Abstract
The stratifi ed site of Obishir-5 is one of the most important Final Pleistocene to Early Holocene sites in western Central Asia. In the Early Holocene component (10,700–8200 cal BP) of this site (layers 2 and 3), we discovered one of the oldest and largest assemblages of soft stone ornaments known from the region. It includes 5 items: three oval, sub-triangular, and sub-rectangular pendants, one“labret”-like ornament, and one ornament blank. All specimens come from stratifi ed and well-dated contexts. As a result of the petrographic, experimental, use-wear, and technological analysis, we reconstructed the chaine operatoire of these artifacts. To produce them, local raw materials (talcite and serpentinite) were transported from a source located 4.5 km away from the site. Small pebbles, shatters, and spalls split from nodules were used as blanks. The surface of the blank was fi rst prepared using grinders and burins, then biconical drilling and polishing were used to fi nish the artifact. Our results point to an established tradition of personal ornament production from soft stone in western Central Asia during the Early Holocene. Comparison of these nonutilitarian artifacts with those from other Final Pleistocene to Early Holocene archaeological complexes across Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Near East suggests that personal ornament manufacture may be an important hallmark of social developments across a broad geographic region.
Highlights
В статье представлены результаты технологического и экспериментально-трасологического анализов персональных украшений многослойной археологической стоянки Обишир-5 – ключевого объекта позднего плейстоцена – раннего голоцена в западной части Центральной Азии
In the Early Holocene component (10,700–8200 cal BP) of this site, we discovered one of the oldest and largest assemblages of soft stone ornaments known from the region
Our results point to an established tradition of personal ornament production from soft stone in western Central Asia during the Early Holocene
Summary
В археологической коллекции раннеголоценового комплекса (слои 2 и 3) стоянки Обишир-5 зафиксировано пять артефактов, интерпретируемых как каменные украшения (рис. 3, 24–28). Объемная подвеска из мраморовидной породы черного цвета Изделие подтреугольной формы с биконическим высверленным отверстием в верхней части. Изделие с обеих сторон тщательно обработано методами шлифовки и полировки, на поверхности имеются следы стертости. Изделие подпрямоугольной формы с биконическим высверленным отверстием в верхней зоне. Изделие округлой в плане формы изготовлено из кремнистой породы бело-зеленого цвета. На новом этапе полевых исследований обнаружены подвеска и заготовка украшения, вероятно подвески. В верхней части подвески, в районе отверстия, фиксируются следы поперечного слома. На большей части оборотной поверхности имеются остатки галечной корки
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