Publication details
Re-excavation of Discarded Deposits from Švédův stůl Cave (Moravian Karst, Czech Republic) and their Archaeological Potential
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Studijné zvesti Archeologického ústavu Slovenskej akademie vied |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | stránky vydavatele |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.31577/szausav.2025.72.1 |
| Keywords | Moravian Karst; Middle Paleolithic; Magdalenian; Caves; Re-excavation; Agricultural Prehistory |
| Description | Many caves worldwide, including those with significant archaeological deposits, have attracted excavators since the end of the 19th c. This has often resulted in caves being partially, or entirely, emptied of sediments. The ‘coarse’ methodology used during earlier excavations has resulted in many finds being missed, which usually resulted in their discard onto nearby spoil heaps along with the sediments. Švédův stůl Cave, in the southern part of the Moravian Karst, is a typical example. It is also one of only three caves in Moravia that have yielded Neanderthal skeletal remains. Artefacts belonging to the Middle Paleolithic through to Medieval periods were recovered in Švédův stůl Cave during earlier excavations. The re-excavation of a tiny proportion of the discarded deposits outside the cave has produced a similar number of lithic artefacts as in all of the excavations added together. In addition, several specific artefacts, previously unknown from Švédův stůl Cave, were also discovered. The results of the re-excavation indicate a significant archaeological potential still hidden within the sediments dumped in the spoil heap outside the cave. These discoveries show promising potential for further research at this site. |