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The \"life\" of a lithic artefact stays recorded in the palimpsest of flake scars on the surface of the retrieved object. Especially on cores we can find distal parts of flake scars that remained after the preceding processes of core reduction. Their more detailed characteristic (determination of the length, the direction of detachment, and identification of the striking point) can contribute to the reconstruction of technological processes. The new method for the calculation of the length of the flake scar is based on a more or less regular spreading of the strike strength that manifests itself in the raw material as concentric lines of force (waves) with the centre at the striking point (in case of using a hard hammer). By determining the radius of a certain wave we can also establish the length of the entire flake. Two methods have been tested in an experiment – a calculation of a selected circular segment, or measuring it using a template. The application of a template turned out to be more precise and less time-consuming, and we confronted the template with the waves on the preserved flake scar. At the same time we identified the cases, when the measuring was not precise due to external factors. The application of the method was tested on a discoid core with the respective flakes created in an experiment, and on two refittings of Aurignacian cores. In all of the cases it is evident that the method of reconstruction of the length of the flake can be widely used in the technological analysis of chipped stone industry.

Kůlna Cave is the only site in Moravia, Czech Republic, from which large assemblages of both Magdalenian and Epimagdalenian archaeological materials have been excavated from relatively secure stratified deposits. The site therefore offers the unrivalled opportunity to explore the relationship between these two archaeological phases. In this study, we undertake radiocarbon, stable isotope (carbon, nitrogen and sulphur), and ZooMS analysis of the archaeological faunal assemblage to explore the chronological and environmental context of the Magdalenian and Epimagdalenian deposits. Our results show that the Magdalenian and Epimagdalenian deposits can be understood as discrete units from one another, dating to the Late Glacial between c. 15,630 cal. BP and 14,610 cal. BP, and c. 14,140 cal. BP and 12,680 cal. BP, respectively. Stable isotope results (δ 13 C, δ 15 N, δ 34 S) indicate that Magdalenian and Epimagdalenian activity at Kůlna Cave occurred in very different environmental settings. Magdalenian occupation took place within a nutrient-poor landscape that was experiencing rapid changes to environmental moisture, potentially linked to permafrost thaw. In contrast, Epimagdalenian occupation occurred in a relatively stable, temperate environment composed of a mosaic of woodland and grassland habitats. The potential chronological gap between the two phases, and their associations with very different environmental conditions, calls into question whether the Epimagdalenian should be seen as a local, gradual development of the Magdalenian. It also raises the question of whether the gap in occupation at Kůlna Cave could represent a change in settlement dynamics and/or behavioural adaptations to changing environmental conditions.

The most precise method for reconstructing operational chains ( chaîne opératoire ) is the refitting of stone artefacts. Unfortunately, the sequences for forming a typical Szeletian artefact—a leaf point—were missing for a long time. Finds from the multilayer open-air site of Moravský Krumlov IV (Czech Republic) brought a unique opportunity to study Szeletian technology through refittings. The excavations of this site uncovered an in situ horizon in the uppermost archaeological layer 0 in sector IV-3 that has been classified as a workshop. On the basis of both technology and dating, the finds are related to the Szeletian. Spatial distribution of bifacial artefact refittings shows that pieces were produced in two distinct spots within the excavated area. An analysis of their deposition indicated an in situ position, and therefore, results of the technological analysis can be understood as significant. Refittings and surface morphological analyses demonstrate a specific manner of leaf point production based primarily on achieving a maximum reduction in thickness and a minimum reduction of their length and, especially, width. Although incomplete and unsuccessful artefacts are reminiscent of the Middle Palaeolithic Micoquian backed knives, the general production strategy tended towards the manufacture of rather symmetrical leaf points. It seems probable, therefore, that the described method of production of leaf points is characteristic for the Early Szeletian in Moravia.

Interdisciplinární průvodce jedinečným terénem mezi Adamovem na západě a Křtinami na východě upozorňuje \"poutníka\" na zajímavosti z různých přírodních i společenskovědních oborů. Josefovské a Křtinské údolí jsou neopakovatelným krajinným jevem, jehož studium umožňuje pochopit dlouhý vývoj celého Moravského krasu. Zasvěcený a originální text kolektivu odborníků pracuje s nejnovějšími informacemi, které doplňuje množství fotografií, map a tabulek.

Middle Palaeolithic assemblages mostly comprise a manifold mix of various rocks and minerals Neanderthals acquired from resources in various distances. We can assume that the importance of the individual raw materials influenced and changed the human behaviour; this is reflected in the objects themselves and secondarily also in our classification and interpretation options. We demonstrate the complexity of this issue on the multilayer site of Bojnice III (layers VIII, IX, and X). The overall character of the industry (small dimension and using of coarse raw materials) has prompted some researches to classify it as micro-Mousterian or Taubachian. Technological analysis indicates that the character of the industry is secondary phenomena (the taphonomy) of the collection. The operation sequences are incomplete, and it is evident we work only with a part of the original assemblage. We can deduce that Neanderthals carried high-quality tools (fine-grained materials) between the settlement locations; hence they applied a certain degree of planning. The cultural classification of the assemblage should be based on the the bifacial component that appears to be dominant; it allows us to link the Bojnice inventories with Micoquiansensu lato. It also becomes evident that the ways of processing of various raw materials were not significantly different, but the quality of the raw material has still played an important role in other aspects of human behaviour (i.e. economy, mobility, or planning). Generally, the influence of raw materials on the lithic industry assemblage should be taken into account separately for each site. Therefore, we cannot mechanically transfer analogies among different regions because local conditions (density and quality raw material sources, their accessibility, morphology of landscape, climate, etc.) had a bearing on the behaviour of humans, who should adapt to them and therefore their material culture can be modified too.

The Magdalenian layer 6 belongs among the most significant archaeological horizons in the Kůlna Cave. The extent of the layer and the quantity of archaeological finds enable us to analyse the spatial distribution of the artefacts retrieved in the course of the excavations K. Valoch conducted between 1961 and 1976. In view of the then system of documentation, which does not fulfil the current requirements for georeferenced data, we had to formulate a new system of localisation of the information and to utilise geographic information technologies for their processing and visualisation. Although the resulting model is not entirely precise, on the grounds of comparing the distribution of various groups of tools we identified function-specific zones that reflect the structured behaviour of the humans within the cave. At the same time, the so-called Magdalenian layer 6 turned out to be most probably a result of repeated visits, and it cannot be definitely excluded that a sparse rather indistinctive Epigravettian assemblage might be hidden in the inventory. The article also discusses the issue of the relevance of reconstructions based on older documentation of finds, in which the individual items were not surveyed in a three coordinate system.