doc. PhDr. Slavomil Vencl, DrSc. 18th October 1936 – 23rd June 2019

7 doc.PhDr.Slavomil Vencl,DrSc. 18th October 1936– 23rd June 2019 One of the main targets of this periodical has always been to build abridge between Classical and Prehistoric Archaeology, including neighbouring disciplines, and giving voice to those who understand archaeology not as asmall niche of their narrow expertise but as abroad multifaceted field of study, in which the real point is crossing the imaginary partitions between the single specialisations. One figure, who more than anyone else excelled in such linking of the single archaeologies into one, sadly left us earlier this year. Professor Slavomil Vencl, passed away on the 23rd of June, 2019 at the age of 83 years. Besides being the leading expert on Late Palaeolithic to Early Neolithic periods in Bohemia, he throughout his life targeted also more broadly composed themes, including archaeological theory. In his very conceptual and detailed approach, he enlightened many aspects in the fields of ancient warfare, archaeology of thirst, prehistoric architecture, archaeology of the invisible, and even archaeological ethics, while clarifying also less known aspects of burnt sacrifices and invisible aspects of funeral rite. Between 1973 and 1985 he was also an excellent editor of Archeologické rozhledy, journal published by his home institution, the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Upon visiting the Institute, one usually found him in the reading room of the library, going in an almost painstaking way through the new accessions, making excerpts on small paper cards, back in the days before common use of the computers. The other option would be his office, situated in asecluded tower -like structure in the back -yard of the Institute, which gave him his splendid isolation and peace of mind for work. Finally, his pedagogical activity, most notably at the then Prehistory Department of the Charles University, has to be mentioned as well. Even though his course was dryly called Palaeolithic, the lectures included also plentiful seemingly unrelated information, especially on taphonomic processes. He was also one of the few who requested writing essays from students and assessed them in detail. What may not have been known to everyone in the archaeological realm, Slavomil Vencl was also arespected connoisseur and publisher of contemporary graphic art. His clear mind, thoughtful ideas, sophrosyne, capacity of connecting knowledge from distant areas and his exemplary moral values deeply influenced his colleagues and pupils. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY Archaeology Kotázce interpretace pravěkých staveb [Thoughts on the interpretation of prehistoric buildings]. Archeo‑ logické rozhledy 20 (1968), 490–510. Kpoznání méně nápadných artefaktů [Recognition of less noticeable artefacts]. Archeologické rozhledy 32 (1980), 521–537. Kproblematice fortifikací varcheologii [The issue of fortifications in archaeology]. Archeologické rozhledy 352 (1983), 284–315. War and warfare in archaeology. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 3, 1984,116–132. 8STUDIA HERCYNIA XXIII/1 Fragments of clay daub as asource of information on prehistoric architecture. Památky archeologické 82, 1991, 406–411. The archaeology of thirst. Journal of European Archaeology 2, 1994, 299–326. Kotázce věrohodnosti svědectví povrchových průzkumů [Surface surveys and their validity]. Archeologické rozhledy 47 (1995), 11–57. Nádoby zorganických hmot varcheologických nálezech [Containers made of organic materials in archaeology]. Archeologické rozhledy 46/4, 1994, 527–532. Acorns as food. Again. Památky archeologické 87/2, 1996, 95–111. Stone Age Warfare. In: J. Carman– A. Harding (eds.): Ancient Warfare– Archaeological Perspectives. Stroud 1999, 57–72. Dřevěná sakrální architektura aarcheologie [Wooden sacral architecture and archaeology]. In: Sborník kpoctě V. Podborskému. Brno 2004, 517–524. Archeologie aetika [Archaeology and ethics]. Archeologické rozhledy 52 (2000), 428–441. Souvislosti chápání pojmu nálezový celek včeské archeologii [What do we understand under the term “find- -context” in Czech archaeology]. Archeologické rozhledy 52 (2000), 592–614. Nejstarší osídlení jižních Čech [The earliest habitation of Southern Bohemia]. Praha, 2006. Pravěké zápalné oběti [Prehistoric burnt sacrifices]. Archeologie ve středních Čechách 20 (2016), 277–305. Pohřbívání zperspektivy nedochovaného [Burial rites through the prism of what remains not preserved]. Archeologie ve středních Čechách 23 (2019), 7–43. Herxheim as evidence of the existence of long -distance wars in prehistory. Archeologie ve středních Čechách 23, 2019, 387–401. Graphic arts České exlibris [Czech Bookplate / Tschechisches Exlibris]. Praha 2003. České grafické novoročenky [Czech graphic New Year cards]. Pelhřimov 2012. Česká příležitostná grafika [Czech casual graphics]. Pelhřimov 2015. Moderní exlibris včeských zemích [Modern Book ‑Plates in the Czech Lands]. Pelhřimov 2018. Jan Bouzek and Peter Pavúk