STARE BARAKI. A NEW MAGDALENIAN SITE IN EASTERN POLAND

The site in Stare Baraki is one of more interesting discoveries of the late Palaeolithic settlement in eastern Poland made in recent years. Situated on the boundaries of two physical-geographical macroregions, the Lublin Upland and the Sandomierz Basin, it is one of several settlements on the eastern frontiers of Magdalenian settlement. Materials from Stare Baraki are the first remains of the Magdalenian population uncovered inside the zone of Turonian flint outcrops (of among others, Swieciechow flint), on the right bank of the Vistula, near Annopot Flint artefacts were found during surface surveys conducted in 2018, and were collected on the culmination of the loess plateau (geographical coordinates: N 50 degrees 49'0.81 '', E 22 degrees 3'9.77 ''). A total of 231 flint artefacts were obtained, among which 23 tools were distinguished. Most distinctive in this assemblage are perforators with massive Bec type tips/bits. Technological analysis of flint materials revealed the use of en eperon preparation and the presence of characteristic spur butts (en eperon) on blades. These are closely connected with the application of a direct percussion technique, using a soft, organic hammer. The technique is typical of Magdalenian flint-working, and was intended to obtain blade blanks. As regards Stare Baraki, the economic activity was presumably connected with the acquisition of Turonian flints of good quality, which were used to obtain blanks for the production of tools. Additionally, the distinguished, retouched forms included domestic tools, which indicates a more complex functional character of the settlement. Currently, it is not possible to date the inventory from Stare Baraki accurately The site should be dated within a broad time period between GS - 2a and GI - 1a, that is the late Magdalenian on Polish lands.