New insights into Moldova’s Early Gravettian. Recent results of the 2013-2016 fieldwork at Mitoc-Malu Galben, Romania

Abstract

The Upper Palaeolithic record reflects several changes in human socioeconomic behaviours and material culture, among which the appearance and development of the Gravettian technocomplex remains heavily debated. While some argue for one center of origin, others argue for a synchronous appearance all over Europe. To contribute to a better understanding of the timing and environmental context of the appearance of the Gravettian, we need to focus on archaeological sites with a long sequence, high-resolution climatic context, and abundant archaeology. One of these sites is Mitoc-Malu Galben (Romania), with a semi-continuous loess-paleosol record from ~32 to 20 ka uncal BP. Embedded in this sequence are multiple Aurignacian and Gravettian archaeological horizons. Between 2013 and 2016 an international team re-excavated the site using high-resolution excavation and documentation methods. An interdisciplinary approach was applied to the analysis of the materials originating from two Aurignacian and two Gravettian archaeological horizons. Focusing on the Gravettian materials, we present here the results of these field campaigns, coupled to unpublished data provided by new investigations on materials of the previous excavations between 1978 and 1990. Contrasted to data associated with the last Aurignacian horizons from Mitoc-Malu Galben and the Gravettian of the nearby site Molodova V, this allows us to get new insights into the genesis of the Gravettian technocomplex in Eastern Europe