The Gravettian settlement of Hohle Fels Cave

• Applicant: Dr. Andreas Taller
• Subject Area: Prehistory and World Archaeology
• Term: from 2015 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 290088602

This research proposal has the goal of a comprehensive analysis and publication of the finds from the Gravettian layers of Hohle Fels Cave (HF) in the Ach Valley (AV) in the Swabian Jura near Blaubeuren. The Gravettian of HF and of the AV on the whole is important as these caves (HF, Geißenklösterle, Brillenhöhle, Sirgenstein) are the only Gravettian sites in Swabia. Besides, dates from Geißenklösterle as well as HF in part reach 35000 years calibrated before present and indicate an early Gravettian settlement in the region. Another unique feature of the AV sites is the fact that three of the four caves are connected via intersite refits of lithic artefacts. This means proof for a simultaneous settlement of three of these sites, very likely by one or several groups who obviously were in contact with each other, as the often reciprocal relationships of the refits indicate intensive mutual contact or repeated movement from site to site. The special meaning of HF is evident in the amount of artefacts from the four Gravettian layers as well as in the fact that all of these artefacts were excavated using modern techniques and documentation, which predestines them for high resolution analysis. As I have been working on the HF- Gravettian already, different aspects of it are either already published (techno-typological assignation to the early Gravettian, regional and supraregional contextualization, elaboration on the stratigraphy) or ready for publication (lithic refits intra- as well as intersite, C14-dates, technological assessment of lithic blank production). The focal point of this proposal are the lithic artefacts, these will be examined techno-typologically as well as microscopically (in part, for the detection of use-wear traces). The so-called backed pieces, manufactured on laminar blanks such as blades and, more often, bladelets dominate the spectre of lithic tools in the Gravettian. These pieces are characterized by a steep lateral retouch, the so-called backing. This retouched part of the artefact was set into a haft, whereas the unretouched lateral was the active part of the tool. The characteristic Gravettepoints of different sizes are one shape backed pieces can take, but there are also the backed knives without any point retouched on them. These artefacts were used in a modular manner, with most of them being lateral inserts into composite projectile points with an organic haft; backed knives however were sometimes also hafted in an arrangement comparable to modern knives and used for a variety of functions including cutting, working or even perforating different materials. This underlines the versatility of these artefacts and this is the reason why all of the archaeological specimens are microscopically analysed for use-wear traces. In order to do this however, comprehensive experiments need to be conducted first to establish a reference collection, also concerning the lithic raw materials used in the Gravettian of HF.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Nicholas J. Conard