Where the Grass is Greener — Large-Scale Phenological Patterns and Their Explanatory Potential for the Distribution of Paleolithic Hunter-Gatherers in Europe

A unique property of the Paleolithic record is the possibility to observe human societies in large areas and over long periods of time. At these large spatial and temporal scales, a number of interesting phenomena can be observed, such as dynamics in the distribution of populations in relation to equally large-scale environmental patterns. In this paper, we focus on phenological patterns of vegetation and discuss their explanatory potential for differences in site densities in different periods and parts of Europe. In particular, we present a case-transferable approach to diachronically estimate the timing of the vegetation period and resulting phenological gradients. We discuss results for two complementary case studies. First, we look at the Aurignacian in Western and Central Europe, a period of dynamic population dispersal in a topographically heterogeneous region. Second, we focus on the Middle and Late Upper Paleolithic in the East European Plain, a period after the arrival of anatomically modern humans in a topographically rather uniform area. We visualize phenological trajectories and boundaries otherwise invisible in the archaeological record with certain explanatory potential for the observed archaeological patterns. Importantly, we do not intend to reconstruct specific plant communities or dispersal routes of animals or humans. Rather, we aim at highlighting gradients which in themselves and on small temporal scales might be comparatively weak, but over the course of millennia may potentially influence the distribution of animal biomass and human populations by biasing the aggregate of at times opposing actions of individuals towards particular directions

A resting place for eternity

Der folgende Aufsatz behandelt die Erstellung einer digitalen 3D Rekonstruktion im akademischen Kontext. Es sollen die einzelnen Schritte, die es für eine auf wissenschaftlichen Methoden basierenden Rekonstruktion bedarf, vorgestellt und erläutert werden. Der Schwerpunkt liegt hierbei auf der quellenkritischen Arbeit und Bestimmung der einzelnen zu rekonstruierenden Elemente. Die technischen Schritte für die Erstellung des 3D-Modells werden anhand von begleitenden Online-Blog-Beiträgen näher erläutert. Ziel dieses Aufsatzes ist es zu zeigen, wie eine moderne 3D-Rekonstruktion begleitet von einer ordentlichen, quellenkritischen Dokumentation aussehen kann und somit einen wissenschaftlichen Diskurs darüber erst ermöglicht.The following paper deals with creating, in an academic context, a digital 3D reconstruction. The individual steps required for a reconstruction based on scientific methods will be presented and explained. The focus is on the source-critical work and the determination of the individual elements to be reconstructed. The technical steps for creating the 3D model will be explained in more detail in accompanying online blog posts. This article aims to show how a modern 3D reconstruction accompanied by proper, source-critical documentation can look like and thus enable a scientific discourse about it