Ondratice I/Želeč – an Early Upper Palaeolithic site in Central Moravia

Abstract

The Ondratice I/Želeč site represents one of the most important Early Upper Palaeolithic localities in central Moravia. This site has been studied since the late 19th century and the surveys continue up to the present. A recently obtained lithic assemblage (collected during 2009-2011) is characterised by the Levallois industry (cores, points, flakes, blades), together with flat retouched artefacts (leaf and Jerzmanowice points, side-scrapers) and steeply retouched objects (end-scrapers, retouched blades). These tools are typical of three different cultures in Central Europe – the Bohunician, Szeletian and Aurignacian. The mixture of finds characteristic of three different Early Upper Palaeolithic cultures may relate to the surface origin of the assemblage. However, similar assemblages are described in different parts of Moravia. In order to understand and date these lithics better it will be necessary to excavate a stratified site.