Kůlna Cave is the only site in Moravia, Czech Republic, from which large assemblages of both Magdalenian and Epimagdalenian archaeological materials have been excavated from relatively secure stratified deposits. The site therefore offers the unrivalled opportunity to explore the relationship between these two archaeological phases. In this study, we undertake radiocarbon, stable isotope (carbon, nitrogen and sulphur), and ZooMS analysis of the archaeological faunal assemblage to explore the chronological and environmental context of the Magdalenian and Epimagdalenian deposits. Our results show that the Magdalenian and Epimagdalenian deposits can be understood as discrete units from one another, dating to the Late Glacial between c. 15,630 cal. BP and 14,610 cal. BP, and c. 14,140 cal. BP and 12,680 cal. BP, respectively. Stable isotope results (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ³⁴S) indicate that Magdalenian and Epimagdalenian activity at Kůlna Cave occurred in very different environmental settings. Magdalenian occupation took place within a nutrient-poor landscape that was experiencing rapid changes to environmental moisture, potentially linked to permafrost thaw. In contrast, Epimagdalenian occupation occurred in a relatively stable, temperate environment composed of a mosaic of woodland and grassland habitats. The potential chronological gap between the two phases, and their associations with very different environmental conditions, calls into question whether the Epimagdalenian should be seen as a local, gradual development of the Magdalenian. It also raises the question of whether the gap in occupation at Kůlna Cave could represent a change in settlement dynamics and/or behavioural adaptations to changing environmental conditions.

Kůlna Cave 是捷克共和国摩拉维亚唯一一个从相对安全的分层矿床中挖掘出大量 Magdalenian 和 Epimagdalenian 考古材料的遗址。因此，该遗址为探索这两个考古阶段之间的关系提供了无与伦比的机会。在这项研究中，我们对考古动物群进行放射性碳、稳定同位素（碳、氮和硫）和 ZooMS 分析，以探索 Magdalenian 和 Epimagdalenian 矿床的年代和环境背景。我们的研究结果表明，Magdalenian 和 Epimagdalenian 沉积物可以被理解为彼此离散的单元，可追溯到 c. 之间的晚冰期。15,630 卡。BP 和 14,610 卡。英国石油公司，和c。14,140 卡路里。BP 和 12,680 卡。英国石油公司，分别。稳定同位素结果 (δ¹³ C, δ ¹⁵ N, δ ³⁴S) 表明 Kůlna 洞穴的 Magdalenian 和 Epimagdalenian 活动发生在非常不同的环境环境中。Magdalenian 占领发生在一个营养贫乏的景观中，该景观正在经历环境湿度的快速变化，可能与永久冻土融化有关。相比之下，Epimagdalenian 的占领发生在一个相对稳定的温带环境中，该环境由林地和草原栖息地组成。两个阶段之间潜在的时间间隔，以及它们与非常不同的环境条件的关联，让人质疑是否应该将埃皮马格达莱尼亚人视为马格达莱尼亚人的局部、渐进发展。