The Gravettian lithic industry at Krems-Wachtberg (Austria)

In the course of extensive excavations at the Upper Palaeolithic open-air site of Krems-Wachtberg, a large assemblage as well as extraordinarily well preserved archaeological features have been recovered since 2005. After the completion of the field work, a preliminary overview of the lithic industry can be provided. Artefact-morphological studies allow for the dating of the main cultural layer to the older Gravettian, with specific typological elements indicating an attribution to the Pavlovian stage. Detailed raw material analyses applying stereo-microscopic investigation for all lithic artefacts and geochemical analysis for selected raw material groups revealed a predominantly local raw material economy. Accordingly, the lithic chaîne opératoire is present at the site for most of the identified raw materials. Spatial analyses of selected raw material units in combination with initial refitting-results reflect site formation processes but also indicate specific activity areas within the cultural layer.