Core Reduction Methods of Mizyn Industry of Epigravettian Techno-Complex

Abstract

Mizyn is one of the main sites of the Epigravettian techno-complex of the Middle Dnipro Basin. One of the modern approaches to the study of the material culture of Upper Palaeolithic societies is the study of technological features of flintknapping. The purpose of this study is to determine the core reduction strategy of the Mizyn site in particular and the Mizyn industry in general. To achieve this goal, an attributional analysis of the artefacts from the lithic assemblage of excavation area no. 1 of the Mizyn site was carried out. Fragments of raw material, core-like pieces, and lamellar pieces have been analysed. This paper focuses on the study of the assemblage of core-like pieces, taking into account the imperfections of the 70-year-old field research methodology. The main outcome of this study was the elucidation of discrete core reduction strategies of the Mizyn site. Rounded raw material played a greater role in the production of blades from narrow flaking surface cores and sub-cylindrical cores (fig. 4). Narrow flaking surface cores (fig. 6) made from plate-like raw materials were used to produce blades and micro-blades. Blades were necessary blanks for making a “home” set of tools. Bladelets and micro-blades were used for hunting equipment. Both strategies are characterised by unidirectional splitting and the use of the hard hammer-stone. Crested and débordante lamellar pieces were required to maintain the convexity of the core’s flaking surface. The overhang trimming method was also used, most commonly for bladelets and micro-blade cores. The main reason for core discard was the occurrence of hinge fractures on the flaking surface, which were repaired by using an opposite striking platform. The same features of the lithic assemblage are found at the Barmaky site. As a result, discrete strategies of the core reduction are a typical feature for the Mizyn industry. As Barmaky and Mizyn are the oldest Epigravettian sites in the Middle Dnipro basin, this feature can be explained by a chronological factor. However, the choice of a strategy can also be explained by the regional characteristics of the landscape and the adaptation of the primary inhabitants to them.