1_The cosmogenic radionuclide 14C is created in the atmosphere as the result of nuclear reactions generated by cosmic radiation. It is then oxidised in the atmosphere to take on the chemical form 14CO2, which has physical and chemical properties similar to conventional carbon dioxide. First of all, 14CO2 is formed in plant tissue through photosynthesis; then, as part of the food chain, 14C enters the bodies of herbivores and subsequently carnivores. When an animal dies, it ceases to absorb 14C from the surrounding environment and 14C activity in the corresponding sample gradually decreases due to radioactive decay. The half-life of 14C is 5730 ± 40 years, which is why this radionuclide may be used to date samples containing organic carbon. 14C may be determined by measuring its activity (using conventional methods) or using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) to determine the 14C content in a carbon isotopic mixture (now the predominant method). The resulting activities are referenced against the radiocarbon standard and expressed as conventional radiocarbon age in BP in accordance with the Stuiver-Polach convention (1977). As 14C activity was not completely constant in the past, the resulting activities must be adjusted (calibrated) using a radiocarbon calibration curve. The INTCAL09 calibration curve is now available for terrestrial samples. For the purposes of creating these calibration curves, highly precise 14C activities are allocated ages determined using other dating methods, such as dendrochronology (Stuiver et al. 1993; Reimer et al. 2009)., 2_Software such as OxCal, CALIB and CalPal may be used for the actual calibration process, and the result is generally expressed in years AD and BC, or in calibrated BP years (once again meaning prior to 1950; however, when results are expressed in this way it can often lead to confusion with the conventional radiocarbon age). Radiocarbon dating is now one of the most precise physical dating methods in archaeology, after dendrochronology., Miriam Nývltová Fišáková., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
This diploma thesis based paper focuses on the problems of settlement archaeology and a spectrum of archaeological artifacts, which were excavated during a salvage archaeological excavation at Olomouc-Slavonín-„Horní Lán“site. The site is known to have been occupied multiple times and during different periods from prehistoric times tillthe present. This study discusses issues of early Medieval settlement at this site-the main part is concerned withSlavonic pottery analysis, then the study deals with the analysis of the structure of Slavonic settlement, characterof features and its placement in a range of settlement area. Slavonic settlement at Olomouc-Slavonín-„Horní Lán“is characterized by the absence of typical Slavonic earth-houses, therefore the settlement at this site supports the hypothesis of the existence of other house forms in use during the early Medieval period. The basic analysis of archaeological material from this site is supported by the statistical analysis. Statistical analysis defines the main tendenciesin the investigated data; it shows initially invisible structures and contexts and thus it aids in the final interpretationof investigated structures at the Olomouc-Slavonín-„Horní Lán“ settlement., Adéla Balcárková., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The territory of Moravia is well known for its high density of Early Upper Paleolithic sites. However, the majority of sites are surface sites lacking chrono-stratigraphic data. To further our understanding of the technological development, and replacement of Neanderthals by Anatomically Modern Humans between 50-40 kya, necessitates the discovery of new stratified sites. We implemented a project aimed at discovering new EUP sites with intact sediments. Central part the Bobrava Highland is an important EUP microregion and is located on the southwestern margin of the Brno Basin. We relocated almost all previously published sites in the area and conducted surface surveys in an attempt to discover additional surface sites. At each site we recorded the artifact clusters in absolute coordinates, and searched for potential artifacts in the intact sediments, often along the edges of surface artifact clusters. We have located intact sediments at four sites previously recorded as surface sites. We found in situ artifacts at two of the sites. The developed and successfully tested survey strategy may have potential application for surveys in other microregions., Petr Škrdla ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The aim of this paper is to present and interpret the finding situation around so-called north-western gate in the outer bailey of the Great Moravian centre Mikulčice-Valy. In addition to the gate, this area revealed remains of a fortification wall and of a settlement, which was protected by the fortification wall. The analysed and interpreted finding situation was surveyed in 1966-1968. The first sections of the paper define the objectives of the paper (chronology, structure, decay of the fortification), introduces the method of revision processing (analysis of entities and qualities, spatial analyses in the GIS environment) and describes the finding situation revealed in the monitored area. Then, the paper focuses on the analysis of spatial relationships of documented contexts (stratigraphy). This analysis is a starting point for a discussion with hypotheses about the chronology and construction of the gate and fortification wall published by Z Klanica, Poulík and B. Kavánová in the second half of the 20th century. Finally, the paper presents an interpretation model about dating construction and decay of the fortifications in outer bailey of the Mikulčice agglomeration., Marek Hladík., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Middle Neolithic, Early and Late Bronze Age (as well as some Middle Ages) human occupation was investigated during two separate excavations. This paper assesses findings obtained from features with artifacts from Linear Pottery Culture and the Želiezovce Group. Three graves containing human skeletons were also excavated. One adult skull possessed a wound most probably caused by a sharp object (a stone axe?). Within the pottery assemblage basic typological shapes prevail – globular and semi globular vessels, bowls and necked vessels. There is only a small number of footed bowls. The applied decoration scale shows basic decorative elements of carved and plastic decoration. When a cut was applied, it interrupted the carved line or finished it. Rarely, the inventory contained a painted band, made up by a carved twinline in red colour. Rare finds include polished industry, bone artefacts, as well as an incomplete anthropomorphic figurine. Lithic artefacts were common and were manufactured from local as well as imported raw materials., Ivan Cheben, Michal Cheben., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The Moravian Painted Ware Culture settlement in Slavíkovice “Ostánce“ represents one of the most elaborately excavated sites in the peripheral area of western Moravia. The microregion is situated in the foothills of the Czech-Moravian Highlands at a relatively high altitude. More than forty MPW Culture sites have been recorded, mostly corresponding to its younger phase. The current study presents the results of recent surface surveys as well as minor detective and rescue probing. Apart from the large number of finds, a radiocarbon date has assisted in placing the site within the absolute chronology framework of the Moravian MPW Culture (Kuča et al. 2012). A detailed analysis of the archaeological findings allowed comparisons to other similarly dated sites in the area of interest and with the other peripheral regions in south-western Moravia (Bartík 2014a, 22, fig. 6). An attempt at reconstructing the paleoclimate forms an integral part of this study., Jaroslav Bartík, Milan Vokáč, Martin Kuča, Alžběta Čerevková, Lubomír Prokeš, Miriam Nývltová Fišáková., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
This article presents a Moravian Painted Ware culture site Březník in the Czech-Moravian Highlands. The emphasis is on evaluation of surface finds in the „Střední hon“ field and assessing the archaeological material and geographical aspects. The new findings are placed in a regional context with regard to the area between Oslava and Chvojnice rivers as well as in the wider context (southwest Moravia). We also compared it to a nearby Moravian Painted Ware site located in the „Zadní hon“ field. Interestingly, although Březník is located on the periphery of the known Neolithic occupation zone, the peripheral effect is not apparent at this site (as it is at other sites considered to be located on the periphery). One particularity of this region is a high concentration of muscovite (obtained from local schist outcrops) in the ceramic matter. The lithic sources are mostly local and regional (Brno Massif, Boskovice Furrow and Krumlovský Les cherts). There are also some raw materials imported from great distances (metabazite of the Jizerské hory type, obsidian, erratic chert and Polish cherts). Based on the chronology, material culture and geographical position, Březník – „Střední hon“ can be placed into the early phase Ib (Lengyel I) of the Moravian Painted ware culture., Jaroslav Bartík, Lenka Běhounková, Martin Kuča., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
1_A disturbed Linear Pottery Culture pit was investigated in 2007 at Studénka – “Záhumení”. A rescue excavation was carried out in April 2010. Twelve sunken features were excavated. Recovered material included 775 pottery fragments, 105 stone artefacts, as well as ceramic weights, a fragment of a stone weight used in a fishing net, a flat hoof axe, etc. The ceramics can be dated to the IIb LPC settlement phase. Lithic analysis suggests that this was a secondary processing site. The Cracow Cz˛estochowa Jurassic chert accounts for a very high proportion of lithics (85.7 %) - the highest proportion of any statistically significant assemblage in Moravia and Czech and Polish Silesia. Only few pieces of the local erratic flint are present (8.6 %). Studénka - "Záhumení" as well as other (at least two) similar sites (e.g. Bravantice – has been partly investigated, 81 % of raw material is Cracow Cz˛estochowa Jurassic chert) form a chain of sites (microregion), located in several-kilometer intervals near the Oder River, although they do not appear to be linked to the river. Each site is located independently of each other on a left-hand short tributary and gives the impression of an initial settlement which did not grow further. A chain of sites predisposes left-bank route of long-distance communication deduced for later prehistoric period and early Middle Ages., 2_It probably developed during the height of Cracow Cz˛estochowa Jurassic chert transport to Moravia or even to Silesia, during the LPC II phase, and subsequently declined during the LPC III phase. The purpose of the sites was to participate in raw material transport. This pattern probably emerged in the Opava region, but it may also have originated in the Beˇcva Gate or Cracow regions. The left-bank settlement has evidently no connection with the contemporaneous LPC settlement on the other side of the river (at the microregions and cadasters Štramberk Blahutovice, located 15–20 km), where the presence silicites Cracow Cz˛estochowa Jurassic form an exception., Vratislav Janák, Aleš Knápek, Kateřina Papáková., and Obsahuje seznam literatury