Papers by Sebastian J . Pfeifer
Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, 2024
The climatically unfavourable period of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; ca. 26-19 ka cal bp) is he... more The climatically unfavourable period of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; ca. 26-19 ka cal bp) is held responsible for a severe demographic crisis of hunter-gatherer populations, their retreat to a few refugial areas, the disruption of wide-ranging networks, and a considerable loss of cultural complexity in Eastern and Central Europe. The latitudes above 50°N appear to have been completely depopulated. Recent research has demonstrated a continuous occupation of the Carpathian Basin and the East Carpathian region during the LGM on one hand, and an ephemeral human presence in the Middle Danube, the Middle Rhine, and the Swiss Plateau on the other. The western part of the East European Plain, in particular the East Carpathians, is known for several large, Early Epigravettian open-air sites with well-preserved artefacts of antler, bone, and mammoth ivory. For Central Europe, the assemblage from Kammern-Grubgraben in Lower Austria is of pivotal importance. As osseous industries have shown to be an essential component of Upper Palaeolithic material culture, it is the aim of this contribution to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on the processing of hard animal tissues in Eastern and Central Europe during the LGM. Starting out with a reevaluation of one of the largest and most diverse assemblages from the site of Cosăuţi in the Republic of Moldova (ca. 23-19 ka cal bp), contemporary assemblages from the area between the Bug River in the east and the Rhine in the west are presented, discussed and compared with the situation in Western Europe. Based on that, it can be asked what information osseous industries can provide about the development of technological traditions and dissemination of concepts during the LGM from a local and supraregional perspective.
Quartär, 2023
The well-known Upper Palaeolithic open-air site of Kammern-Grubgraben (Lower Austria) is so far t... more The well-known Upper Palaeolithic open-air site of Kammern-Grubgraben (Lower Austria) is so far the only Central European Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) site with preserved bone industry. This contribution presents the antler, ivory, and bone artefacts recovered during the 1985-1994 excavations. Among several thousand marrow-fractured osseous fragments, only 65 pieces, most of which are attributable to the 23.5-22 ka calBP main occupation, were identified as artefacts related to tool production. Shed antler, predominantly from reindeer, mammoth ivory, and longbones of large mammals served as raw materials. Transversal sectioning and production of pre-forms were carried out exclusively by direct percussion, and pre-forms were modified into tools by invasive longitudinal scraping. Eyed needles, predominantly produced on bone, are the most frequent tool type, followed by projectile points. Noticeable are two perforated batons. The osseous industry of Grubgraben mirrors its intermediate geographic location in the cultural landscape of the LGM: whereas massive-based projectile points and perforated rods connect it to the Eastern European early Epigravettian sphere, a projectile point with a single-bevelled base finds parallels in the Western European Badegoulian. Debitage by fracturing and eyed needles appear to be common traits of many LGM traditions and hence attest to a quick dissemination of certain typo-technological features throughout Europe. Similar observations can be made regarding the lithic industry. Of note is a decorated perforated baton from the uppermost archaeological horizon AL1. Although we consider the single, conspicuously young radiocarbon date of 20.5 ka calBP from AL1 as unreliable, the perforated baton and peculiarities in both the lithic industry and the faunal record nevertheless suggest another later, early post-LGM occupation at Grubgraben. This might relate to the 19-18 ka calBP, early Middle Magdalenian that is attested 300 km to the north at Maszycka cave in Poland. Like other Central European sites north of 47°, Grubgraben does not provide any conclusive evidence for human presence during the second half of the LGM (22-19 ka calBP), and thus the precise conduct of the post-LGM recolonisation of Central Europe remains an open question.
Światowit, 2022
This contribution presents new information on a long-known Late Upper Palaeolithic site in the Mo... more This contribution presents new information on a long-known Late Upper Palaeolithic site in the Moravian Karst in the Czech Republic: the Nová Drátenická Cave. Previous interpretations of the peculiar archaeological assemblage oscillated between attribution to the Epigravettian on Światowit • LXI • 2022 2 the one hand and to the Magdalenian on the other, as both industries were present in Moravia after the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. In either case, a rather early dating has been supposed. We reassessed the stratigraphy, lithic and osseous industry, and subjected an antler projectile point to 14 C dating and palaeoproteomic analysis. We did not find any evidence for stratigraphic mixing and, thus, propose that the assemblage of Nová Drátenická reflects a single or several successive occupations. On typo-technological grounds, we come to the conclusion that the finds are rather consistent with the Magdalenian. The radiocarbon date of the point is 16-15.7 ka cal BP, which places it in the first half of GS-2a. This is congruent with the identification of the raw material as reindeer through ZooMS. Hence, the Nová Drátenická Cave currently provides the earliest solid evidence for the Magdalenian in the Moravian Karst. Together with the contemporaneous assemblages of Kniegrotte in eastern Germany, Dzierżysław 35 in southern Poland, and potentially also Vilshofen-Kuffing in southeastern Germany and Hranice in Moravia, it probably attests to the first major expansion of the Magdalenian into eastern Central Europe at around 16 ka cal BP.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports , 2022
The transition from the late Pleniglacial to the Lateglacial in Central Europe brought about fund... more The transition from the late Pleniglacial to the Lateglacial in Central Europe brought about fundamental transformations of hunter-gatherer ways of life. Linked to profound climatic and environmental changes, the Late Upper Palaeolithic represented by the Magdalenian comes to an end, and the Final Palaeolithic represented by the Federmesser-Gruppen starts. This cultural shift between 13 and 12 ka cal. BC is particularly evident in lithic hunting armature, with frontally-hafted points gaining in importance to the detriment of laterally hafted backed bladelets. The changes in osseous projectile weaponry are still poorly understood. A double-bevelled projectile point made of red deer or elk bone from Bärenkeller cave site in Central Germany was radiocarbon-dated to the second half of GI-1e and is thus contemporary with the early Final Palaeolithic attested in the region. Together with already known, condiderably younger specimens from Northern Germany and Central Poland, this finding shows that the concept of double-bevelled osseous points survived the end of the Magdalenian and coexisted with lithic points and osseous barbed points during the Lateglacial. The rapid faunal exchange in the Central European low mountain range, however, required a much earlier shift from reindeer antler as the primary resource to other large cervids than in the lowlands to the north.
Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, 2022
The well-known Late Upper Palaeolithic cave site of Maszycka (southern Poland), excavated in the ... more The well-known Late Upper Palaeolithic cave site of Maszycka (southern Poland), excavated in the end of the nineteenth century as well as in the 1960s, furnished a collection of 89 osseous artefacts manufactured from cervid antler, mammoth ivory, and mammal long bone. The great majority are finished tools, mostly projectile points, while raw material blocks, pre-forms, and production waste are represented by only a few pieces. Based on the presence of the characteristic double-split antler tools, distinct projectile morphologies, and recurring ornaments, the assemblage from Maszycka can be assigned to the early Middle Magdalenian facies à navettes which dates to around 19-17.5 ka cal. BP. Compared to the western European sites, which also belong to this facies, Maszycka is characterised by a high proportion of ivory tools, reflecting the abundance of this favourable raw material in eastern central Europe, as well as an unusually high proportion of decorated tools, which may relate to an increased need for symbolic communication within the small and geographically isolated Magdalenian group. Both the remarkable typo-technological similarities of the bone industry from Maszycka to contemporary assemblages in France and the gap in the central European archaeological record between 22 and 19 ka cal. BP speak in favour of a direct immigration of Magdalenian hunter-gatherers from western Europe immediately after the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. Their relations to the bearers of the Epigravettian adjacent to the east and south remain to date poorly understood.
Im umfangreichen magdalénienzeitlichen Oberflächenfundmaterial von Kahla Löbschütz kamen auch dre... more Im umfangreichen magdalénienzeitlichen Oberflächenfundmaterial von Kahla Löbschütz kamen auch drei neolithische Silexpfeilspitzen und ein Dolchhalbfabrikat zutage. Ihre typologische Ansprache wird begründet und ihre chronologische Stellung diskutiert.
Digitale Bibliothek Thüringen (DBT), 2021
This catalogue contains metric and visual data on osseous projectiles (points, barbed points, hal... more This catalogue contains metric and visual data on osseous projectiles (points, barbed points, half-round rods, foreshafts) from selected late Upper Palaeolithic sites in Central Europe. For each assemblage considered, there are attribute systems (*csv files) and images (*tif files) available. The catalogue is updated continuously.
The work on this catalogue was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the framework of the projects:
PF 841/2-1 “Raw material. Weapon. Prey: Comparative analysis of the osseous projectile technology of the Central European Magdalenian“ (2016–2019)
https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/277455211?language=en
and
PF 841/4-1 “Grubgrabian – Epigravettian – Magdalenian. Characterization of the late Upper Palaeolithic in eastern Central Europe (c. 23.000–14.000 calBP) based on the osseous tools” (2021–)
https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/442218485
Quaternary International, 2021
The role of environmental change in the evolution of cultural traits is a topic of long-standing ... more The role of environmental change in the evolution of cultural traits is a topic of long-standing scientific debate with strongly contrasting views. Major obstacles for assessing environmental impacts on the evolution of material culture are the fragmentary nature of archaeological and – to a somewhat lesser extent – geoscientific archives and the insufficient chronological resolution of these archives and related proxy data. Together these aspects are causing difficulties in data synchronization. By no means does this paper attempt to solve these issues, but rather aims at shifting the focus from demonstrating strict chains of causes and events to describing roughly contemporaneous developments by compiling and comparing existing evidence from archaeology and geosciences for the period between 40 and 15 ka in Central Europe. Analysis of the archaeological record identifies five instances at around 33, 29, 23.5, 19, and 16 ka, for which evidence suggests an increased speed of cultural evolution. By comparing data from different geoscientific archives, we discuss whether or not these instances have common
characteristics. We stress that common characteristics per se are no proof of causality; repeated co-occurrences of certain features over long periods of time, however, suggest that certain explanations may be more plausible than others. While all five cases roughly coincide with pronounced and rapid environmental changes, it is also observed that such conditions do not necessarily trigger major changes in the material culture. Increases and decreases in the diversity of cultural traits seem to be rather correlated with the overall demographic development. In compiling and comparing our data, we also identify periods with high need and potential for future
research regarding the relation between environmental change and cultural evolution.
Magdalenian, Final Palaeolithic, cave site, ivory and antler points, lithics, radiocarbon dates, ... more Magdalenian, Final Palaeolithic, cave site, ivory and antler points, lithics, radiocarbon dates, Thuringia
Anthropologie, 2020
Kniegrotte cave site in eastern Germany is one of the most important Magdalenian sites in Central... more Kniegrotte cave site in eastern Germany is one of the most important Magdalenian sites in Central Europe. From a red-colored Pleistocene sediment package, a rich assemblage of lithic and osseous artefacts was recovered. In the faunal record, the presence of mammoth and saiga bones is noteworthy. The weighted average of nine 14C dates is 15,900 calBP, and thus the main occupation of the site pre-dates the Upper Magdalenian in Central Europe. This is in accordance with the presence of lithic triangles and the absence of osseous barbed points at Kniegrotte. However, despite the absolute dates the thickness of the find-bearing layer strongly suggests repeated occupation during a considerable time span which was not recognized in the early days of its excavation. Certain osseous artifacts and artisan craft works from Kniegrotte are without any parallels in the numerous Late Middle and Upper Magdalenian assemblages from Central Europe, but they display strong similarities to the distinct facies Magdalénien à navettes attested from around 18,500–18,000 calBP in France and at Maszycka cave in southern Poland. It is therefore possible that Kniegrotte was occupied already during the Early Middle Magdalenian. In that context, the oldest AMS date of 17,600 calBP from Kniegrotte obtained on mammoth bone could relate to human activity.
Central Germany, Magdalenian, Final Palaeolithic, Ahrensburgian, animal bones
In: C. Montoya/J.-P. Fagnart/J.-L. Locht (eds.), Préhistoire de l’Europe du Nord-Ouest. Mobilités, climats et identités culturelles 2 (Paris 2019) 477-489
(Wild/Pfeifer 2019) This paper focuses on the effects of environmental change, particularly of fa... more (Wild/Pfeifer 2019) This paper focuses on the effects of environmental change, particularly of faunal replacement, on acquisition strategies and use of osseous raw materials for the production of tools around the Pleistocene/ Holocene transition in northwestern Central Europe. It is therefore a contribution to the overall question "10,000 BP (11,600 cal. BP)-what changes?", which is discussed along three lines of argumentation: 1) Pleistocene/Holocene archaeology, 2) material properties of osseous raw materials and 3) the relationship between tool type and selected raw material. For typological classification and comparability, the osseous tools are partitioned into three functional classes: A-striking objects, B-hooking objects and C-perforating objects, which are further subdivided into hafted perforating tools (C1), and hand-held perforating tools (C2). The advantage of this very basic classification scheme is that it can be applied to compare assemblages from different cultural entities. From northwestern Central Europe, only well preserved osseous assemblages securely dated to the Younger Dryas or the Preboreal that have been zooarchaeologically analysed were included (n = 5). The analysis led to the following results: Striking tools are exclusively produced from antler. Barbed tools are predominantly made of antler. The preferred raw material for perforating tools is bone. We explain this clear picture by the different mechanical properties of osseous raw materials. Though heterogeneous and incomplete, the currently available experimental data suggest that antler is flexible and tough whereas bone is rather stiff. Taking these archaeological and experimental observations into account, we postulate that no change in the general raw material choices took place at the Pleistocene/Holocene transition. However, what changed were the raw material sources: Instead of migrating reindeer herds, more sedentary taxa provided antler and bone. Résumé : Cet article discute des effets des changements environnementaux, plus particulièrement du rempla-cement de la faune, sur les stratégies d'acquisition et l'utilisation des matières premières osseuses pour la production d'outils, autour de la transition Pléistocène/Holocène en Europe centrale du Nord-Ouest. Il s'agit donc d'une contribution à la question plus large des changements intervenant autour de 10 000 BP (11 600 cal. BP), en les déclinant selon trois domaines : 1) l'archéologie de la transition Pléistocène/Holocène ; 2) les propriétés des matières premières osseuses et 3) la relation entre type d'outil et matière première sélectionnée. Pour la classification typologique et les comparaisons, les outils osseux ont été répartis en trois classes fonc-tionnelles: A-objets percutants, B-objets accrochants et C-objets perforants. Cette dernière classe a été subdivisée en outils emmanchés (C1), et en outils tenus à la main (C2). Cette classification simple présente l'avantage de pouvoir être appliquée à des assemblages appartenant à des entités culturelles différentes. Pour l'Europe centrale du Nord-Ouest, seuls des assemblages osseux bien préservés, datés du Dryas récent ou du Préboréal et qui ont fait l'objet d'une analyse archéozoologique, ont été inclus dans l'étude (n = 5). Les résul-tats de cette analyse sont les suivants : les objets percutants sont exclusivement en bois de cervidé ; les objets accrochants sont principalement en bois de cervidé ; et la matière première prédominante pour les objets perforants est l'os. Nous expliquons ces distinctions nettes par les propriétés mécaniques respectives des diffé-rentes matières premières osseuses. Bien qu'hétérogènes et incomplètes, les données expérimentales actuellement disponibles suggèrent que le bois de cervidé présente une relative flexibilité et une certaine dureté, alors que l'os est plus rigide Prenant en compte ces observations archéologiques et expérimentales, nous postulons qu'aucun changement vis-à-vis des choix globaux en matières premières n'est survenu lors de la transition Pléistocène/Holocène. Cependant, les sources de matières premières ont bel et bien changé : les espèces séden-taires ont remplacé les troupeaux de rennes mobiles pour fournir des bois et des os.
Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt, 2020
Organic Projectiles at Magdalenian Sites in Switzerland. Contribution of an Artefact Group to the... more Organic Projectiles at Magdalenian Sites in Switzerland. Contribution of an Artefact Group to the Chronological Subdivision of the Archaeo-stratigraphic Entity
In the area of present-day Switzerland there are 13 sites attributed to the Magdalenian (approx. 21 000-14 400 cal BP) from which osseous projectiles have been recovered. Since this tool type has great potential for the chronological subdivision of the archaeo-stratigraphic entity, the inventories were recorded and evaluated anew. The intensive colonisation of the region by the Upper Magdalenian is reflected by the widespread distribution of un-barbed projectile points with double bevelled bases and barbed points. At Kesslerloch and neighbouring sites there are also several projectile points with a single bevelled base and half-round rods corresponding to the late Middle Magdalenian. Certain projectile points and ornaments could also indicate an occupation of the site during the Badegoulian / Lower Magdalenian and the early Middle Magdalenian. The Kesslerloch is of particular importance as a key site of the Central European Magdalenian. Direct AMS dating of particular osseous artefacts and a reassessment of the lithic inventory are therefore desirable.
Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, 2020
The timing and course of the recolonisation of Central Europe after the Last Glacial Maximum are ... more The timing and course of the recolonisation of Central Europe after the Last Glacial Maximum are intensively debated. Particularly puzzling is the distribution of sites between 19,000 and 18,000 calBP, attributed to the so-called Magdalenian ‘à navettes’, where the easternmost site (Maszycka, Poland) is located 1300 km away from its closest neighbour to the west (Grappin, France). The question of early recolonisation pulses into Central Europe is linked to the problem of identifying weak occupation signals within archaeological palimpsests, whose largest parts have accumulated during later periods of more intensive human activities. In order to disentangle palimpsest assemblages and identify components of early occupation events, we set aside traditional
archaeological units such as Middle Magdalenian and instead focus on artefact associations. Under this premise, we review the evidence of faunal assemblages, radiocarbon dates, artefact morphology, technology and artisan craftwork of sites in Central Europe between roughly 20,000 and 14,000 calBP. We identify numerous, previously overlooked evidence for early occupations, particularly for the periods from 19,000 to 18,000 calBP and 18,000 to 15,800 calBP. Our findings add new tesserae to the mosaic picture of the repopulation process in Central Europe after the Last Glacial Maximum and significantly alter the current view on its timing and course.
Quartär, 2018
The scope of this article is to discuss some particular osseous tools of the Central European Mag... more The scope of this article is to discuss some particular osseous tools of the Central European Magdalenian. Several sites from Switzerland in the west to the Czech Republic in the east furnished long, overall modified antler rods with double-bevelled bases and rounded cross sections made on transversal segments (en volume). A comparison with other antler tools which occasionally were made on transversal segments as well, in particular fore-shafts and projectile points, suggests that these round rods could be a distinct artefact type. Chronologically, they seem to prevail in the Upper Magdalenian and thus coincide with the appearance of the multi-barbed point in the osseous toolkit. One possible interpretation could therefore be that they worked as socket pieces for multi-barbed points in a harpoon-like thrusting weapon. Other possible functions are counterweights attached to hand-held lances or snow/ice probes. However, since round rods are typical for big sites with evidence of ritual behaviour and symbolic communication, these often quite delicate artefacts could also have played a primarily non-utilitarian role.
Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, eine besondere organische Geräteklasse des mitteleuropäischen Magdalénien vorzustellen. An mehreren Stationen von der Schweiz bis zur Tschechischen Republik tauchen immer wieder sehr lange, stabförmige Geweihartefakte mit doppelt abgeschrägter Basis auf, deren Oberfläche vollständig modifiziert wurde, um einen gleichblei-benden, rund-ovalen Querschnitt zu erzeugen. Immer sind sie aus Transversalsegmenten (en volume) und nicht aus Spänen herge-stellt und weisen die natürliche Stangenkrümmung auf. Schon früh in der Forschung wurden diese runden Stäbe als etwas Beson-deres erkannt und unterschiedlich benannt. Auch andere Geräte mit doppelt abgeschrägten Basen wurden gelegentlich aus Transversalsegmenten hergestellt. Besonders Geschossspitzen und Vorschäfte vom Pekárna-Typ (Abb. 7 & 8), die oftmals an denselben Fundorten auftreten, sind hier zu nennen. Diese unterscheiden sich jedoch von den runden Stäben durch ihre Geradheit und eine sich verjüngende Silhouette bzw. zungenförmige Distalenden sowie deutlich geringere Dimensionen. Daher wird in Erwägung gezogen, dass diese Artefakte einen besonderen Gerätetyp repräsentieren könnten. Die Datierung der runden Stäbe ist mit Problemen behaftet, da die meisten Fundstellen früh gegrabene Palimpseste ohne detaillierte Stratigrafien sind, für die nur wenige verlässliche 14 C-Daten vorliegen. Nach bisherigem Kenntnisstand sind runde Stäbe jedoch für das Spätmagdalénien charakteristisch und ihr Auftreten in Mitteleuropa geht somit mit dem Erscheinen der organischen Widerhakenspitze einher. Möglicherweise besteht zwischen beiden Gerätetypen ein funktionaler Zusammenhang: Die runden Stäbe könnten als Zwischenstücke gedient haben, um die Widerhakenspitzen lösbar mit einem Schaft zu verbinden und somit eine Art Harpune zu bilden. Mit Blick auf die Jagdausrüstung historischer Inuitgesellschaften ist aber auch eine Funktion als Gegengewicht an Stoßlanzen, oder als Schnee-bzw. Eissonde in Erwägung zu ziehen. Eine andere Deutungshypothese eröffnet sich auf non-utilitaristischer Ebene. Es ist auffällig, dass diese Artefakte fast immer an großen Stationen (z.B. Petersfels, Pekárna) vorkommen, in denen neben Geräten auch vielfältige künstlerische Äußerungen belegt sind. Vielleicht hatten die relativ fragilen und oftmals reich dekorierten runden Stäbe auch eine Rolle vorwiegend im rituellen Bereich und in der symbolischen Kommunikation inne.
Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt, 2019
Notes on the Magdalenian and the Late Palaeolithic in Thuringia
14 of the 50 archaeological site... more Notes on the Magdalenian and the Late Palaeolithic in Thuringia
14 of the 50 archaeological sites dating to the Weichselian Late Glacial in Thuringia were re-examined. They are single
finds, assemblages with only few objects and complexes with artefacts from various periods. Although small, Hummelshain, Großpürschütz and Gorsleben are typical assemblages for the Late Magdalenian, while Renthendorf most likely presents the late Palaeolithic period. Furthermore, it is discussed whether the presence of a single burin indicates a late Young Palaeolithic tool as hitherto assumed.
Scientific Reports, 2019
Late Pleistocene societies throughout the northern hemisphere used mammoth and mastodon ivory not... more Late Pleistocene societies throughout the northern hemisphere used mammoth and mastodon ivory not only for art and adornment, but also for tools, in particular projectile points. A comparative analysis of the mechanical properties of tusk dentine from woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and African elephant (Loxodonta africana) reveals similar longitudinal stiffness values that are comparable to those of cervid antler compacta. The longitudinal bending strength and work of fracture of proboscidean ivory are very high owing to its substantial collagen content and specific microstructure. In permafrost, these properties can be fully retained for thousands of years. Owing to the unique combination of stiffness, toughness and size, ivory was obviously the most suitable osseous raw material for massive projectile points used in big game hunting.
Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt, 2018
Beiträge werden erbeten an die Mitglieder der Redaktion oder an das Römisch-Germanische Zentral m... more Beiträge werden erbeten an die Mitglieder der Redaktion oder an das Römisch-Germanische Zentral museum, Ernst-Ludwig-Platz 2, 55116 Mainz, [email protected] Die mit Abbildungen, einer kurzen Zusammenfassung und der Anschrift der Autorinnen und Autoren versehenen Manuskripte dürfen im Druck 20 Seiten nicht überschreiten. Die Redaktion bittet um eine allgemein verständ liche Zitierweise (naturwissenschaftlich oder in Endnoten) und verweist dazu auf folgende Richtlinien: http://web.rgzm.de/publikationen/verlagsprogramm/zeitschriften/archaeologischeskorrespondenzblatt.html Die Beiträge des Archäologischen Korrespondenzblatts stehen ein Jahr nach Erscheinen der Printausgabe auch Open Access zur Verfügung und sind dank einer Kooperation mit der Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg unter folgendem Link abrufbar:
Beiträge werden erbeten an die Mitglieder der Redaktion oder an das Römisch-Germanische Zentral m... more Beiträge werden erbeten an die Mitglieder der Redaktion oder an das Römisch-Germanische Zentral museum, Ernst-Ludwig-Platz 2, 55116 Mainz, [email protected] Die mit Abbildungen, einer kurzen Zusammenfassung und der genauen Anschrift der Autorinnen und Autoren versehenen Manuskripte dürfen im Druck 20 Seiten nicht überschreiten. Die Redaktion bittet um eine allgemein verständ liche Zitierweise (naturwissenschaftlich oder in Endnoten) und verweist dazu auf folgende Richtlinien: http://web.rgzm.de/publikationen/verlagsprogramm/zeitschriften/archaeologischeskorrespondenzblatt.html Die Beiträge des Archäologischen Korrespondenzblatts stehen ein Jahr nach Erscheinen der Printausgabe auch Open Access zur Verfügung und sind dank einer Kooperation mit der Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg unter folgendem Link abrufbar:
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Papers by Sebastian J . Pfeifer
The work on this catalogue was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the framework of the projects:
PF 841/2-1 “Raw material. Weapon. Prey: Comparative analysis of the osseous projectile technology of the Central European Magdalenian“ (2016–2019)
https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/277455211?language=en
and
PF 841/4-1 “Grubgrabian – Epigravettian – Magdalenian. Characterization of the late Upper Palaeolithic in eastern Central Europe (c. 23.000–14.000 calBP) based on the osseous tools” (2021–)
https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/442218485
characteristics. We stress that common characteristics per se are no proof of causality; repeated co-occurrences of certain features over long periods of time, however, suggest that certain explanations may be more plausible than others. While all five cases roughly coincide with pronounced and rapid environmental changes, it is also observed that such conditions do not necessarily trigger major changes in the material culture. Increases and decreases in the diversity of cultural traits seem to be rather correlated with the overall demographic development. In compiling and comparing our data, we also identify periods with high need and potential for future
research regarding the relation between environmental change and cultural evolution.
In the area of present-day Switzerland there are 13 sites attributed to the Magdalenian (approx. 21 000-14 400 cal BP) from which osseous projectiles have been recovered. Since this tool type has great potential for the chronological subdivision of the archaeo-stratigraphic entity, the inventories were recorded and evaluated anew. The intensive colonisation of the region by the Upper Magdalenian is reflected by the widespread distribution of un-barbed projectile points with double bevelled bases and barbed points. At Kesslerloch and neighbouring sites there are also several projectile points with a single bevelled base and half-round rods corresponding to the late Middle Magdalenian. Certain projectile points and ornaments could also indicate an occupation of the site during the Badegoulian / Lower Magdalenian and the early Middle Magdalenian. The Kesslerloch is of particular importance as a key site of the Central European Magdalenian. Direct AMS dating of particular osseous artefacts and a reassessment of the lithic inventory are therefore desirable.
archaeological units such as Middle Magdalenian and instead focus on artefact associations. Under this premise, we review the evidence of faunal assemblages, radiocarbon dates, artefact morphology, technology and artisan craftwork of sites in Central Europe between roughly 20,000 and 14,000 calBP. We identify numerous, previously overlooked evidence for early occupations, particularly for the periods from 19,000 to 18,000 calBP and 18,000 to 15,800 calBP. Our findings add new tesserae to the mosaic picture of the repopulation process in Central Europe after the Last Glacial Maximum and significantly alter the current view on its timing and course.
Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, eine besondere organische Geräteklasse des mitteleuropäischen Magdalénien vorzustellen. An mehreren Stationen von der Schweiz bis zur Tschechischen Republik tauchen immer wieder sehr lange, stabförmige Geweihartefakte mit doppelt abgeschrägter Basis auf, deren Oberfläche vollständig modifiziert wurde, um einen gleichblei-benden, rund-ovalen Querschnitt zu erzeugen. Immer sind sie aus Transversalsegmenten (en volume) und nicht aus Spänen herge-stellt und weisen die natürliche Stangenkrümmung auf. Schon früh in der Forschung wurden diese runden Stäbe als etwas Beson-deres erkannt und unterschiedlich benannt. Auch andere Geräte mit doppelt abgeschrägten Basen wurden gelegentlich aus Transversalsegmenten hergestellt. Besonders Geschossspitzen und Vorschäfte vom Pekárna-Typ (Abb. 7 & 8), die oftmals an denselben Fundorten auftreten, sind hier zu nennen. Diese unterscheiden sich jedoch von den runden Stäben durch ihre Geradheit und eine sich verjüngende Silhouette bzw. zungenförmige Distalenden sowie deutlich geringere Dimensionen. Daher wird in Erwägung gezogen, dass diese Artefakte einen besonderen Gerätetyp repräsentieren könnten. Die Datierung der runden Stäbe ist mit Problemen behaftet, da die meisten Fundstellen früh gegrabene Palimpseste ohne detaillierte Stratigrafien sind, für die nur wenige verlässliche 14 C-Daten vorliegen. Nach bisherigem Kenntnisstand sind runde Stäbe jedoch für das Spätmagdalénien charakteristisch und ihr Auftreten in Mitteleuropa geht somit mit dem Erscheinen der organischen Widerhakenspitze einher. Möglicherweise besteht zwischen beiden Gerätetypen ein funktionaler Zusammenhang: Die runden Stäbe könnten als Zwischenstücke gedient haben, um die Widerhakenspitzen lösbar mit einem Schaft zu verbinden und somit eine Art Harpune zu bilden. Mit Blick auf die Jagdausrüstung historischer Inuitgesellschaften ist aber auch eine Funktion als Gegengewicht an Stoßlanzen, oder als Schnee-bzw. Eissonde in Erwägung zu ziehen. Eine andere Deutungshypothese eröffnet sich auf non-utilitaristischer Ebene. Es ist auffällig, dass diese Artefakte fast immer an großen Stationen (z.B. Petersfels, Pekárna) vorkommen, in denen neben Geräten auch vielfältige künstlerische Äußerungen belegt sind. Vielleicht hatten die relativ fragilen und oftmals reich dekorierten runden Stäbe auch eine Rolle vorwiegend im rituellen Bereich und in der symbolischen Kommunikation inne.
14 of the 50 archaeological sites dating to the Weichselian Late Glacial in Thuringia were re-examined. They are single
finds, assemblages with only few objects and complexes with artefacts from various periods. Although small, Hummelshain, Großpürschütz and Gorsleben are typical assemblages for the Late Magdalenian, while Renthendorf most likely presents the late Palaeolithic period. Furthermore, it is discussed whether the presence of a single burin indicates a late Young Palaeolithic tool as hitherto assumed.
The work on this catalogue was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the framework of the projects:
PF 841/2-1 “Raw material. Weapon. Prey: Comparative analysis of the osseous projectile technology of the Central European Magdalenian“ (2016–2019)
https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/277455211?language=en
and
PF 841/4-1 “Grubgrabian – Epigravettian – Magdalenian. Characterization of the late Upper Palaeolithic in eastern Central Europe (c. 23.000–14.000 calBP) based on the osseous tools” (2021–)
https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/442218485
characteristics. We stress that common characteristics per se are no proof of causality; repeated co-occurrences of certain features over long periods of time, however, suggest that certain explanations may be more plausible than others. While all five cases roughly coincide with pronounced and rapid environmental changes, it is also observed that such conditions do not necessarily trigger major changes in the material culture. Increases and decreases in the diversity of cultural traits seem to be rather correlated with the overall demographic development. In compiling and comparing our data, we also identify periods with high need and potential for future
research regarding the relation between environmental change and cultural evolution.
In the area of present-day Switzerland there are 13 sites attributed to the Magdalenian (approx. 21 000-14 400 cal BP) from which osseous projectiles have been recovered. Since this tool type has great potential for the chronological subdivision of the archaeo-stratigraphic entity, the inventories were recorded and evaluated anew. The intensive colonisation of the region by the Upper Magdalenian is reflected by the widespread distribution of un-barbed projectile points with double bevelled bases and barbed points. At Kesslerloch and neighbouring sites there are also several projectile points with a single bevelled base and half-round rods corresponding to the late Middle Magdalenian. Certain projectile points and ornaments could also indicate an occupation of the site during the Badegoulian / Lower Magdalenian and the early Middle Magdalenian. The Kesslerloch is of particular importance as a key site of the Central European Magdalenian. Direct AMS dating of particular osseous artefacts and a reassessment of the lithic inventory are therefore desirable.
archaeological units such as Middle Magdalenian and instead focus on artefact associations. Under this premise, we review the evidence of faunal assemblages, radiocarbon dates, artefact morphology, technology and artisan craftwork of sites in Central Europe between roughly 20,000 and 14,000 calBP. We identify numerous, previously overlooked evidence for early occupations, particularly for the periods from 19,000 to 18,000 calBP and 18,000 to 15,800 calBP. Our findings add new tesserae to the mosaic picture of the repopulation process in Central Europe after the Last Glacial Maximum and significantly alter the current view on its timing and course.
Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, eine besondere organische Geräteklasse des mitteleuropäischen Magdalénien vorzustellen. An mehreren Stationen von der Schweiz bis zur Tschechischen Republik tauchen immer wieder sehr lange, stabförmige Geweihartefakte mit doppelt abgeschrägter Basis auf, deren Oberfläche vollständig modifiziert wurde, um einen gleichblei-benden, rund-ovalen Querschnitt zu erzeugen. Immer sind sie aus Transversalsegmenten (en volume) und nicht aus Spänen herge-stellt und weisen die natürliche Stangenkrümmung auf. Schon früh in der Forschung wurden diese runden Stäbe als etwas Beson-deres erkannt und unterschiedlich benannt. Auch andere Geräte mit doppelt abgeschrägten Basen wurden gelegentlich aus Transversalsegmenten hergestellt. Besonders Geschossspitzen und Vorschäfte vom Pekárna-Typ (Abb. 7 & 8), die oftmals an denselben Fundorten auftreten, sind hier zu nennen. Diese unterscheiden sich jedoch von den runden Stäben durch ihre Geradheit und eine sich verjüngende Silhouette bzw. zungenförmige Distalenden sowie deutlich geringere Dimensionen. Daher wird in Erwägung gezogen, dass diese Artefakte einen besonderen Gerätetyp repräsentieren könnten. Die Datierung der runden Stäbe ist mit Problemen behaftet, da die meisten Fundstellen früh gegrabene Palimpseste ohne detaillierte Stratigrafien sind, für die nur wenige verlässliche 14 C-Daten vorliegen. Nach bisherigem Kenntnisstand sind runde Stäbe jedoch für das Spätmagdalénien charakteristisch und ihr Auftreten in Mitteleuropa geht somit mit dem Erscheinen der organischen Widerhakenspitze einher. Möglicherweise besteht zwischen beiden Gerätetypen ein funktionaler Zusammenhang: Die runden Stäbe könnten als Zwischenstücke gedient haben, um die Widerhakenspitzen lösbar mit einem Schaft zu verbinden und somit eine Art Harpune zu bilden. Mit Blick auf die Jagdausrüstung historischer Inuitgesellschaften ist aber auch eine Funktion als Gegengewicht an Stoßlanzen, oder als Schnee-bzw. Eissonde in Erwägung zu ziehen. Eine andere Deutungshypothese eröffnet sich auf non-utilitaristischer Ebene. Es ist auffällig, dass diese Artefakte fast immer an großen Stationen (z.B. Petersfels, Pekárna) vorkommen, in denen neben Geräten auch vielfältige künstlerische Äußerungen belegt sind. Vielleicht hatten die relativ fragilen und oftmals reich dekorierten runden Stäbe auch eine Rolle vorwiegend im rituellen Bereich und in der symbolischen Kommunikation inne.
14 of the 50 archaeological sites dating to the Weichselian Late Glacial in Thuringia were re-examined. They are single
finds, assemblages with only few objects and complexes with artefacts from various periods. Although small, Hummelshain, Großpürschütz and Gorsleben are typical assemblages for the Late Magdalenian, while Renthendorf most likely presents the late Palaeolithic period. Furthermore, it is discussed whether the presence of a single burin indicates a late Young Palaeolithic tool as hitherto assumed.
Les prehampes sont un phénomène très commun dans la technologie des projectiles : placés entre la tige principale en bois et la pointe, la hampe fait fonction de pièce intermédiaire équilibrant les forces entre la relative flexibilité de la tige et la dureté de la pointe, rendant le projectile plus efficace et durable. De plus, les prehampes permettent d’égaliser la masse des différents projectiles d’un lot, d’entretenir ou réparer rapidement un projectile, et d’employer une pointe en pierre comme outil de découpe en servant de manche.
En raison de ces avantages, les prehampes en matière osseuse, végétal, ou métal sont largement représentées dans le registre ethnographique comme partie intégrante de flèches, harpons, fléchettes ou lances. En ce qui concerne la Paléolithique supérieur européen, les prehampes sont associées au Magdalénien, étant des trouvailles typiques et rares à la fois dans les longs inventaires de projectiles en os. Néanmoins, aucune prehampe n’est connue dans l’entité contemporaine plus au nord, le Hamburgien. Cette étude analyse le propos émis par Marquardt Lund (1993), selon lequel les outils en matière dure animale du type Kerbnadeln - des andouillers de renne montrant un rainurage dans leur extrémité - pourraient en réalité avoir servi de prehampes. Pour tester cette hypothèse, de vraies répliques de Kerbnadeln, réalisées à partir des baguettes de bois du renne furent armés de pointes à crans du Hamburgien et lancées vers une cible organique en employant différents types de fixation et moyens d’accélérations.
La mise en commun des informations issues d’expérimentations en industrie osseuse et lithique, la typologie, la tracéologie (à l’échelle macroscopique) et l’analyse des propriétés spécifiques au goudron d’écorche de bouleau devrait nous aider à répondre à notre question. Les résultats préliminaires sont présentés dans cette séance.
English abstract: Foreshafts are a very common phenomenon in projectile technology: Placed between the wooden main shaft and the point itself, the foreshaft acts as an intermediate piece that balances the forces between the relatively soft main shaft and the hard point making the projectile both more effective and durable. Additionally, foreshafts render it possible to equalize the mass of different projectiles in a set, to quickly maintain or repair a projectile, and to employ a lithic point as cutting implement by serving as a handle.
Because of these benefits, foreshafts of osseous materials, wood, or metal are widely distributed in the ethnological record as integral parts of arrows, harpoons, darts, or lances. Regarding the European Upper Paleolithic, foreshafts are connected to the Magdalenian, typically being rare but common finds in big inventories of osseous projectiles. Yet, from the contemporaneous northern entity, the Hamburgian, there are no foreshafts known so far. This study deals with Marquardt Lund’s (1993) suggestion that the osseous tool type Kerbnadel, terminally grooved reindeer antler rods, could actually have served as foreshaft. To test that hypothesis, true replica of Kerbnadeln made of reindeer antler were equipped with Hamburgian lithic shouldered points and hurled on an organic target employing different mounting techniques and acceleration media.
Combining data from the experiments with osseous and lithic technology, typology, macroscopic use-wear and material properties analysis of the birch bark tar shall help to elucidate the raised question. The preliminary results are presented here.
scarce or even absent – the arctic tundra being possibly the most prominent example. Low temperatures also make biological materials brittle and do not favor gluing. Despite of that, archery has had a long and vital tradition throughout the North American and Siberian Arctic. The Greenland Thule culture (ca. 1200 – 1900 AD), for example, made extensive use of bow and arrow as main weapon for hunting land mammals, first of all the caribou and musk ox, until firearms became available in the 18th and 19th century. By using complex joining, backing and reinforcing techniques conifer driftwood, caribou antler, and baleen were transformed into efficient, highweight hunting weapons. The paper summarizes the results of rawmaterial,
metrical and technological analyses carried out on the extensive
archaeological and ethnographic archery equipment from Greenland which is kept in the collections of the National Museum of Denmark. In a
technological case study possibilities of how to make functional bows and arrows in a cold environment with limited resources can be illustrated.
La session 3 du XXVIIIe congrès préhistorique de France
L’Europe du Nord-Ouest autour de 10 000 BP (9 600 cal.BC) : quels changements ? (Amiens - vendredi 3 et samedi 4 juin 2016)
Session organisée par Jean-Pierre Fagnart, Ludovic Mevel, Boris Valentin et Mara-Julia Weber en collaboration avec la commission UISPP « The Final Palaeolithic of Northern Eurasia »