HOME Project

HOME aims to investigate the diversity, and practical use of Palaeolithic shelters, focusing on East-Central Europe’s exceptional archaeological potential. By studying shelter types, construction techniques, and site contexts, the project seeks to uncover how early humans adapted to their environment, built dwellings, and responded to climate shifts. Through a series of interdisciplinary work packages, HOME will produce new archaeological and environmental datasets, contributing to our understanding of shelter use as a cultural and social phenomenon.

The four work packages of HOME:

Ethnographic Study of Forager Shelters

HOME will compile data on forager shelters from ethnographic and archaeological records to understand factors influencing shelter design, location, and construction methods. This work will establish predictive models to identify likely Palaeolithic shelter sites in East-Central Europe by analyzing variables such as shelter function, materials, social context, and site "furniture." The findings will offer a foundation for detecting shelter residues in modern landscapes.

Geophysical Survey of Palaeolithic Sites

HOME employs advanced geophysical surveys to locate Palaeolithic shelter remnants in open-air settings. We seek to identify artifact configurations, hearths, and pits indicative of past human activity. Targeted excavations will confirm findings, helping to create a clearer picture of sheltering strategies over time.

Study of Mammoth Bone Structures

HOME also focuses on the Mezhyrich site in Ukraine, analyzing one of the earliest Palaeolithic open-air structures built from mammoth bones. By studying finely preserved activity layers, this work package aims to understand how these structures served as shelters during the Late Pleistocene, offering insights into human adaptation, technology, and climate response in the region. 

Cave Excavation and Analysis

WP4 investigates Carpathian caves to examine how Palaeolithic populations used caves for shelter and how cave usage varied with seasons, climate, and demographic shifts. Using modern excavation techniques, this package explores preserved faunal remains, artifacts, and hearths to offer high-resolution insights into cave use and its role in human survival strategies in East-Central Europe.