Gudenus Cave: The Earliest Humans of Austria

Summarising 60 years of research by the author at the earliest human occupation site known in Austria (1962 to 2021), this book describes the strategies and methods of studying a Pleistocene cave site that had been regarded as fully excavated, and their long-term applications.

Gudenus Cave summarises the author’s 60 years of research (1962 to 2021) at the earliest human occupation site known in Austria. The cave had been excavated in 1883-84 without separation of sediment layers, and subsequent endeavours to clarify its stratigraphy and dating have failed. The book describes the strategies and methods of studying a Pleistocene cave site that had been regarded as fully excavated, and their long-term applications. A significant part of the fieldwork was conducted before 1967, but the use of analytical processes and literature review continued for several decades after that. Through sustained interrogation of the site’s clear palynology and lithic typology, the volume succeeds in clarifying the cave’s stratigraphical sequence and placing its several Palaeolithic occupations chronologically. This has significant effects on our understanding of the local Palaeolithic sequence that has been the subject of various controversies. These are discussed in the concluding chapter, which places Gudenus Cave first within its Austrian context and then into the wider picture. The book thus shows that intensive archaeological research can reinstate the scientific importance of a site even after it has been declared bereft of all sediment.

Preface Chapter 1: History of Gudenus Cave The pre-1962 investigations The post-1962 investigations The scientific status of Gudenus Cave in 1962 Chapter 2: Gudenus Cave and its environment Geography and geology The cave Past and present environmental settings The speleoclimate of Gudenus Cave Hydrology and sedimentation Chapter 3: Archaeology and palaeontology of Gudenus Cave - the data The 1963 to 1966 salvage excavations The new lithic implements The Occupation Layer I stone tools The Occupation Layer II stone tool The Occupation Layer III stone tools The Occupation Layer IV stone tools The palaeoart The palaeontology of the cave Bone fragmentation study of the post-1962 bone remains Summary - faunal remains Chapter 4: Sediments of Gudenus Cave The sedimentary analyses Methods of sediment analyses Description of the sediment samples Reconstructing the sediment stratigraphy The pollen and spore analysis The carbonate diffraction study Chapter 5: Interpretation of Gudenus Cave data Recapping The new interpretations The sediment stratigraphy The climatic and environmental sequence The hominin occupations The history of Gudenus Cave Chapter 6: The Palaeolithic context of Gudenus Cave The Lower Austrian context The broader Austrian context The central European context The global context A synopsis References Index, Preface Chapter 1: History of Gudenus Cave The pre-1962 investigations ;
The post-1962 investigations ;
The scientific status of Gudenus Cave in 1962 ;
Chapter 2: Gudenus Cave and its environment Geography and geology ;
The cave ;
Past and present environmental settings ;
The speleoclimate of Gudenus Cave ;
Hydrology and sedimentation ;
Chapter 3: Archaeology and palaeontology of Gudenus Cave – the data The 1963 to 1966 salvage excavations ;
The new lithic implements ;
The Occupation Layer I stone tools The Occupation Layer II stone tool The Occupation Layer III stone tools The Occupation Layer IV stone tools The palaeoart ;
The palaeontology of the cave ;
Bone fragmentation study of the post-1962 bone remains Summary — faunal remains Chapter 4: Sediments of Gudenus Cave The sedimentary analyses ;
Methods of sediment analyses Description of the sediment samples Reconstructing the sediment stratigraphy ;
The pollen and spore analysis ;
The carbonate diffraction study ;
Chapter 5: Interpretation of Gudenus Cave data Recapping ;
The new interpretations ;
The sediment stratigraphy The climatic and environmental sequence The hominin occupations The history of Gudenus Cave Chapter 6: The Palaeolithic context of Gudenus Cave The Lower Austrian context ;
The broader Austrian context ;
The central European context ;
The global context ;
A synopsis ;
References Index