Abstract

The 2017 excavation season at Tolbor-21 resulted in the division of the cultural sequence of the site into five horizons from the Final to Initial Upper Paleolithic and exploration of a very rich cultural horizon 3b. This horizon extends over the entire excavation area, contains the evidence of the terminal Initial Upper Paleolithic, and is dated by radiocarbon to 37-39 ka. This cultural horizon has a complex planigraphic structure probably resulting from multiple occupational episodes. The deposits of this horizon contained fireplaces with partial placement of stones around, other stone structures, and isolated accumulations of lithic raw materials and faunal remains. The Middle Paleolithic stone assemblage is small; it is associated with soil complex from the base of the stratigraphic sequence at Tolbor-21.

Keywords

Upper Paleolithic, Middle Paleolithic, Mongolia, stratigraphy, lithic technology, planigraphy

Rybin E.P.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7434-2757

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS
Altai State University

Khatsenovich A.M.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8093-5716

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS
Altai State University

Zwyns N.

University of California, USA

Gunchinsuren B.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5052-5081

Institute of History and Archaeology MAS

Paine С.

University of Cambridge, UK

Bolorbat Ts.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0176-7644

Institute of History and Archaeology MAS

Odsuren D.

Institute of History and Archaeology MAS

Galfi J.

Belgrade University, Serbia

Anoykin А.А.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2383-2259

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

Margad-Erdene G.

Institute of History and Archaeology MAS

Marchenko D.V.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3021-0749

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

Angaragdulguun G.

Institute of History and Archaeology MAS

Shelepaev R.A.

V.S. Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy SB RAS

Popov A.Yu.

A.A. Trofi muk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics SB RAS