The Discovery of a Possible ‘Meat Cache’. Recent Excavations at the Upper Palaeolithic Open-air Site in Kammern-Grubgraben 2015–2020

The Lower Austrian site of Kammern-Grubgraben is one the few stratigraphically recorded sites from Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) that allows detailed insights into life glacial hunter-gatherer societies. Extensive and planned archaeological excavations took place for first time between 1985 1994 under direction Friedrich Brandtner in cooperation with Anta Montet-White (1985–1990) Bohuslav Klíma (1993–1994), following earlier smaller, isolated findings unqualified, largely undocumented excavations. After Brandtner’s death 2000, exceptionally rich find material remained unprocessed barely published. It was not until 2011 to 2015 Institute Oriental European Archaeology (OREA, now: Archaeological – OeAI) Academy Sciences (OeAW) succeeded completely recording inventorying course a project Institutes Prehistory Early History University Cologne Alexander Erlangen-Nuremberg, funded by legal owner finds, State Austria. Field research resumed 2015, when it became known land consolidation relocation an access road had begun area without prior notification authorities. initial prospections (profiles percussion cores) Quaternary group (OREA/OeAI, OeAW) initiated Federal Office Protection Monuments (BDA), regular activities subsidised Austria were started form annual one- two-month excavation campaigns. Once again, extensive inventory finds including bones, knapped lithics jewellery documented recovered, as well stone unique this period. This article presents latest discusses finding possible meat cache.