Human occupation of Central Europe during the Last Glacial Maximum: new evidence from Moravia, Czech Republic

Abstract

This article presents a brief examination of a recently discovered Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) site in Moravia. LGM sites are relatively rare in this part of Europe because it was abandoned by humans at the height of the last Ice Age due to decreasing temperatures and increasing aridity (Verpoorte 2004). Almost all ice sheets were at their LGM positions from 26.5ka to 19–20ka (Clark et al. 2009).One site that does date to this period is Mohelno, located close to the Jihlava River in the Czech-Moravian Highlands (Figure 1). At the time of occupation, it was situated near the bottom of a deeply incised river valley on a plateau c. 15–20m above the original level of the river. Steep slopes shielded the site from the north-east, north and west, forming a natural amphitheatre open to the south. This favourable position, and the heat-accumulating characteristics of the local rocks (orthogneiss, serpentinite), probably provided a ‘micro-oasis’ during the harsh climatic conditions of the LGM. Today, the site is situated below the water level of the Mohelno reservoir (Figure 2), which forms part of the Dalešice pumped-storage hydroelectric power station. Unique lithic artefacts and stone structures, interpreted as the remains of dwellings, reveal the complex character of the LGM occupation of Central Europe