Paläolithische Fundschichten

Genese, Ausgrabung und Dokumentation

Abstract

Palaeolithic Find Layers – Genesis, Excavation, and Documentation
Layers of Palaeolithic finds provide evidence of the earliest period of our prehistory. Climate and environment influencing these archives oscillated to a much higher degree than in the case of Holocene sites. This makes high demands on the excavators. Stratified finds can not be considered as isolated objects but are in fact embedded in the context of a sediment matrix which includes information on its genesis, conservation, and archaeological potential. A distinction of anthropogenic and natural factors determining the formation of find layers is essential for adapting archaeological questions, as well as for evaluation and interpretation. Therefore, these considerations determine the choice and development of suitable excavation and documentation techniques. This process is illustrated by examples of recent Palaeolithic excavations in Austria, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates.