Original scientific paper

Late Glacial knapped stone industry of Kopačina Cave

Nikola Vukosavljević
Zlatko Perhoč
Božidar Čečuk
Ivor Karavanić

Abstract

The article presents the results of a lithic analysis of stone artefacts
discovered over the course of multiple years of excavations in Kopačina
Cave (1978-1993). The frequency of backed bladelets and curved
backed points served as the criteria for distinguishing between two
phases: the older, lithic phase I and the younger lithic phase II. Based
on the absolute dates and the lithic analysis, an interpretation of the
cultural stratigraphy (late Upper Palaeolithic, Bronze Age) is proposed
here which differs from prior interpretations (late Upper Palaeolithic,
Mesolithic, Bronze Age). In terms of technology and typology, Kopačina
exhibits considerable similarity to the Late Glacial industries of Vela
Spila and Badanj. Microscopic and macroscopic analysis of a portion
of the lithics set of finds has facilitated the definition of 8 petrographic
groups, among which the group of local micritic cherts dominates.
The group of red and green radiolarites, although few in number, is an indicator of the ties between the Kopačina hunter-gatherers and the deep Eastern Adriatic hinterland. There is a similar pattern of raw materials use running through the entire stratigraphic sequence.

Keywords

Late Glacial period; lithic analysis; Kopačina; Epigravettian; raw material; petrographic analysis; cultural stratigraphy

Hrčak ID:

75360

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/75360

Publication date:

30.11.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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