The non-utilitarian objects from the initial upper Paleolithic Ushbulak site in eastern Kazakhstan

Abstract

The Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition shows numerous indications for a manifestation of abstract thinking and symbolic behavior. In northern Central Asia this process is illustrated by the appearance and distribution of personal ornaments (pendants, beads, patterned items), as well as by evidence for the use of natural pigments and ritual activities. However, not only articles with distinctive functional features, but also finds of unknown purpose have been identified, such as small tablets and pebbles showing evidence of polish and/or irregular cut marks, as well as the fragmentary pigment remnants, and manuports. This publication discusses the results of traceological analysis carried out for two such objects recovered from occupation layer 6 at the Ushbulak site, dating back to 45–40 ka BP (the Shilikty Valley in Eastern Kazakhstan), namely a tabular piece of talc, with a worked surface, and a small jasperoid pebble. Both artifacts show signs of intense treatment, but their functional purpose is still unclear; these objects may be interpreted as non-utilitarian articles. Similar typologically indistinct artifacts were recovered from many IUP sites in the region (Denisova Cave, Kara-Bom, Podzvonkaya, Khotyk, Tolbor-4, 2). Their presence indicates that such a phenomenon should be regarded as a characteristic manifestation for the non-utilitarian human activity in the development of the Upper Paleolithic tradition.