PRIMARY FLAKING TECHNIQUE IN THE MIDDLE PALEOLITHIC INDUSTRIES RECOVERED FROM THE EAST GALLERY OF DENISOVA CAVE
M.B. Kozlikin1,2
1Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IAE SB RAS), Russia, 630090, Novosibirsk, prospect Akad. Lavrentieva, 17
2Altai State University, Russia, 656049, Barnaul, prospect Lenina, 61
Keywords: the Altai Mountains, Denisova Cave, Middle Palaeolithic, lithic industry, primary flaking
Abstract
The Pleistocene deposits with evidence dating as far back as the Middle Palaeolithic have been examined during a recent archaeological study carried out in the East Gallery of Denisova Cave. Excavations yielded a large stone-artifact assemblage to be thoroughly analyzed and introduced into scientific use. This paper presents data resulted from research focused on the basic categories of lithic inventory specifying the techniques of primary flaking in the Middle Paleolithic assemblage recovered from the East Gallery. In the column of loose sediments, which includes as many as 17 stratigraphic units, the Middle Paleolithic material derives from the lithologic layers 15-12. The analysis of core-shaped stones and flakes allowed to conclude that an array of stone artifacts under study has proved to be heterogeneous. Two technologically different complexes can be quite clearly recognized within the Middle Paleolithic assemblage identified in the East Gallery. The first one combining material from layers 15 and 14 can be characterized by primary flaking performed only within the radial system. Thereby, truncated pieces have been found to dominate among flakes, the ratio of flakes with modified overhang of residual striking platform is minimal, blades are lacking. The second one includes evidence from layer 12 revealing mainly such diagnostic techniques as plane-parallel and three-dimensional flaking with elaborately treated cores. Respectively, the proportion of elongated flakes and flakes with modified overhang of residual striking platform tends to increase, as well as the percentage of flakes with the longitudinal unidirectional facets on the dorsal surface. Regularly shaped blades are found. Lithic industry from layer 13 combines the major features of both the first and second complexes and most likely reflects the transient pattern. It is most likely that the major technological differences between the Palaeolithic complexes discussed in this paper demonstrate the process of development within the same cultural phenomenon.
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