The lithic industry of the Lower Palaeolithic from "Bunker" (Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt)

• Applicant: Dr. Berrin Cep
• Subject Area: Prehistory and World Archaeology
• Term: from 2018 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 392618095

The topic of the proposed project includes an original detailed analysis of the lithic assemblage of the Lower Palaeolithic Bunker site of the Travertine Quarry in Stuttgart/Bad Cannstatt.Investigations on the lithic material follow initial critical questions regarding formation of the site and assemblage. This includes the identification of features in order to distinguish between intentional and natural breakage patterns, as well as the question of anthropogenic transportation of the lithic artefacts and their association with the faunal remains at the site.The analyses of the artefacts will be based on classifying specific attributes, including metric and morphololgical characteristics, with the intention to determine the conceptual and processual sequences of production (chaînes opératoires). The overall goal is to organize a techno-typological characterization of the assemblage as a basis for comparison with other temporally similar assemblages.Raw material studies in the field and on the lithic assemblage will constitute an integral part of the project. Field studies will allow for the lithic sources to be located in the landscape, and will also contribute to a greater comprehension of the different raw material types used at the site. This will reconstruct past strategies and patterns of use, as well as interactions within the landscape. The source material may also assist in identifying differences between natural and artificial fractures on the artefacts.The knowledge gained by investigating this assemblage will serve towards establishing the position of the Bunker site within the large scope of the Lower Palaeolithic in Europe.Particular attention will be given towards exploring the diversity of the archaeological assemblages in this region and of the possible explanations, such as site function, for these different contexts.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants