Analysis of animal bones from the Epigravettian open-air site Brno-Štýřice III (2012–2014)

Abstract

The archaeological rescue excavations of the Epigravettian open-air site Brno-Štýřice III, known since 1972 as Koněvova Street or, later, Vídeňská Street, were conducted in 2009 and 2011–2014. Besides chipped stone industry, also animal osteological material was found and gradually analysed and evaluated. This paper deals with the summarisation of the osteological remains uncovered during the last excavations conducted in 2012–2014. The animal bones were determined under their taxa and minimum number of individuals. Nevertheless, a high percentage of small bone fragments (partially used as fuel) could not be determined in detail. The paper also includes the results of C, N and Sr isotope analyses and analysis of seasonality. The preserved fauna, in which Mammuthus primigenius predominates, corresponds to the cold glacial period as well as to the results of isotope analyses. The spatial distribution of faunal remains agrees to the chipped stone industry. The numerous burnt bones found in the limited area indicate the existence of a Palaeolithic hearth. The results of each analysis (faunal, archaeological) and ¹⁴C dating place the occupation of the site into the climatically unfavourable final part of the LGT period.