Cultural Mosaic of the Middle Paleolithic in Western Tien Shan: The Kuksarai-2 Site

Abstract

Purpose. The term “archaeological frontier” was first applied to the Western Tien Shan about 10 years ago to explain the phenomenon of the early appearance of microblade knapping in the Middle Paleolithic industries. Based on the results of a comparative analysis of the collections of Obi-Rakhmat and Kulbulak and materials from other synchronous monuments in the region, it was suggested that the Western Pamir-Tien Shan could be a zone of competition between the ecdemic population (blade technology bearers) and the autochthonous group (Neanderthals, bearers of Teshiktashtype industries). The article examines a similar composite technocomplex Kuksarai-2 (based on materials from the trench 1, excavated in 2023).Results. It has been established that the materials of the Kuksaray-2 site have such mosaic features as Mousterian (Teshiktash-like) primary knapping for flakes, rare blade technology evidence, and presence of specific types referred to Selungurian technocomplex (Tayacian points, Selungurian side-scrapers). Preliminary the lower cultural sediments of Kuksarai-2 could be dated with MIS-5 time.Conclusion. The first results of studies of the Kuksaray-2 site allow us to suggest that the upper reaches of Akhangaran valley were inhabited by Teshiktash tradition bearers in MIS-5 (~130–74 ka BP) when human groups with blade technology occupied Obi-Rakhmat and Kulbulak. At the same time, the presence of specific tool types in the most ancient complexes of Kuksarai-2 can be interpreted as evidence of the intrusion of Selungurian cultural impulses from neighboring territories into the region also in MIS-5. The mosaic nature of Kuksaray-2 industry is an important argument in favor of recognizing the territory of the western Tien Shan low mountains as a frontier zone in the Middle Paleolithic.