Folia archeologica 35.

~18 ISTVÁN VÖRÖS THE NUMBER OF HUNTERS OF THE ISTÁLLÓSKŐ CAVE ESTIMATED ON THE BASIS OF THE MEAT QUANTITY As a starting point in the following I shall compare my data to the number which was estimated from the meat quantity of the Middle Palaeolithic open-air site Érd (i. e. during an occupation of 2—3 months with daily 2—3 kgs meateating per head

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9). Layer I — "LCL" hunters' number estimated from the total meat quantity: 80—120 individuals. Considering the supposed natural mortality of cave bear cubs the number of hunters could be only 30—40 heads, 15—20 heads per level. This later seems to be the real value. Layer III — "UCL": reducing to the three culture and hearth levels 20—25 heads per level. The number of bunters estimated by the bones found in the middle hearth level excavated in 1938 from the area behind the big hearth is 3—5. Layer IV — The bone remains of the big hearth ("in situ hearth") lifted out in 1947 are unknown. Judging by its measurements and thickness this hearth was the result of a prolonged occupation. The individual number of hunters estimated on the basis of other bone remains (meat quantity) of Layer IV is 20—30 heads. Beside the occupation near the big hearth we have to consider also the back part of the cave. The existence of small, thin hearth spots refer to to this, too. Layer V — The bone material refers to the periodic occupation of a small group of hunters c. 3—4 heads. Hearth — spots remained only in the back part of the cave. THE CHARACTER OF THE CAVE SITE The natural environment of this Aurignacian site i.e. in a cave opening to the end of a long, narrow valley, suggests that this place was not chosen by chance. The cave had strategical defence values and gave a shelter against the rigours of weather. The inhabitants of the Istállóskő Cave could hunt in several hunting fields, e. g. 1, in the Bükk Mountains at its plateau (for mountain forest species), 2, in the large valleys of the Northern Central Mountains where there were rivers and brooks (for forest-steppe, steppe species), 3, in the Great Hungarian Plain (for forest-steppe, steppe species). During Upper Pleistocene large size Herbivores (e. g. Bos, Bison, Equus, Alces, Cervus etc.) and Carnivores accompanying them during the autumn withdrew from the lowland Great Hungarian Plain to the more protected valleys of the Carpathians. Also autumn was the period when medium-size Herbivores (Rangifer, Rupicapra, Capra) migrated from their summer grazing areas of the Carpathian range to hillsides, areas at the foothills. By all means such migration " Kret^oi, Ai., Zoologie archéologique (manuscript). It is omitted from the chapter under the same title written together with V. Gábori-Csánk See footnote N" 12.