Veronica KAUDELA

Title

Diachronic perspective on the Late Gravettian to Final Palaeolithic through the functional analysis of two Romanian sites

Co-supervisors

Andreas MAIER (University of Cologne, Germany)

Veerle ROTS (University of Liège, Belgium)

Summary

Bistricioara-Lutărie III and the adjacent site Bistricioara-La Mal are key sites in understanding the transition from the Gravettian to Epigravettian in Northeast Romania. A typical aspect of such Upper Palaeolithic sites is the production of blades and bladelets and understanding their use can significantly contribute to our understanding of Palaeolithic lifeways, from specific site use up to broader subsistence strategies.

This thesis, in the framework of a joint PhD-project at the Universities of Liège and Cologne, involves the functional analysis of the whole lithic assemblage of the previously mentioned sites including a diachronic comparison across at least seven occupation events in one area. Further it will focus on the correlation between retouch and intensity of use for blades and bladelets. It combines functional analysis with morphometric analysis, for which the analytical system PyREnArA will be used. Also hafting will be examined, particularly with regard to the projectiles how their hafting may have changed between the Gravettian and the Epigravettian in Europe. A shift was hitherto observed on a morphometric level but should be investigated from a functional point of view as well.

^{Fig.: Bistricioara, Romania. ©ÖAI.}