Tárnoki Judit szerk.: Tisicum - A Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok Megyei Múzeumok Évkönyve 19. (2009)
Régészettudomány - T. Dobosi Viola — A hazai felső paleolitikum vázlata
Tisicum XIX. T. Dobosi Vio la Outlines of the Hungarian Upper Palaeolithic Summary The Hungarian Upper Palaeolithic period can be divided into three large chronological levels. Its cultural aspect is varied and colourful. In this paper the author made an essay on the characterisation of these cultures on the basis of archaeological observations and commensurable parameters. In the second half of the last glaciation period, the territory of Hungary was open to the Upper Palaeolithic populations - with varied orography, - mosaic-like ecological niches formed at the junction of great climatic zones - a choice of excellent raw materials. During the 30 thousand years of the Upper Palaeolithic, all the known important cultural units forming the history of Central Europe have been in and out the Carpathian Basin, - partly, as independent cultural entities following each other with shorter or longer break - partly, as contemporary cultural units belonging to different cultural units. The concept of 'contemporary', however, should be interpreted rather loosely, allowing relations like immediate neighbours, - partly, related to each other as forefather and successor. In the insulated intra-mountain basin protected by an arch of high mountains the global climatic effects prevailed uniformly, though a little bit late and mitigated. The Mediterranean-like climate of the interglacials, the cold continental climate of the glacials and the varied transitionary phases in between resulted in fairly uniform biological endowments within the whole Carpathian Basin in the given period, lying at the junction of the great faunistical and vegetation belts. Conditions for life must have been more or less the same within the Carpathian Basin. Changes of the flora are apparent after the Great (Denekamp, Paudorf, Pleniglaciális A/B) Interstadial. After the domination of deciduous trees, that of conifers increase; however, arboreal vegetation was not completely disappearing even from the cold-temperate steppe of the stadials 5 6. The mammalian fauna belongs to the fauna waves Istállóskő and Pilisszántó-Bajót, delineated by Miklós Kretzoi and István Vörös, respectively. At the same pace with the changes in climate and vegetation, the ratio of faunal elements resistant to cold climate increase. The general aspect of the fauna is lesser variety, the number of species decrease, but the number of individuals probably grows. 5 7 In human material culture it is reflected by the introduction of new hunting strategies and the production and mastering of new tools. Different cultures, communities answered these needs in a different way, as reflected in their tool kits. A given set of artefacts is the means for fulfilling physical and spiritual needs among the prevailing circumstances. Changes in the ratio of tool types reflect probably changes in the environment rather than human needs. The increasing choice of various raw materials illustrates the extension of the territories taken into use and the widening of the system of connections. The archaeological heritage is more scanty than expected compared to neighbouring areas. We are missing some fossil directoire tool types like Kostienki shouldered points, mammoth-huts, objects of plastic arts and burials. The nearly hundred known sites and authenticated collection point, however, prove that the territory of recent Hungary, rich in mineral and organic resources was a favoured living area for the Upper Palaeolithic communities. 56 there is increasing macroscopic charcoal data (mainly from archaeological sites) to support the suggestion of in situ tree populations". WILLIS, Katherine-RUDNER, Edina-SÜMEGI, Pál 2000, 209. In the Hungarian Upper Palaeolithic, so far no bone-fireplaces were found as it is common at treeless environment. 57 VÖRÖS 2000,199-200. I 28
