New research on the Gravettian site cluster of Grub-Kranawetberg, Austria: Research history, key findings and first results of fieldwork between 2021 and 2025

<jats:p>The Grub-Kranawetberg site cluster is embedded in the rich Upper Palaeolithic landscape of the Middle Danube region. Here we present an updated list of the sites around the villages of Grub and Stillfried, summarise the setting of the Grub-Kranawetberg site cluster in the landscape and provide a detailed overview of the research history for the sites of Grub-Kranawetberg including an updated overview of the different excavation areas. This is followed by an overview of our new fieldwork activities since 2021 in the area including a surface survey on the Kranawetberg/Hönigsberg ridge and new fieldwork at both Grub-Kranawetberg I and Grub-Kranawetberg II. We summarise the findings of the surface survey and implications for understanding the extent and preservation of the archaeological deposits on the Kranawetberg/Hönigsberg ridge. The excavation at Grub-Kranawetberg I in 2021 produced a small assemblage of lithic artefacts and faunal remains, which is presented here for the first time. Overall, the lithic typology, the use of raw material and the faunal spectrum correspond well to previous excavations at the site. We also present our fieldwork and some preliminary results at the new site of Grub-Kranawetberg II, east of Grub-Kranawetberg I, which has been under excavation since 2022. We also discuss our new findings since 2021 in light of previous fieldwork at the site complex, compare them to the other sites in the region and discuss the Grub-Kranawetberg sites in the broader Middle Danube region context.</jats:p>