Success, limits and failure of subsistence strategies in eastern Central Europe during the early Gravettian and the Last Glacial Maximum

• Applicant: Privatdozentin Dr. Kerstin Pasda
• Subject Area: Prehistory and World Archaeology
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 424736737

The early Gravettian, approx. 33-29 ka, was a period of cultural and demographic prosperity and intensive exchange of ideas through long-distance communication networks connecting hunter-gatherer communities in large areas of Europe. During the late Gravettian, after 29 ka, a continued decline in temperatures and solar insolation eventually triggered a breakdown of population clusters in Northern and Central Europe. In contrast to the deteriorating environmental conditions of the late Gravettian, the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 26,5-19 ka) was a period of cool but comparatively stable temperatures. In the region of Krems, Lower Austria, the density of high-quality early Gravettian and LGM sites is remarkably high, making it a key region for a diachronic comparison of subsistence strategies, land-use patterns, and possible adaptive changes between the two periods. As part of a group of researchers of different specializations (Palaeolithic Archaeology, Geochemistry, Geography, etc.) in a running D-A-CH-project, the applicant (K. Pasda) is responsible for the investigation of research questions based on faunal remains of project relevant sites in Lower Austria. To identify possible climate-based changes of the ecosystem and so indications of adaption of subsistence strategies, the investigation of the applicant focusses on four topics: 1. presence, absence, and portion of species (determination of selected material of the huge osteoarchaeological material of Kammern-Grubgraben and inclusion of data of the project relevant sites), 2. indirect indication to presence or absence of certain species by attendance of gnawing (analysis of samples), 3. isotope composition of osteological material (in close cooperation with project partners), 4. seasonal determination (odontochronology, thin sectioning of teeth, antler, population structure). Due to the Covid19-travel restrictions, the time schedule of the current project could not be kept. A prolongation of the osteoarchaeological partial project therefore is necessary as the osteoarchaeological results and the supply of determined material for the analysis of the project partners is essential for the success of the whole D-A-CH-project. Interim results provide promising results especially to the site of Kammern-Grubgraben. These results lead to hypotheses to be checked and may give insight in changes between the Early Gravettian and the LGM. During the time of the travel restriction a manual about the differentiation of two related fox species has been developed. To finalise this investigation in a qualified and appropriate way, analyses with the method of the worldwide accepted Geometric Morphometric are necessary.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants