EPIGRAVETTI VADÁSZTÁBOR ÁLLATMARADVÁNYAI PILISMARÓT-BITÓCON

Pilismarót-Bitóc was very close to the Upper Paleolithic migration route of the reindeer, near the Danube (Fig. 1–2). The berth and hunting opportunity of the site was very favourable. Pilismarót-Bitóc consists of three parts (Pilismarót-Bitóc I–II–III: Fig. 3). The excavation was directed by Viola T. Dobosi on 213 m2 between 1987–1993. A total of 2147 fragments of 2015 animal bones came to light from the excavation. The three parts of the site are similar from the viewpoint of faunal remains, the Upper Pleistocene cold-tolerant faunal elements are present in it. The bone remains were very fragmented and poorly preserved. The most important animal found at the settlement was reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), and the other races (Pleistocene horse–Equus sp., Pleistocene bison - Bison priscus, wolf–Canis lupus, polar fox–Alopex lagopus, and wolverine–Gulo gulo) were represented by far fewer bones (Table 1). Sedimentation and bone aggregation levels occurred in similar depths (between –20–100 cm) at several parts of the site. Animal remains were located three part of the surface, and the complete animal bones were concentrated on the main processing and trash dump (Fig. 4–7). The bone fragments of the cranial part were most numerous, exceeding the number of bones from the meat bearing and dry limb regions. This indicates local meat dismemberment and transport perhaps into the nearby stone chambers. Seasonal indicators (teeth and antler) show that the site was occupied during the spring.