Blazi Cave - an in situ Epigravettian site in Albania

The Epigravettian site of Blazi cave represents so far the only undisturbed and securly dated Epigravettian site in Albania. The new data fill a research gap for the time of the Late Upper Palaeolithic in the Eastern Adriatic. During the GAP (German-Albanian Palaeolithic research project) campaign in 2015, a large sample of stone artefacts and animal bones was excavated. Their spatial distribution and good preservation indicate an in situ position of the archaeological layer. The tool spectrum contains a high ratio of backed bladelets and microgravette points, typical components of an
Epigravettian assemblage. The faunal remains, mainly ibex, exhibit numerous cut and percussion marks, characterising Blazi cave as a specialised ibex hunting site.