Home – Home – Jornals – Humanitarian sciences in Siberia 2014 number

The article presents stratigraphic descriptions of Tinit-1 - a Paleolithic site in Dagestan. A technological and typological study of lithics from excavations 2 and 3, and results of radiocarbon dating are presented. Sources of raw material and possible economic specialization are also discussed. In 2011-2013 sediments at excavation areas 2 and 3 (measuring 75 sq. m) were excavated to a depth of 5 m. As a result, 7 lithological layers containing 9 culture-bearing horizons were identified. The lithic assemblage obtained in 2011- 2013 includes 660 artifacts. Based on technical and typological features, artifacts from cultural horizons 1-4 were attributed to the Middle/Upper Paleolithic boundary; the assemblages from the underlying horizons - to the terminal Middle Paleolithic. Results of the planigraphic and stratigraphic analyses suggest that artifacts were found in situ and that their planar and vertical movement was minimal. The Tinit-1 techno-complex is characterized by numerous simple flat cores as well as by distinct Levallois flake and point nuclei, and the narrow-faced cores recorded in the lower horizons. At the later stages, along with the evolving Levallois flaking method applied to detached elongated pointed blanks, volumetric parallel flaking was used. This technology was aimed at producing laminar blanks with longitudinal and bidirectional dorsal scar patterns. The tool-kits of all the archaeological horizons are dominated by tools with cutting and scraping edges, which may have been associated with the subsistence activities of the site’s inhabitants. It should be noted that neither bifacial tools, nor tools with signs of bifacial working were found. This feature is not typical of Caucasian sites. Finds from Tinit-1 evidence a transitional Middle to Upper Paleolithic industry (50-35 ka BP). These estimates do not contradict the results of other studies.