Everything lost? Reconstruction of Middle- and Upper Paleolithic occupations at the Felsenhäusl-Kellerhöhle, Lower Altmühl Valley (Franconian Jura, SE Germany)
Barbieri A, Uthmeier T, Hattermann MJ (2020)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article, Original article
Publication year: 2020
Journal
Book Volume: 66
Pages Range: 81-110
Abstract
The present article is dedicated to the Paleolithic site of Felsenhäusl-Kellerhöhle in the Lower Altmühl Valley, Germany. The small cave was almost completely excavated in 2000 by the owner of the property in artificial spits, but without additional documentation of changes in sediment and without precise registration of the spatial distribution of the numerous lithic artifacts and faunal remains found in the cave filling. Instead, all finds were separated into six assemblages mainly according to their excavation depths or their provenance from a distinct part of the cave. We compared these assemblages based on two parameters, typo-technology and raw material spectrum, and conducted geoarcheological investigations to assess their stratigraphical context. Remnants of Pleistocene sediments were found in two different locations inside of Felsenhäusl-Kellerhöhle (section West and section East). While the results of the lithic analysis suggest heavy stratigraphic mixing, geoarchaeological analyses proved the existence of an intact stratigraphy at least in parts of the cave. We identified inappropriate excavation methods as the main factor for this. Based on the lithic analysis, it was possible to distinguish two Paleolithic assemblages, one from the Upper Paleolithic characterized by several backed tools, and one from the Middle Paleolithic identified by bifacial tools. Comparisons with multi-layered sites in the vicinity of Felsenhäusl-Kellerhöhle revealed strong similarities with the regional Magdalenian and Micoquian, respectively.
Authors with CRIS profile
Thorsten Uthmeier
Lehrstuhl für Ur- und Frühgeschichte
Merlin-Janis Hattermann
Lehrstuhl für Ur- und Frühgeschichte
Involved external institutions
Portugal (PT)How to cite
APA:
Barbieri, A., Uthmeier, T., & Hattermann, M.-J. (2020). Everything lost? Reconstruction of Middle- and Upper Paleolithic occupations at the Felsenhäusl-Kellerhöhle, Lower Altmühl Valley (Franconian Jura, SE Germany). Quartär : internationales Jahrbuch zur Eiszeitalter- und Steinzeitforschung, 66, 81-110.
MLA:
Barbieri, Alvise, Thorsten Uthmeier, and Merlin-Janis Hattermann. "Everything lost? Reconstruction of Middle- and Upper Paleolithic occupations at the Felsenhäusl-Kellerhöhle, Lower Altmühl Valley (Franconian Jura, SE Germany)." Quartär : internationales Jahrbuch zur Eiszeitalter- und Steinzeitforschung 66 (2020): 81-110.
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