The Kulturpumpe model is a set of hypotheses which attempts to explain why the area known as the Swabian Jura in what is today Germany contains evidence for behavioral modernity earlier than any other place in Europe.
The Swabian Jura, or Swabian Alps, is a low mountain range in the Baden-Württemberg province of Germany, part of the region of Swabia: the Swabian Alps are essentially the foothills of the Italian Alps. Within this region are found several sites (Hohle Fels, Geißenklösterle, Volgelherd, Sirgenstein, Brillenhöhle, and Bockstein) which continue to produce some of the earliest evidence of behavioral modernity: musical instruments and carved ivory objects, among other things.
What scholars mean by behavioral modernity are a suite of activities, including (but not limited to) advanced stone and bone tool technology, marine resource exploitation, care for the elderly and children, systematic burials, the making of decorative objects and personal ornamentation, musical instruments, specifically the flute, and mobile and mural art.
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Kulturpumpe Model
The Kulturpumpe ("culture pump") model goes something like this. Early Modern Humans arrived in the Danube valley about 40,000 years ago. The valley was then occupied by Neanderthals, and as a result of competition between these two human groups, a dramatic increase in technological advancement and symbolic expression occurred.
Scholars supporting the Kulturpumpe hypothesis argue that cultural florescence was spurred particularly in the Swabian Alps because innovative problem solving was required to respond to climatic stress in the harsh environments. During this period (Marine Isotope Stage (MIS, 60,000-24,000 years ago), a series of dramatic climate shifts occurred in a relatively short period of time (decades), which would have proved difficult to deal with.
Thus, the cultural innovations associated with Upper Paleolithic modernity occurred in the Swabian Jura either as a direct result of competition with Neanderthals, or the influence of climatic stress or both: and the innovations made in this region eventually spread out over Europe.
Problems with Kulturpumpe
The main objection to the Kulturpumpe model is that, although there is repeated evidence for early dates of cultural innovation here, there is no direct evidence for Neanderthal/early modern human interaction in the region to date. So far, all Middle Paleolithic and Aurignacian deposits are separated by a sterile deposit, indicating the cave sites were abandoned when the EMH moved in.
Secondly, very specific criticisms about dating techniques used to back up the age of the deposits, criticisms most recently answered in Higham et al 2012.
Sources
This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to Upper Paleolithic, and the Dictionary of Archaeology.
Conard NJ, Dippon G, and Goldberg P. 2003. Chronostratigraphy and Archeological Context of the Aurignacian Deposits at Geißenklösterle. In: Zilhão J, and d'Errico F, editors. Trabalhos de Arqueologia. Lisbon: Instituto Português de Arqueologia.
Conard NJ, Malina M, and Munzel SC. 2009. New flutes document the earliest musical tradition in southwestern Germany. Nature 460(7256):737-740.
Hardy BL, Bolus M, and Conard NJ. 2008. Hammer or crescent wrench? Stone-tool form and function in the Aurignacian of southwest Germany. Journal of Human Evolution 54(5):648-662.
Higham T, Basell L, Jacobi R, Wood R, Ramsey CB, and Conard NJ. 2012. Testing models for the beginnings of the Aurignacian and the advent of figurative art and music: The radiocarbon chronology of Geissenklosterle. Journal of Human Evolution(0).
Münzel S, Seeberger F, and Hein W. 2002. The Geißenklösterle Flute-Discovery, Experiments, Reconstruction. The Archaeology of Sound: Origin and Organisation Leidorf: Rahden/Westf. p 107-118.
Richter D, Waiblinger J, Rink WJ, and Wagner GA. 2000. Thermoluminescence, Electron Spin Resonance and14C-dating of the Late Middle and Early Upper Palaeolithic Site of Geißenklösterle Cave in Southern Germany. Journal of Archaeological Science 27(1):71-89.
Terberger T, and Street M. 2003. New evidence for the chronology of the Aurignacian and the question of Pleniglacial settlement in western central Europe. In: Zilhão J, and d'Errico F, editors. Trabalhos de Arqueologia. Lisbon: Instituto Português de Arqueologia.
Zilhão J, and d'Errico F. 2003. An Aurignacian "garden of Eden" in southern Germany? An alternative interpretation of the Geissenklösterle and a critique of the Kulturpumpe model Paleo 15.
