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New Evidence from Ořechov IV (Czech Republic) for the Production of Microblades During the Bohunician

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Abstract

New evidence from the Moravian Bohunician site Ořechov IV demonstrates that the Early Upper Palaeolithic (EUP) is more heterogeneous than previously thought. While Ořechov IV exhibits overarching technological similarities with key Bohunician sites, this assemblage contains several unprecedented elements. These include a significant microblade element, miniaturization in the Levallois blanks and a new intensity of off-quarry reduction. These differences are supplemented by differences in raw material composition, specifically an absence of exotic material, decreased implement manufacture and high rates of artefact removal. It is tentatively suggested that these differences indicate the presence of diverse technological traditions and/or cultural groups in the Brno Basin during the EUP.

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Acknowledgements

This project could not have been completed without the excavation volunteers who braved the harsh field conditions to recover this assemblage. The authors would also like to thank two anonymous reviewers whose comments helped to sharpen and strengthen the paper.

Funding

This project was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic #15-19170S, grant titled ‘Earliest Modern Human Behaviour in Eastern Central Europe’ and postdoctoral funding from the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences, South Africa.

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  1. Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, P Bag 3, WITS, Johannesburg, 2050, South Africa

    Amy Mosig Way

  2. School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Amy Mosig Way & Ladislav Nejman

  3. Institute of Archaeology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Čechyňská 19, 602 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Petr Škrdla & Tereza Rychtaříková

  4. School of Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia

    Ladislav Nejman

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Way, A.M., Škrdla, P., Nejman, L. et al. New Evidence from Ořechov IV (Czech Republic) for the Production of Microblades During the Bohunician. J Paleo Arch 3, 59–76 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41982-019-00037-1

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