| Summary: | Men and Caves in the Neolithic Period Vladimír Peša ABSTRACT From the beginning of archaeological excavations in the 19th century up to the present day, caves as archaeological sites have most often been interpreted as longer- or shorter-term settlements, hideaways or shelters for herdsmen; other interpretations that are considered for caves are cult functions and shelters for social outcasts. I see the beginnings of these notions of universal functions for caves in two contexts. Up until the second half of the 20th century there was a predominant interest throughout most of Europe in Palaeolithic history, and an interpretive model of Palaeolithic cave settlement was subsequently applied to frequently less distinct or even different find situations dating to post-Mesolithic periods. Secondly, at the close of the 19th century caves in the general consciousness of society (i.e. including archaeological) were mainly thought of as warfare shelters or as cover from inclement weather during agricultural activities away from the settlement. Speculation on the greater importance of cult activities and the symbolism of caves doesn't appear with greater regularity in literature until the 1980s; and yet, the settlement impression of caves persists. Using the Neolithic period as an example, the submitted work attempts...
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