Abstract

Geometric microliths are one of the key-element of Central Asian Epipaleolithic complexes. This article presents a detail study on rectangles and lunates from layer 3 of Tutkaul site (Tajikistan) that were studied through the use-wear and negative scar pattern analysis. The results of the scar pattern analysis show two chains of operations in production of rectangles. In frame of the first sequence, the bladelets were truncated, then, the right lateral was retouched with backing retouch. In frame of the second sequence, at first one lateral of the blank was prepared with backing retouch and after that the two short sides of the blank were truncated. The lunates were made by backing retouch on the bladelet right side. Use-wear analysis shows that lunates were used as heads of the projectile weapons, and the rectangles as composite items for working on soft material. This is indicated by the following: traces of polishing resulted from contact with soft organic material on the working edge; traces offastening on the longitudinal retouched side of the basal part; in addition, several items bear traces of ventral retouch securing a tighter fastening of microliths in the haft. Thus, the rectangles could be used as knives or as lateral inserts of the projectile weapons where lunates were the arrowhead.

Keywords

Central Asia, Epipaleothic, scar pattern analysis, use-wear analysis, geometric microlith

Shnaider S.V.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2230-4286

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

Fedorchenko A.Yu.

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

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

Alisher kyzy S.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3138-0942

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS

References

Belfer-Cohen A., Gorring-Morris N. The Upper Paleolithic and Earlier Epi-Paleolithic of Western Asia. In: The Cambridge World Prehistory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013, vol. 3, pp. 1381-1407.

Brown K.S., Marean C.W., Jacobs Z., Schoville B.J., Oestmo S., Fisher E.C., Bernatchez J., Karkanas P., Matthews T. An early and enduring advanced technology originating 71,000 years ago in South Africa. Nature, 2012, iss. 491, pp. 590-593.

Kolobova K., Krivoshapkin A., Shnaider S. Early geometric microlith technology in Central Asia. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2019, vol. 11, No. 4. pp. 1407-1419.

Kolobova K.A., Shnaider S.V., Krivoshapkin A.I. The Near East Epipaleolithic: review of research concepts. Izvestiya of Altai State University, 2015a, No. 3-2 (87), pp. 106-109. (In Russ.).

Kolobova K.A., Shnaider S.V., Krivoshapkin A.I. Zagros Epipalaeolithic: recent interpretation. Vestnik Novosibirsk State University. Series: History and Philology, 2015b, vol. 14, No. 7, pp. 50-57. (In Russ.).

Kolobova K.A., Shnaider S.V., Krivoshapkin A.I. Developmental continuity between the upper palaeolithic and mesolithic industries of Western Central Asia. Stratum plus. Archaeology and cultural anthropology, 2016, No. 1, pp. 51-63. (In Russ.).

Leplongeon A. Microliths in the Middle and Later Stone Age of eastern Africa: New data from Porc-Epic and Goda Buticha cave sites, Ethiopia. Quaternary International, 2014, No. 343, pp. 100-116. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2013.12.002.

Olszewski D. The Zarzian in the Context of the Epipaleolithic Middle East. International Journal of Humanities, 2012, vol.19 (3). pp. 1-20.

Pavlenok G.D., Kozlikin M.B., Shun’kov M.V. Small blade technology in the early upper paleolithic industries from Denisova cave: data from analysis of a lithic reduction sequence. Ural Historical Journal, 2021, No. 1 (70), pp. 123-128. (In Russ.).

Ranov V.A. Otchet o rabote Nurekskogo arkheologicheskogo otryada za 1967 g. In: The Archive of the A. Donish Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan, 1968, 35p. (In Russ.).

Ranov V.A., Korobkova G.F. Tutkaul - mnogosloinoe poselenie gissarskoi kul’tury v Yuzhnom Tadzhikistane. Soviet Archaeology, 1971, No. 2, pp. 133-147. (In Russ.).

Ranov V.A., Yusupov A.Kh. Raskopki v zone stroitel’stva Nurekskoi GES. Arkheologicheskie otkrytiya 1969 goda, Moscow: Nauka, 1970, 428 p. (In Russ.).

Shalagina A.V., Krivoshapkin A.I., Kolobova K.A. Truncated-faceted pieces in the paleolithic of Northern Asia. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia, 2015, vol. 43, No. 4, pp. 33-45.

Shalagina A.V., Kharevich V.M., Mori S., Bomann M., Krivoshapkin A.I., Kolobova K.A. Reconstruction of the bifacial technological sequence in Chagyrskaya cave assemblage. Siberian Historical Research, 2020, No. 3, pp. 130-151. (In Russ.).

Shnaider S.V. Tutkaul’skaya Liniya Razvitiya v mezolite zapadnoi chasti Tsentral’noi Asii: avtoref. diss. ... kand. ist. nauk. Novosibirsk, 2015, 26 p. (In Russ.).

Shnaider S.V., Kolobova K.A., Krivoshapkin A.I., Filimonova T.G., Taylor W. New insights into the epipaleolithic of Western Central Asia: the Tutkaulian complex. Quaternary International, 2020, vol. 535, pp. 139-154.

Zwyns N., Lbova L.V. The Initial Upper Paleolithic of Kamenka site, Zabaikal region (Siberia): A closer look at the blade technology. Archaeological Research in Asia, 2019, vol. 17, pp. 24-49.

Список литературы

Колобова К. А., Шнайдер С.В., Кривошапкин А.И. Преемственность развития верхнепалеолитических и мезолитических индустрий в западной части Центральной Азии // Stratum plus. Археология и культурная антропология. - 2016. - № 1. - С. 51-63.

Колобова К.А., Шнайдер С.В., Кривошапкин А.И. Эпипалеолит Ближнего Востока: обзор исследовательских концепций // Известия Алтайского государственного университета. - 2015а. - № 3-2 (87). - С. 106-109.

Колобова К.А., Шнайдер С.В., Кривошапкин А.И. Эпипалеолит загроса: современная интерпретация // Вестник Новосибирского государственного университета. Сер.: История, филология. - 2015б. - Т. 14. - № 7. -С. 50-57.

Павленок Г. Д., Козликин М.Б., Шуньков М.В. Мелкопластинчатое расщепление в индустриях раннего верхнего палеолита Денисовой пещеры: данные анализа последовательности сколов // Уральский исторический вестник. - 2021. - № 1 (70). - С. 123-128.

Ранов В.А. Отчет о работе Нурекского археологического отряда за 1967 г. / Архив Института истории, археологии и этнографии им. А. Дониша АН РТ. - 1968. - 35 с.

Ранов В.А., Коробкова Г.Ф. Туткаул - многослойное поселение гиссарской культуры в Южном Таджикистане // Советская археология. - 1971. - № 2. -С. 133-147.

Ранов В.А., Юсупов А.Х. Раскопки в зоне строительства Нурекской ГЭС. // Археологические открытия 1969 года. - М.: Наука, 1970. - С. 428.

Шалагина А.В., Кривошапкин А.И., Колобова К.А. Тронкированно-фасетированные изделия в палеолите Северной Азии // Археология, этнография и антропология Евразии. - 2015. - Т. 43. - № 4. - С. 33-45.

Шалагина А.В., Харевич В.М., Мори С., Боманн М., Кривошапкин А.И., Колобова К.А. Реконструкция технологических цепочек производства би-фасиальных орудий в индустрии Чагырской пещеры // Сибирские исторические исследования. - 2020. - № 3. -С. 130-151.

Шнайдер С.В. Туткаульская линия развития в мезолите западной части Центральной Азии: автореф. дисс. ... канд. ист. наук. - Новосибирск, 2015. - 26 c.

Belfer-Cohen A., Gorring-Morris N. The Upper Paleolithic and Earlier Epi-Paleolithic of Western Asia // The Cambridge World Prehistory. - Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013. - Vol. 3. - P. 1381-1407.

Brown K.S., Marean C.W., Jacobs Z., Schoville B.J., Oestmo S., Fisher E.C., Bernatchez J., Karkanas P., Matthews T. An early and enduring advanced technology originating 71,000 years ago in South Africa // Nature. -2012. - Iss. 491. - P. 590-593.

Kolobova K., Krivoshapkin A., Shnaider S. Early geometric microlith technology in Central Asia // Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. - 2019. - Т. 11. - № 4. - P. 1407-1419.

Leplongeon A. Microliths in the Middle and Later Stone Age of eastern Africa: New data from Porc-Epicand Goda Buticha cave sites, Ethiopia. // Quaternary International. - 2014. - № 343. - P. 100-116. doi:10.1016/j. quaint.2013.12.002

Shnaider S.V., Kolobova K.A., Krivoshapkin A.I., Filimonova T.G., Taylor W. New insights into the epipaleolithic of Western Central Asia: the Tutkaulian complex // Quaternary International. - 2020. - Т. 535. - С. 139-154.

Olszewski D. The Zarzian in the Context of the Epipaleolithic Middle East // International Journal of Humanities. - 2012. - Vol.19 (3). - P. 1-20.

Zwyns N., Lbova L.V. The Initial Upper Paleolithic of Kamenka site, Zabaikal region (Siberia): A closer look at the blade technology // Archaeological Research in Asia. - 2019. - Vol. 17. - P. 24-49.