The hunter´s time

This paper emphasizes time-awareness as a part of the Upper Paleolithic adaptation system. Focusing on the cases of the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition and the fully Upper Paleolithic Gravettian in Moravia (Czech Republic), it investigates causal relationships between the defined temporal framework and symbolism. Standardization of items of body decoration, images and symbols, and evidence of rituals in the archaeological record of a single site (or group of related sites) is explained as the effect of time-awareness, self-identity, epic constructs, and life and death concepts.