Abstract

This paper discusses data obtained from an analysis of lithic industries recovered from the Pleistocene deposits in Denisova Cave during the 2020 excavations. The excavations focused on the middle part of the south chamber to examine the oldest occupation layers, i.e. 18 and 17. The correlation between the major lithological and stratigraphic characteristics has made it possible to infer that this part of the section exposed in the south chamber corresponds to layers 21 and 20 in the main chamber and layers 15 and 14 in the east chamber of the cave, which appear to have been deposited under the favorable environmental and climatic conditions of MIS 7. The early Middle Paleolithic assemblage from layers 18 and 17 includes 8,679 lithic artifacts. Primary flaking in these lithic industries is mainly characterized by disc-shaped cores. Parallel cores with a volumetric flaking surface and elongated flake scars are also present. The flake industry primarily consists of short flakes; blades and Kombewa flakes were recognized as well. The stone tools were manufactured on massive flakes using retouch. Other typical secondary reduction techniques were trimming and truncation. The tool assemblage is dominated by different types of scrapers (including those showing evidence of the Quina retouch), denticulate, notched, and spur-like tools. Numerous ventrally thinned and basally truncated flakes are diagnostic artifacts of this assemblage. Presently, these lithic industries, in terms of their cultural and chronological characteristics, have no parallels neither in the Altai Paleolithic nor in the entire North and Central Asia. They show the greatest similarities with the early Middle Paleolithic Acheulo-Yabrudian assemblages in the Near East, dating to 350—250 ka.

Keywords

Denisova Cave, Pleistocene, early Middle Paleolithic, Acheulo-Yabrudian, lithic industry

Shunkov M.V.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1388-2308

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

Kozlikin M.B.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5082-3345

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

Mikhienko V.A.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7861-5983

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

Fedorchenko A.Yu.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7812-8037

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

Chekha A.M.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2427-7480

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

Chekha A.N.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6872-9493

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

Derevianko A.P.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1156-8331

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

References

Jacobs Z., Li B., Shunkov M.V., Kozlikin M.B., Bolikhovskaya N.S., Agadjanian A.K., Uliyanov V.A., Vasiliev S.K., O’Gorman K., Derevianko A.P., Roberts R.G. Timing of archaic hominin occupation of Denisova Cave in southern Siberia. Nature, 2019, vol. 565, No. 7741, pp. 594-599.

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Shimelmitz R. The recycling of flint throughout the Lower and Middle Paleolithic sequence of Tabun Cave, Israel. Quaternary International, 2015, vol. 361, pp. 34-45.

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Список литературы

Jacobs Z., Li B., Shunkov M.V., Kozlikin M.B., Bolikhovskaya N.S., Agadjanian A.K., Uliyanov V.A., Vasiliev S.K., O’Gorman K., Derevianko A.P., Roberts R.G. Timing of archaic hominin occupation of Denisova Cave in southern Siberia // Nature. - 2019. -Vol. 565, N 7741. - P. 594-599.

Prevost M., Zaidner Y. The Nahr Ibrahim technique and side-scraper re-sharpening at the Unit III of the Middle Paleolithic open-air site of Nesher Ramla (Israel): what is the link? // Proceedings of the European Society for the study of human evolution. - Madrid: PESHE, 2016. - P. 193.

Shimelmitz R. The recycling of flint throughout the Lower and Middle Paleolithic sequence of Tabun Cave, Israel // Quaternary International. - 2015. - Vol. 361. -P. 34-45.

Solecki R.L., Solecki R.S. A new secondary flaking technique at the Nahr Ibrahim cave site, Lebanon // Bulletin du Musee de Beyrouth. - 1970. - Vol. XXIII. - P. 137-142.