Seasonal Aggregation Site in Late Paleolithic – Intrasite Analysis of Large Hamburgian Encampment in Myszęcin, Western Poland

ABSTRACT

The pioneering colonization of the North European Plain by the communities of the Hamburgian culture was considered a cultural phenomenon related archaeologically to episodic short-term occupations. The camps resulting from this mobility were to be characterized by little differentiation. The presented article shows the results of a spatial analysis of the Hamburgian culture site in Myszęcin, in western Poland. The use of the refitting method to analyze the flint inventory made it possible to determine the relative chronology of concentrations and to reconstruct the spatial organization of the camp. The results of the analysis indicate the existence of large encampments in the settlement system of the Hamburgian societies. The presence of such structures suggests that the Hamburgian groups functioned within a dualistic settlement model with seasonal aggregation, which was a permanent element of the post-Magdalenian traditions of the Late Paleolithic communities.

KEYWORDS:

• Late Paleolithic
• Hamburgian culture
• refitting method
• spatial analysis
• mobility system

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Jakub Mugaj, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Science Center (Narodowe Centrum Nauki) [grant number 2016/21/N/HS3/03170].

Notes on contributors

Jakub Mugaj

Jakub Mugaj – Ph.D. in Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznań. Specialist on prehistoric lithic technology. His research focus mainly on societies of Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic in Europe. Participant of many archaeological projects in Poland and Egypt.