The German Mesolithic/Neolithic Transition

在国家科学基金会的支持下，Michael Jochim博士将在位于德国中南部的Henauhof Northwest 2（HNW-2）遗址进行考古发掘。Jochim博士的初步工作表明，该遗址在大约6500年前被中石器时代的狩猎采集者占据。它位于一个前湖的海岸线上，有丰富的石器和动物遗迹。在一个季节的野外工作中，Jochim博士和他的同事将挖掘80-100平方米的面积。所有发现物都将进行三维测量，所有沉积物都将进行筛选。此外，还将对土壤样本进行研究，以发现小型岩屑碎屑和动物遗骸。将采集土壤样本进行孢粉学和植物学分析，并采集木炭样本进行放射性碳测年。将进行植物学、植物区系和岩石分析。大约6500年前的时期标志着这个地区发生了显著变化。数千年来，当地的中石器时代居民一直在狩猎和采集，他们接触到侵入性的“线性带状陶瓷”（LBK）文化，这些文化侵入了该地区，并遵循新石器时代的生活方式。LBK人民种植庄稼，饲养家畜，使用陶瓷器皿。由于考古学家对文化变迁和接触的问题感兴趣，中石器时代的觅食者和LBK移民之间的互动是一个非常有趣的主题。已经提出了几种模式，从回避到公开战争到合作，但没有数据可供选择。由于HNW-2包含了适当时期的丰富的分层遗骸，因此它有可能阐明这一问题。为这一个季节项目提出的小规模工作应该为一个更大的项目奠定基础。这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。它将为大量的欧洲考古学家提供感兴趣的数据。希望它能为文化如何相互作用和变化提供新的见解。最后，它将有助于学生的培训。

With support from the National Science Foundation, Dr. Michael Jochim will conduct archaeological excavations at the site of Henauhof Northwest 2 (HNW-2) located in south-central Germany. Preliminary work by Dr. Jochim indicates that the site was occupied by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers approximately 6500 years ago. It lies on the shoreline of a former lake and is rich in both lithic and faunal remains. During one season of fieldwork Dr. Jochim and his colleagues will excavate an area of 80-100 square meters. All finds will be measured in three dimensions and all sediments screened. In addition, soil samples will be studied to recover small lithic debitage and faunal remains. Soil samples will be taken for palynological and botanical analysis and charcoal samples collected for radiocarbon dating. Botanical floral and lithic analysis will be conducted. The period around 6500 years ago marks a time of marked change in this region. The local Mesolithic inhabitants, who for thousands of years hunted and gathered, were exposed to intrusive "Linear Band Ceramic" (LBK) cultures which were intrusive to the region and which followed a Neolithic way of life. The LBK peoples planted crops, kept domestic animals and used ceramic vessels. Because archaeologists are interested in questions of culture change and contact, the interaction between Mesolithic foragers and LBK immigrants is a subject of great interest. Several models, ranging from avoidance to open warfare to cooperation have been proposed yet data is not available to select among them. Because the HNW-2 contains rich well stratified remains from the appropriate time period, it has the potential to shed light on this issue. The small scale work proposed for this one season project should establish a basis for a larger project. This research is important for several reasons. It will provide data of interest to a large number of Europeanist archaeologists. It will, hopefully, provide new insight into how cultures interact and change Finally it will aid in the training of students.