Problems of Archaeology, Ethnography, Anthropology of
Siberia and Neighboring Territories

ISSN 2658-6193 (Online)

Проход по ссылкам навигации
  


* (asterisk) at the end of the search string means any number of any characters.

2021 Volume XXVII

doi: 10.17746/2658-6193.2021.27.0233-0237

УДК 902/904

Raw Material Base for Stone Industries of the Early Paleolithic in Southeastern Dagestan

Rybalko A.G., Kulik N.A.

Full Text PDF RU

Abstract

This article presents the results of petrographic studies into collections of artifacts from the Acheulean complexes located in the Darvagchai Geoarchaeological District in Southeastern Dagestan. Throughout the entire Stone Age, raw stone was a crucial resource for subsistence of ancient humans. The lack of high-quality flint raw materials had been previously considered to be the main factor for concluding that this area was rarely visited by ancient humans. Archaeological research over the past decade has shown the opposite. During the exploration works, over ten Paleolithic sites were discovered and studied. Analysis of raw material sources has revealed that there are several main types of rocks in the area of the sites. The petrographic composition of the collections indicates that the overwhelming majority of artifacts were made of flint, while sporadic artifacts were made of limestone and sandstone. Flint raw materials which were used at the sites are distinguished by large number of internal defects, primarily, fracturing. The raw material factor played a very important role in the area. All large, carefully shaped macro-tools were made of sandstone and limestone, while mostly poorly shaped small artifacts were made of flint. Thus, sizes, methods, and intensity of processing stone tools demonstrate direct dependence on the type of raw material.

Keywords

Caucasus, Dagestan, Early Paleolithic, stone raw materials, Acheulean industries, macro-tools

Chief Editor
Academician A.P. Derevyanko

Deputy Chief Editor
Academician V.I. Molodin

17, Аkademika Lavrentieva prosp., Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Editorial Board
17, Ac. Lavrentieva ave, Novosibirsk 630090 Russia
Tel.: 8 (383) 330-22-80
E-mail: sbornik.iaet@gmail.com