In the last few years, there have been studies showing that the issue of Late Upper Palaeolithic (LUP) industries located in and around Moravia (Czech Republic) are much more complex than previously thought. Focusing on Epigravettian/Epiaurignacian and Magdalenian, one of the possible solutions is the detailed study of knapping technology. Initial studies indicated that Epigravettian units can be distinguished from the Magdalenian collections. By applying the study of knapping technology to unclear collections, their culture can be determined to some extent, if it is not demonstrated in another clearer way. Analogies indicate that the knapping technology defined for Moravian LUP units may have a wider regional validity.
In the article, Eastern and Central European Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) specific Epiaurignacian industry with Sagaidak-Muralovka-type microliths (EASMM) is discussed in terms of its lithic artefact fossil types. The proposed fossil types are carinated atypical end scraper-cores and Sagaidak-Muralovka type microliths. These two lithic artefact types with some other techno-typological features of the considering EASMM industry type make it distinct within the LGM Early Late UP archaeological context in both Eastern and Central Europe.
In order to obtain a stratigraphic base for the dating of consecutive settlement phases, trial trenches were made in three sites - Trencianska Turna-Vrlacka I, II and Trencianska Turna-Hamre. The trenches enabled us to establish that Late Quaternary sedimentation at these sites was interrupted. The main hiatus spanned the period from the end of the last Interglacial (Eemian, OIS 5e) until the beginning of the Younger Pleniglacial (LGM, OIS 2). In that period the interglacial soil (luvisol) was washed out and horizon Bt was partially transformed by periglacial processes which co-occurred with loess sedimentation. The Middle Palaeolithic settlement represented by the Micoquian falls at the last Interglacial. Later, within the sedimentological hiatus the Leaf Point Cultures settled in the area at the end of the Middle Palaeolithic and the beginning of the Upper Palaeolithic, and subsequently the Aurignacian and the Gravettian occur in the area. During the maximum of the Younger Pleniglacial large frost wedges formed which were filled in with loess (unit 2b). During the Late Glacial, the loess of unit 2a sedimented, just as the younger generation of frost wedges. The Epigravettian finds registered in unit 2a (at the site of Trencianska Turna-Hamre) also - most probably - the artefacts scattered on the surface attributed to the Epiaurignacian, correspond to the same period. The loess cover preserved in the investigated area is dated to the post-Pleniglacial period which is confirmed by the OSL date for unit 2 (16.7 ± 0.6 Kyr BP).
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