Tracking the Hunter: A Study of the Personal Gear of a Gravettian Hunter-Gatherer from Milovice IV

Abstract

This study presents an analysis of a small cluster of blades/bladelets discovered during a rescue excavation at the Middle/Late Gravettian site of Milovice IV, Czech Republic. The cluster is comprised of 29 artefacts, both retouched and unretouched. The specific context suggests that the items were originally bundled together in a container made of a perishable material. The artefacts were made from raw materials of diverse origins. Techno-typological and use-wear analyses reveal a variety of tool types and activities, indicating that the cluster underwent a complex history of use and recycling. A substantial share of the assemblage exhibited fractures typically associated with projectiles, while other tools showed evidence of cutting, scraping, and drilling. The cluster can be interpreted as personal gear used during hunting expeditions, regularly maintained and occasionally modified until its eventual discard or loss in a residential camp. The use of small and broken pieces and spalls also indicates that at some point the personal gear was treated economically, likely due to a pressing shortage of raw materials during hunting or migration trips. The variety of raw materials reflects the mobility range or network of contacts of the individual.