Benjamin Schürch

• Aurignacian
• Stone technology
• Middle Palaeolithic
• Lithic raw materials
• Traceology
• Shell ornaments
• Upper Paleolithic

The Reassesment of Vogelherd

Vogelherd is one of the richest sites in central Europe. The site was excavated in 1931 by G. Riek. He describes nine archaeological layers spanning from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Neolithic. In this research project, we are reassessing Riek´s stratigraphy by incorporating finds from the backdirt excavated by Conard and his team from 2005-2012 and from 2020-2023. From these analyses we will present new results on lithic technology, traceology, raw-materials, shells and organic technology. The results are covering the periods from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Magdalenian. The biggest focus is on the two Aurignacian layers IV and V of the site. These two layers are recognized for the ivory figurines known as one of the oldest evidence for figurative art.

2023      SCHÜRCH B., VENDITTI F., WOLF S., CONARD N. J. 2023: Glycymeris molluscs in the context of the Upper Palaeolithic of Southwestern Germany. Quartär 68 (2021). 131-156. https://doi.org/10.7485/qu.2021.68.94300.

2022      SCHÜRCH B., WETTENGL, S., FRÖHLE, S., CONARD, N. J., SCHMIDT, P. 2022: The origin of chert in the Aurignacian of Vogelherd Cave investigated by infrared spectroscopy. PLoS ONE 17(8): e0272988. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272988.

FRICK J. A., SCHÜRCH B., ÇEP B. 2022: Zur Forschungsgeschichte der Großen Grotte bei Blaubeuren (Alb-Donau-Kreis), Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt 52, 1-25.

FRICK J. A., SCHÜRCH B., ÇEP B. 2022: The Middle Paleolithic at Große Grotte (Blaubeuren, southern Germany). New Insights from Lithic Technology and Implication for Assemblage Classification; Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology (2022) 5:9, https://doi.org/10.1007/s41982-022-00114-y.

CONARD, N. J., B. SCHÜRCH, F. HAACK, S. WOLF. 2022. On the Status of the Boar Tooth Artifact from the Backdirt of Vogelherd. MGfU 31: 87–105.

SCHÜRCH B. 2022: Shells connecting Ice Age Europe. Ice Age Europe Magazine 6, 2022. 26-27.    

2021      ÇEP B., SCHÜRCH B., MÜNZEL S. C., FRICK J. A. 2021: Adaptive capacity and flexibility of the Neanderthals at Heidenschmiede (Swabian Jura) with regard to core reduction strategies. PLoS ONE 16(9): e0257041.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257041.

WOLF S., SCHÜRCH B., FRICK J. A., SEIFERT M. 2021: Der abenteuerliche Weg der Vogelherd-Figurinen – von ihrer Auffindung bis heute. Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Urgeschichte 30, 115-143.   

CONARD N. J., JANAS A., MARCAZZAN D., MILLER C. E., RICHARD M., SCHÜRCH B., TRIBOLO C. 2021:   the cultural and chronostratigraphic context of a New Leaf Point from Hohle Fels cave in the Ach Valley of southwestern Germany. Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Urgeschichte 30, 41-66.      

SCHÜRCH B. 2020: Back to the Neanderthals. Ice Age Europe Magazine 5, 2021. 18-20.

2020      SCHÜRCH B., WOLF S., SCHMIDT P., CONARD N. J.  2020: Mollusken der Gattung Glycymeris aus der Vogelherd-Höhle bei Niederstotzingen (Lonetal Südwestdeutschland), Mitt. Ges. Urgeschichte 29, 53-79.

SCHÜRCH B. 2020: The Wild Lone Valley – The Implementation of current Archaeological Analysis in a special exhibition. Ice Age Europe Magazine 4, 2020. 20-21.

2018      SCHÜRCH B., 2018: Die Steinzeitliche Freilandfundstelle Wippingen-Sonderbuch. Unpublizierte Masterarbeit, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen.

2017     FLOSS H., FRÖHLE S., SCHÜRCH B., WETTENGL S., 2017: Open Air Occupations In A Cave Dominated Archaeological Landscape – New Perspectives On The Palaeolithic Of The Swabian Jura (Southern Germany). Anthropologie. LV/1-2. 43-73.

SCHÜRCH B., 2017: Paläolithische Freilandfundstellen auf der Blaubeurer Alb. Ulm und Oberschwaben 60, 9-26.   

2015      FLOSS H., SCHÜRCH B., 2015: Paläolithische Oberflächenfunde von der Blaubeurer. Alb. Mitt. Ges. Urgeschichte 24: 121‒140.

• 2023/24 Tübingen-Connecticut (TüConn) exchange fellowship at the University of Connecticut
• Since 2019 PhD scholarship at the Department of Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen and the Förderverein Eiszeitkunst im Lonetal

Since Juli 2019

Doctoral studies at the Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. (preliminary titel: „Die aurignacienzeitlichen Steinartefakte des Vogelherds”)

2015-2018

Master studies at the Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. (preliminary titel: „Die Steinzeitliche Freilandfundstelle Wippingen-Sonderbuch“)

2012-2015

Bachelor studies at the Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. (preliminary titel: Paläolithische Oberflächenfunde der Blaubeurer Alb“)