Assessing the Gravettian occupation floor at Krems-Wachtberg

Abstract

Ten years of excavations at the open-air site Krems-Wachtberg in east Austria have revealed the well-preserved remains of a Gravettian occupation floor with a range of intact evident structures. Most important of these are a large hearth with associated pits and two burials, a double and a single burial of infants. These are connected by a distinct archaeological layer evidencing the structures’ contemporaneity as well as functional interrelations. The occupation floor and its find inventories reflect a high diversity of activities and illustrate distinct spatial distributions. Despite the excellent preservation, however, an unambiguous determination of the site's function remains difficult.