Archeological exposition Age of the Mammoth Hunters

The archaeological exposition "Age of the Mammoth Hunters", located in the Baroque former town hall in Dolní Věstonice, provides an overview of the insights gained at the local archaeological sites from the Early Stone Age found here in Dolní Věstonice and neighboring Pavlov. Here on the northwestern slopes of the Pálava Hills is a world-famous complex of settlements of ancient mammoth hunters from the era 25-30 000 years ago. The village of Pavlov has given its name to the entire archeological culture of that time - Pavlovian, the early phase of the Gravettian culture (30 000 - 25 000 years ago).
Systematic research done here in 1924-1938 by Dr. Karel Absolon made this locality world-famous. Among the finds was that most famous of prehistoric female sculptures, a figurine of fired clay known as the Venus of Věstonice. Further extensive research was conducted here from 1947-1978 by Dr. Bohuslav Klíma. More research to rescue parts of the site was carried out in the 1980's. At present terrain work is ongoing, as well as processing of findings from research over the last decades, led by Prof. Jiři Svoboda of the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences Czech Republic in Brno.
Part of the exhibition provides information about the individual phases of work on the site, and illustrates the methods of archaeological research. Geological and soil conditions on the northwestern slopes of the Pálava Hills are explained, along with the plant and animal life during the Ice Ages. Stone and bone items used by people back then are displayed, with explanations of how they were made. The skeletal remains of the ancient people are displayed as they were found in their historical context. Special attention is devoted to artistically-fashioned items (such as headbands, necklaces), and sculptures of bone and of clay.
Another part of the exhibit details findings from recent years. Current knowledge about the development of man is presented, along with anthropological research on the Věstonice population. An idea of the various possible interpretations of the situation at the different sites is complemented by a reconstruction of a Paleolithic dwelling. The grave of three young individuals, found in Dolní Věstonice in 1986, has a special place in the exhibition. The presented results presented of scientific experiments compare prehistoric techniques for making clay sculptures, and techniques for doing the same today. There is even evidence of preparation of dyes, found after thirty millennia on ancient pestles and stone surfaces used to pound grain. There is also evidence of the polishing of stone pebbles, and imprints of textiles, the oldest such evidence in the history of mankind.

© Regionální muzeum v Mikulově 2008