NEOLITHIC AND BRONZE AGE HUMAN ACTIVITY IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE CASE OF THE HIGH BIESZCZADY MOUNTAINS, CARPATHIANS

Inspiration for archaeological research in the High Bieszczady Mountains came from information about human activity recorded in pollen diagrams from surroundings of Tarnawa, Wołosate and Smerek. Archaeological investigations in the High Bieszczady Mountains began in 2012. Up to 2019 more than 70 sites dated to the Late Neolithic and Bronze Age were discovered in the highland zones of Połonina Wetlińska, Połonina Caryńska, Mała and Wielka Rawka, Wielki Dział and Bukowe Berdo massifs, between 1000 and 1300 m a. s. l. Most of these sites are located in a close context of fresh and salt water springs. The sites are represented by single finds of stone artefacts and small assemblages of them. They correspond with the pollen record of animals herding. These finds confirm transhumant pastoralism performed by Neolithic and Bronze Age (probably mainly Early Bronze Age) people in this area.