Statistical and geographical modelling of Moravian (Czech Republic) Late Upper Palaeolithic occupation

Abstract

The period of the second half of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the beginning of the Late Glacial (LGT) belongs to a remarkably interesting period of human history because humans had to adapt to severe conditions. Moravia, in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, is one of the crucial European regions where we can study human behaviour during the mentioned period. This area was not depopulated due to the presence of local refuges. There are 50 sites that are attributed to the Epigravettian or the Epiaurignacian. Some of these have been dated between 23 and 15 ka cal BP. One approach to studying relations between both technocomplexes is related to the analysis of settlement strategies. Earlier analyses have indicated people changed their behaviour during the end of the LGM and the beginning of the LGT. They preferred protected locations and we are able to identify two mains strategies – sites in low elevations near main rivers or higher elevations on the eastern slopes.New analyses based on statistics confirm two different settlement strategies in Moravia during the time under analysis. The first, which is better defined, is related to sites classified as Epiaurignacian. The second group is represented by Epigravettian assemblages. The settlement strategy for this technocomplex is more variable. Two different settlement strategies during the Late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP) in Moravia may indicate two different communities, seasonal changes in behaviour of one community or cultural evolution of one community over time.