a permanently wooded environment throughout almost the entire Holocene. We paid most attention to massive finds of dung pellets from sheep, goats or pigs and bedding layers which show that the site was used as a pen and shelter for livestock which grazed in the woods. Our results imply that such practices have occurred since the Neolithic, but the most robust evidence of these is for the Iron Age and early Middle Ages. Detailed analyses of the dung indicate woodland grazing and foddering with branches, acorns, beechnuts and crop processing remains. In addition, the wide palaeoenvironmental range of this detailed investigation provides evidence of the impact of wood pasturing on ecological functions, taxon composition and diversity of the local woodland ecosystem in the Holocene.

This paper combines complex archaeological records from excavations of sandstone rockshelters with paleobotanical investigations in the adjacent wetlands of Northern Bohemia, Czech Republic. Several pollen diagramms from nearby peatbogs are used to document the paleoenvironmental development from the Late Glacial to the Middle Holocene. In addition, two recently excavated key archaeological sections were selected to document human behavioral responses to the climatic development: Kostelni rokle, and Smolný kamen. This region remained mostly unsettled during the Upper Paleolithic (Magdalenian or Epigravettian) so that the Late Paleolithic colonization after the LGM appears to be a major behavioral adaptation. The Early and Middle Mesolithic foragers developed this pattern to be optimally adapted to the versatile landscape of sandstone plateaus and canyons during the Holocene. The aim was to exploit its changing vegetational, aquatic and terrestric faunal resources, until the Late Mesolithic.

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 ...

Archaeological investigations mapping the Neolithic quarrying of metabasites at the foothills of the Jizerske Mts. has been conducted since 2002. The enormous amount of flakes of stone raw materials and semi-finished manufactured tools has been supplemented by an assemblage of wood charcoal from the fill of quarrying pits; this new assemblage has provided a basic impression of the composition of arboreal vegetation and has enabled consistent radiocarbon dating. In addition, we also tested the possibilities of pollen analysis, the results of which have the potential to serve as a biostratigraphic dating guideline, possibly enabling a reconstruction of the character of the natural environment at the time the quarrying was conducted and shortly thereafter. Both conducted analyses permit a reconstruction of the creation dynamic of defunct layers; in the case of the Neolithic period they also show that the quarrying was conducted in a primarily wooded landscape.

Abstract The first excavated Palaeolithic site of Bohemia was Lubna, where J. Kusta in 1890 excavated station I. At least seven other sites (Lubna II to VIII) were discovered in its vicinity over time, making the Lubna area the richest site cluster in Bohemia. It is also the only place in Bohemia where several stations are located in a small area. All sites belong to the Upper Gravettian period, dated to 25 to 21 ka BP. For comparison of Lubna sites, there are 3646 artefacts from 6 sites in Lubna. The largest assemblage is Lubna III with 1442 artefacts; the second largest is the assemblage of Lubna II with 952 artefacts. Lubna IV has 566 artefacts and Lubna I 460 artefacts. The smallest assemblages come from sites Lubna VI and VIII (162 and 64 artefacts). Dominant raw materials are silicites of glacial sediments from the north (Silesia and Saxony). There are small amounts of quartzites of northwestern Bohemia and Bavarian plattensilex. All sites have very low amount of cores, and they show high stages of exploitation. Microchips, flakes and burin spalls demonstrate blade and tool production on sites. Tool composition is typical for the Gravettian with gravettian points and micropoints, domination of burins, and numerous microliths. Kostenki points are absent. Pavlovian microliths, triangles and segments, are present.

ABSTRACT Investigations of the Schwarzenberg Lake constantly bring important data on vegetation, landscape development, and human occu- pation since the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. Great scientific potential of the area base on conditions suitable for both palaeoen- vironmental and archaeological research. This article is an attempt to summarize current state of knowledge on this important pala- eoecological and archaeological area. Since the discovery in 1996, sediments of the extinct Schwarzenberg Lake represent the most complex archive of palaeoenvironmental information in the territory of the Czech Republic. Based on the results of pollen and other microfossils analyses, hypothesis on intensive occupation of the area in Mesolithic times was given. This hypothesis was largely supported by later archaeological survey and excavations. Eight Mesolithic archaeological sites were so far identified in the SE shore of the former lake. In the peninsula that protrudes to it, undisturbed dry archaeological site was discovered. In wet shoreline areas, excavated by test pitting, organic strata transformed by humans were found together with wooden artifacts. Their radiocarbon dating confirmed Early Holocene (Preboreal) age. Questions on human influence on environment and on occupation continuity since Late Glacial to Middle Holocene are the main concern in the present paper and also for future research.

The Middle Upper Palaeolithic (MUP) in eastern Central Europe (ECE) comprises three variants of Gravettian culture: Early Gravettian, Pavlovian, and Late Gravettian. While Early Gravettian and Pavlovian are merely located in Lower Austria and Moravia, the Late Gravettian occupations occurred over the entire territory of ECE. Compared to the number of sites the radiocarbon dating and the absolute chronology of the Late Gravettian is rather poor. The results presented here bring a new set of radiocarbon (14C) dates for the Late Gravettian period in ECE and propose that this period began and ended earlier than previously suggested.

Due to the recent mapping and study of soil micromorphology of the New brickyard at Horky nad Jizerou we revised the sequence documented in the 1950s and 60s in the Old brickyard at Horky nad Jizerou. The sediments at Horky nad Jizerou evolved in loess and fossil soil sedimentation, perhaps from the MIS 15 to pleniglacial of the last glaciation (MIS 2). Its development was interrupted by numerous hiatuses evident in the erosive interfaces. The most significant soil complex with two soils (brown and black braunlehm, luvisoils) and soil sediment (soils 6–8, E–G) was developed in both brickyards. These soils are affected by two generations of ice wedges. According to the soil micromorphology, this soil complex can be correlated to the soil complex V (MIS 9) and both brickyards definitely contain this complex. The base of the loess sedimentary sequence in the New brickyard is composed of two soils (soils H and I), the uppermost corresponds to braunlehm type (soil H, minimally dated to soil complex VII – MIS 13). Both soils of the soil complex IV (MIS 7) are present in the New brickyard, however, the lower one is remodified by significant solifluction and the upper one is at many places placed in paraautochtonnous position as well. From the soil complex III (MIS 5) only the upper part, the luvisoil, basal soil of Stillfried A, has survived, contrary to the brown soil of the Eemian interglacial which was eroded. Since fifties several archaeological find have been explored in five sites in both brickyards. The oldest archaeological levels are at the site of Horky III, situated in the loess which has a minimum age of the MIS 14. Slightly younger is a limited collection of small dimension stone industry of Lower Palaeolithic character discovered at Horky II, which corresponds to either the MIS 13 or the MIS 11. The largest assemblage from Horky I was found within an erosion channel under the loess of the MIS 10 which was under a significant soil complex, corresponding to the MIS 9. The sediments filling this erosion channel seem to correspond to the beginning of the glacial the MIS 10. Two artefacts from Horky IV layed in the loess corresponding to MIS 8. The youngest site is Horky V situated in soil strongly affected by solifluction and corresponding to the MIS 7c.

Overhangs in sandstone regions have attracted the attention of archaeologists for more than 130 years. Till recently it was not possible to determine the archaeological potential of an overhang by any other method than by an excavation. The test pit always represented a significant destructive intervention carried out in very complex stratigraphic context without a possibility to predict the stratigraphy in any way. Newly developed methods of drill survey allow us to eliminate all disadvantages of classical methodologies and for the first time in history it is possible to carry out targeted surveys of new sites with little destructive archaeological method. The drillings use soil drills by Eijkelkamp which allow a controlled collection of only a slightly deformed core up to depth of three metres. The short drill core allows the description of sediment and its sifting the acquisition of artefacts and ecofacts.

Dolní Věstonice II has a large assemblage of preserved charred wood and charcoals, which contains some evidence of worked artefacts.
Preserved in this assemblage are complex adjustments using cutting and polishing, forming the shapes of tools, as well as examples of the simpler working of artefacts using cutting, including waste generated during their processing.
Artefacts and charcoals were preserved due to the specific conditions of charring, when a large part of the assemblage was charring without access of air, and charcoals from the fireplaces are well preserved thanks to the overlaying loess.
Coniferous wood was mainly used, but to a lesser extent, deciduous trees are documented. Also documented in the assemblage was the use of dry wood infested with wood-destroying insects. The large charcoal fragments that have been studied display a long tree-ring series, which is ideal for the reconstruction of the short period climatic variations. The warmer oscillations are documented in the order single year to several years in a row.

The first excavated Palaeolithic site of Bohemia was Lubn
a, where J. Kusta in 1890 excavated station I. At least seven other sites (Lubn
a II to VIII) were discovered in its vicinity over time, making the Lubn
a area the richest site cluster in Bohemia. It is also the only place in Bohemia where several stations are located in a small area. All sites belong to the Upper Gravettian period, dated to 25 to 21 ka BP.
For comparison of Lubn
a sites, there are 3646 artefacts from 6 sites in Lubn
a. The largest assemblage is Lubn
a III with 1442 artefacts; the second largest is the assemblage of Lubn
a II with 952 artefacts. Lubn
a IV has 566 artefacts and Lubn
a I 460 artefacts. The smallest assemblages come from sites Lubn
a VI and VIII (162 and 64 artefacts).
Dominant raw materials are silicites of glacial sediments from the north (Silesia and Saxony). There are small amounts of quartzites of northwestern Bohemia and Bavarian plattensilex.
All sites have very low amount of cores, and they show high stages of exploitation. Microchips, flakes and burin spalls demonstrate blade and tool production on sites. Tool composition is typical for the Gravettian with gravettian points and micropoints, domination of burins, and numerous microliths. Kostenki points are absent. Pavlovian microliths, triangles and segments, are present.

The investigation of an early Roman period settlement at Slepotice (Pardubice District) yielded, among others, a considerable collection of stone artefacts of various dates, showing differing degrees of complexity. These collections of artefacts without doubt originated as a result of intentional human manipulation of stone raw materials. Their composition is significantly different from the range of raw materials available on the site, in both a quantitative and qualitative way. Raw materials which were brought to the site (mainly for the production of sharpening stones and crushers) are dominant. Local raw materials were only utilized for the simplest artefacts – such as the materials brought to the site in order to improve the properties of pyrotechnological facilities and sporadically possibly also
materials for bedding of walkable areas.

Quarrying on Jistebsko and other sites in the foothills of the Jizera Mountains achieves huge range of almost 1.6 km2. Due to the fact that in addition to quarrying production of semiproducts was in place, huge accumulation of artifacts (an average of about 200 pieces per square meter) can be found on the site. Production at the site begins in the late Mesolithic horizon. Extremely fast expansion of the use
of this raw material and polished artefacts in the Neolithic at all, can be explained only by contact with an older tradition. At its existence indicates the presence of polished artefacts of this raw material in the context of a upper Mesolithic context and beginning of production on Jistebsko at a time when no neolithic settlement can be found in the Bohemia. Jistebsko can be a key site for understanding the genesis of the neolithic societies of Central Europe.

Erste geschliffene Artefakte aus Metabasit (meistens des typs Isergebirge) erscheinen in der jüngeren Phasedes borealzeitlichen Mesolithikums im Horizont 7600–6900 BC (Švédův převis – Schwedenüberhang, Rottenburg-Siebenlinden 4, Sarching). Belegt sind sie auch aus der älteren Phase des atlantischen Mesolithikums aus dem Horizont 6900–6200 BC (Bad Dürrenberg, Jägerhaus-Höhle, Falkensteinhöhle). Vorläufig nicht belegt sind sie aus der Endphase des atlantischen Mesolithikums aus dem Horizont 6200 –5400 BC, hier muss man aber einen bedeutsamen Mangel an Fundgut allgemein unterstreichen, es geht also eher um ein Problem des Forschungsstandes als um ein Fehlen der Erscheinung an sich. Es ist interessant, dass schon die borealzeitlichen Artefakte die Form der späteren neolithischen haben (Bruchteil des hufförmigen Werkzeugs aus Sarching, Nackenbruchteil des Artefakts von dem Švédův převis). Das Werkzeug
aus Bad Dürrenberg hat das Aussehen einer typischen "neolithischen" Axt.
Bereits im Mesolithikum geraten die Werkzeuge aus Metabasit des Typs Isergebirge auf weit entfernte Orte. Ganz sicher ist dieser Rohstoff in Švédův převis und Bad Dürrenberg festgestellt, wahrscheinlich handelt es sich auch in Jägerhaus-Höhle und Falkensteinhöhle um das selbe Material. Auf jeden Fall gerät der Rohstoff bereits im Mesolithikum in eine Entfernung von mehreren Hundert Kilometern. Ganze Funde sind eine Ausnahme (z.B. das Grab in Bad Dürrenberg), eher findet man kleine Fragmente. Das hängt mit der konsequenten Reutilisierung des Rohstoffes zusammen, der sicher wertvoll war und nach Beschädigen der Äxte weiter als Werkstoff für die Erzeugung von Spaltindustrie dienen konnte. Auf gleiche Weise schwinden aus dem Fundgut auch Kieselkernäxte. Aus diesem Grund sind Äxte im Mesolithikum insgesamt rar und die Häufikeit ihres Vorkommens in archäologischen Situationen entspricht ganz sicher nicht der Häufikeit in der lebendigen mesolithischen Kultur.
Aus der Sicht der mesolithischen Nutzung der Metabasite des Typs Isergebirge sind die neuen Daten der Radiokarbonmethode aus der Förderlokalität Jistebsko, die in das Interval 5600–5450 BC enfallen, sicher keine Überraschung. Alle bisher in Böhmen gewonnenen neolithischen Radiokarbondaten sind jünger als dieses Interval (Maškovy zahrady, Bylany: Pavlů 2000). In dieser Hinsicht müssen wir überlegen, was diese Daten für die Interpretation des Kontexts bedeuten. In Jistebsko kommt es zu einer Produktion „neolithischer“ Roherzeugnisse im Zeitinterval 5600–5450 BC, die nächstgelegenen neolithischen Lokalitäten befinden sich aber zu dieser Zeit in der Umgebung von Wien, in Südmähren und eventuell im Rheinland! Böhmen ist zu dieser Zeit mesolithisch. Der Bedarf an größeren Mengen von Äxten im neolithischen Milieu führt also allem Anschein nach zu ihrer Produktion im mesolithischen Milieu. Es lässt sich kaum ein besserer Beweis dafür finden, dass es zwischen den beiden Gruppen mindestens eine Kommunikation gegeben hat. Deshalb nutzen alle altlinearen Kollektionen konsequent eben den Rohstoff aus dem Isergebirge und deshalb wurde er so „früh“ entdeckt.

Jizerské hory type Metabasite in Mesolithic Assemblages of Český ráj
Metabasite of the Jizera Mountains type is documented on six Mesolithic sites in the Bohemian Paradise. It is a raw material used for the usual chipped industry production and
also for making of specific type of Mesolithic artefacts – core axes. The source of raw materials were apparently boulders, as evidenced by the high proportion of artifacts with its skin/
surface (Tab. 1). Raw material in the form of pebbles was collected from the bed of the river Jizera, it is possible that already at that time primary source had been discovered (that may be indicative by the nature of skin/surface from
the site Ludmilina cave and especially very old dating of quarrying on the Jistebsko site preceding 5500 BC – Ramminger – Šída 2012).
Dating the use of metabasites of Jizera Mountains type can be moved, by known data, up to the oldest phase of the Boreal Mesolithic (Rockshelter Babí pec), also the Boreal period is dated at the site Rockshelter Kudrnáčova
pec. At the Rockshelter Kristova jeskyně is evidence of their use in the later Atlantic.
Stratigraphy of the rock gate Dvojitá brána shows evidence their continuous use from the end of the Boreal through later Atlantic to the younger Atlantic (findings corresponding
to a hunting environment at the site appear even in Neolithic and Eneolithic time).
This raw material is not main one on any site, but it occurs quite regularly, it is used continuously throughout the Mesolithic period and is used to produce specific core axes. We also know of polished artefacts or fragments
thereof produced from this raw material, located in Mesolithic environment. All these facts are clues which testify to the existence of contact between the Mesolithic and Neolithic tradition (Šída 2013).

Changes in use of material sources in late Paleolithic and Mesolithic of Bohemia
This paper presents a study of the raw material composition of selected Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic hunter-gatherer groups, which settled in the area of Bohemia. The exploitation areas are derived on the basis of a determination of the stone raw material composition of selected lithic industry assemblages, together with a derivation of the transport distance of the individual rocks and mine rals. The exploitation areas are, in other words,
structures in the stone raw material reflecting the action radius of human communities and providing a possible tool to understand their spatial behaviour and changes over time. We will present differences between human behaviour
during Gravettian, Magdalenian, Late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods in Bohemia.

This paper summarises the current understanding of
Mesolithic settlement within the area of Bohemian
Paradise, Czech Republic, and presents the phenomenon
of Mesolithic settlement in local rock shelters and caves.
Specifically, it presents a synthesis of data based on the
archaeological research and publications of Šída and
Prostředník and makes a comparison with data from
around Česká Lípa district, which has long been under
review by Svoboda (2001, 2003). The main components
of this synthesis are technological composition and use
of raw materials for the production of chipped stone
assemblages. Determination of raw materials portrays,
amongst other things, a picture of Mesolithic huntergatherer
movements. Technological analysis, which
divides the chipped stone industry into the major
technological groups, such as cores, semi-products,
tools and production waste, established the character
of Mesolithic sites from the point of view of relations
between production and consumption.