164 NEW GRAVETTIAN SITE IN LOWER SILESIA (SW POLAND) T. Płonka and A. Wiśniewski with contributions by: Z. Jary and A. Traczyk Abstract Site Henrykw 15 (near Ząbkowice Śląskie, SW Poland) is so far the only evidence of the exploitation of the area situated so far to the north of the Sudetes by Gravettian groups. Contrary to other sites from SW Poland, the artefacts in Henrykw were covered by loess deposits, whose thickness reached several metres. The sites profiles displayed 11 layers with three horizons of pedogenesis. The traces of the Palaeolithic settlement are connected with layers 8 and 9 and were deposited before sedimentation of loess in the upper (main) pleniglacial (before 20,000-18,000 BP). The excavations so far have provided 1612 flint artefacts: 617 come from layers 1-7 and 995 occurred in layers 8 and 9. Three concentrations of artefacts were identified, visible against evenly distributed artefacts. Erratic flint occurring in local glacial deposits was mainly used in the production. The predominating method of acquiring blade blanks was the exploitation of single platform forms of different variants used to produce backed pieces, truncated pieces and end-scrapers, while flakes were used to produce other tools. The examination of the settlement remains indicates that the site in Henrykw may be considered as evidence of a short-occupied and temporary encampment probably set up during the search for new sources of good-quality flint raw material. Its emergence is probably connected with the need to replenish the range of tools and the supply of blanks for their production. KEYWORDS: Gravettian settlement, Sudetes Mountains 1. Introduction Site 15 (formerly 12) in Henrykw (near Ząbkowice Śląskie, SW Poland) is so far the only evidence of the exploitation of the area situated so far to the north of the Sudetes by Gravettian groups (Płonka and Wiśniewski 1997, 2000, 2001). The closest evidence of this type comes from the Nysa river-basin to the south-east of Henrykw (Figure 1a; Kozłowski 1964, Ginter 1966, Dagnan and Ginter 1970, cf. Burdukiewicz 1999). Contrary to other sites, the artefacts in Henrykw were covered by loess deposits, whose thickness reached several metres. In one of the layers, where Palaeolithic artefacts were discovered, and in two higher horizons, the traces of Pleistocene pedogenesis were recorded. Periglacial structures are visible in nearly the whole profile of Pleistocene deposits. These observations enable the reconstruction of palaeogeography and the age of the artefacts. The site was discovered in 1996 during the programme of surficial excavations and ever since 1997 it has been examined by a team of archaeologists, geologists and geomorphologists 1 . Below are presented the results of archaeological and environmental studies carried out in 1997-2001 focusing on cultural material obtained during the systematic exploration. Footnote 1. Archaeological excavations were supervised by T. Pł onka and A. Wi śniewski. Z. Jary, D. Ciszek and A. Traczyk (Geographical Institute, University of Wrocław) took part in geomorphological examination of the site and its vicinity. Pedological research was performed by C. Kabała (Agricultural Academy in Wrocław) and petrological research was carried out by J. Michniewicz (Institute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań). Petrological analysis of bedrock and the artefacts from coarse crystalline rock were carried out by A. Wjcik and S. Madej (Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Wrocław).