The Bohemian Karst is among the most researched cave regions in Central Europe and among the most damaged due to large scale limestone quarrying for the last one and half centuries.

The Author has studied the caves since the 80's, and during the 1989 to 91 seasons, he undertook a microclimatic analysis of conditions in 6 selected caves that contained polycultural archaeological layers in the entrance area. This research studied temperature, humidity and air flow in summer and winter conditions. The data showed variations due to differences in the dimension and orientations of the caves. The Author concluded that caves are unsuitable for long term habitation, but without fully outlining his argument.

In 1994 and 95 the Author carried out a series of experiments to record the effect of open fire on the micoclimate of the caves. The fires were built on the places were prehistoric/mediaeval hearths had been found. During the 60 minute sessions and one 48 hour experiment, the flow of smoke and temperature changes were recorded.

V. Matoušek concludes that it is possible to improve the microclimatic conditions in the caves, but only in a restricted area over the short term, and thus caves are unsuitable for extended habitation. Also caves are unadaptable (compare to the article introduction where he argues that adapted caves are cultural environments similar to built dwellings). He therefore talks of caves as being used as shelters by shepherds, herders, hunters, traders and in times of unrest by fugitives. Also the unfavourable characteristics of caves make them suitable as places of worship.

The study lacks details of his data, which given the short lengths of the studies may not be conclusive anyway. In addition, the study ignored other possibilities of improvement such as screens. Although Matousek argues by comparison to man made dwellings no comparable data is given, such as Grubenhaus with open fires.

The Expedition Monoxylon I took place in 1985 and preceded by three years the Expedition Monoxylon II, which was published in the previous number (Tichý, R.: Expedice Monoxylon II. Dlabany clun v neolitu zapadniho Stredomori, REA 1, 2000, 37-70). In comparison to the second expedition which was based on a find of an oak log-boat in Italy, the first expedition was speculating about the possibility of log-boats use in the Mediterranean Neolithic.

The aim of the expedition was to observe characteristics and behavior of a log-boat in the Aegean Sea on a possible route of early Neolithic travellers based on the early Neolithic occupation of the Aegean Islands and the probable look of the Aegean coast in that era. The boat was inspired by a clay model found in Tsangli, dated to the middle Neolithic and based on Mesolithic/Neolithic finds from other areas (for example Tybrind Vig in Denmark).

For more information see Monoxylon I.

For the reconstruction of an EBA house the model was a post-built house from Plotiště nad Labem. Unfortunately, the find from the 60s hasn't been published in detail, therefore the reconstruction itself was based on a find from Velešovice in Moravia, which is identical in type, date and size. The well-preserved situation there also documented some construction details. The above ground construction details of the house (height of the walls, fall of the roof) were estimated on the base of EBA paintings from Northern Italy and Aeneolithic models from Moravia.

The 8 to 5 metres house has 3 rows of load bearing posts. The side rows are 2 m high and their posts have a groove for placing a beam. The middle row is over 3 m high and the posts are fork shaped. The long walls were build from horizontally placed row of poles and daubed, the short sides were made from wattle and daub. The width of the walls is 10 to 15 cm. The western gable was for practical reasons covered with a reed mat. The interior was divided by a light partition into living and working areas, in the living area they built a loft. The floor is simple earth-beaten.

The work was done with replicas of prehistoric tools. The timber necessary for the building of the house was obtained during an experiment set to compare a range of axes dated from Neolithic to LBA. Thus obtained timber was used also for the building of other structures. Trees were transported to the Centre by lorry. The clay necessary for daubing was dug with wooden hoes from a designated pit about 10 m distant from the house so they could estimate the necessary amount of clay. They also tested the moving of daub in baskets and on canvas but most of the material was transported in a wheelbarrow. The reed for the roof and western gable was partly cut locally and partly bought. The fastening was done with hemp string. The post holes and bedding trench for the long walls were dug with wooden hoes and digging sticks.

The article is accompanied by a number of tables describing single activities, used tools, number of workers, length of time. After assessing all the activities the authors came to a conclusion that it would be possible to build such house with 3 - 4 people in a maximum of 50 days, this includes both obtaining material and building the construction.