Lithic Collections Research Articles

Revised pre-Younger Dryas chronocultural sequence at the Pilauco site, north-western Patagonia (40°–44°S)

AbstractThis project in southern Chile's Lake Region analysed late Pleistocene human–environment interactions. Two field seasons in 2020 and 2022 provided a new lithic collection dating to around 17 300–12 800 cal BP, which indicates human presence in north-western Patagonia prior to the Younger Dryas period.

Early North African Acheulean techno-economic systems at Thomas Quarry I - L1 (Casablanca, Morocco).

North Africa is a key area for understanding cultural processes that led to the Acheulean pan - African emergence and expressions and the related hominin population dynamics. Unfortunately, little is known about the early Acheulean in this vast area of the African continent due to the scarceness of archaeological sites in stratigraphic context with reliable chronometric data, human remains, and technological analyses of the lithic industries. Here, we present the first comprehensive techno-economic analysis of the early Acheulean assemblage from Thomas Quarry I - Unit L1 (ThI-L1, Casablanca, Morocco), which is the earliest Acheulean site of North Africa, unambiguously dated to 1.3 Ma. Fieldwork has unearthed faunal remains and a lithic collection containing over 3800 artefacts, which represents one of the largest series for the early African Acheulean. The assemblage is mainly composed of quartzites and to a lesser extent of silicites, both abundantly available near the site. Previously published results of the silicite study revealed two different productions for the extraction of small flakes and of bladelet-like flakes. In this work, we analyse the techno-economic systems of the quartzite assemblage. Two distinct quartzite productions co-occur, one devoted to the manufacture of Large Cutting Tools (LCTs), the other focused on the extraction of small-medium sized flakes. LCTs were usually produced from large cobbles, less often from large flakes detached mainly using the entame core method. The main technical objective was to obtain large pointed tools and, more rarely, large tools with a transversal cutting edge. Results support the existence of a strong synergy between conceptual and operational schemes regulated by the ability to anticipate the final tool morphology and to apply standardized shaping procedures to manufacture recurrent morphotypes. Quartzite small-medium sized flakes were produced by a diversity of flaking methods adapted to the cobble blank morphologies and were not retouched. The results allow to assess that the earliest technical expression of the Acheulean in North Africa is characterised by a high diversification of the stone knapping outcomes, the complexity of the mental templates, and the flexible structure of the operational schemes.

New technological considerations on some Lupemban museum collections from the Congo Basin

In the Congo Basin, a regional industry attributed to the Middle Stone Age, the Lupemban, has been empirically considered as a technological adaptation to African tropical rainforests. The “forest industry” hypothesis is based on the presence of diverse heavy-duty tools and their location on the valley bottoms of the Congo Basin. Nowadays, the Lupemban complex in Central Africa remains poorly contextualized preventing us from integrating this geographical crossroad into a pan-African Middle Stone Age framework. Other features such as blade production, backing, hafting and pigment-use are also associated with the Lupemban complex, suggesting an important role of this industry for understanding the emergence and intra-continental diffusion of modern human behaviours. However, this was lacking strong supporting evidence such as chronological, stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental context, as well as thorough technological and functional evaluation. Indeed, only few sites contributed to define the Lupemban and these latters are mainly peripheral to the Congo Basin. In addition, most of the Congo Basin Lupemban collections have been collected several decades ago. Even though poorly documented, these collections constitute a major fund for documenting the prevailing technological features of the Lupemban. Here, we present a technological analysis of lithic production using a qualitative approach to describe five Lupemban lithic collection stored at the Museum national d’Histoire naturelle and at the Institut de Paléontologie Humaine that were collected between the 1930s and 1970s in the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo. We highlight some repeated technological patterns and discuss their representativity for characterizing Central African Upper Pleistocene lithic assemblage.

The Knapping of Quartz Crystals during the Later Stone Age at Matupi Cave, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of Congo

ABSTRACT Matupi Cave, located in the Ituri rainforest, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has been long considered an early example of Later Stone Age quartz microlithism in equatorial Africa from >40,700 BP. We reassessed the lithic collection of Matupi to provide a new description of specific technical behaviors, namely, the use of quartz crystals. This newly described technical behavior can act as an anchor point for future micro-regional comparative studies of Later Stone Age quartz microlithic assemblages in the equatorial belt of Africa. The knapping of quartz crystals occurs before 25 ka BP and is observed until Holocene times. It reflects mainly bladelet production but also the manufacture of specific tool implements. Based on techno-functional and “chaîne opératoire” approaches, we describe the crystal extraction process and their use as core- and tool-blanks. We also characterize the flaking and retouch goals. Finally, we discuss our results in terms of technical convergences and techno-cultural continuity and we suggest a possible technological determinism in knapping possibilities due to crystals specific volumetric patterns.

Проблемы верхнего палеолита предгорий Северного Тянь-Шаня: новейшие открытия и дальнейшие перспективы

Introduction. This work is devoted to the assessment of the Upper Paleolithic sites of the Northern Tien Shan. Materials and methods. Plains and foothills of Kazakhstan occupies a large western part of Central Asia and stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east. There are many Paleolithic sites, the vast majority of which are open-air (surface) sites. Recently several multilayer Upper Paleolithic sites have been discovered in the Northern Tien Shan. Among them are the sites of Maibulak, Rakhat, Uzynagash 1–3, Saryzhazyk and some others. The sites have been studied intermittently since 2004. A new research phase began in 2018. Results and discussion. The sites are located in similar geomorphological conditions. The cultural layers of the sites are nested in loess-like loams covering the northern foothills of the Zailiysky Alatau Range. Most of the cultural layers are interpreted as habitation levels with preserved hearths, burn spots, charcoal spots, and storage pits. Accumulations of lithic artefacts and sometimes animal bone remains are tightly linked with those features of cultural layers. This is an interdisciplinary research. Conclusion. The chronology of these sites covers the Early Upper Paleolithic, the Middle Upper Palaeolithic and the beginning of the Late Upper Paleolithic. The development of the Northern Tien Shan Upper Paleolithic took place within the framework of a single cultural vector, characteristic for the western part of Eurasia. There are cultural horizons with Aurignation-like, Gravettian-like lithic industries, as well as a culture with geometric microliths (scalene triangles). At the same time, lithic industries show considerable originality. Further work is aimed at studying the classification, typology of lithic collections and their correlation with each other.

Начальные этапы раннего верхнего палеолита в предгорьях Северного Тянь-Шаня, Казахстан (по материалам многослойной стоянки Майбулак)

The Upper Palaeolithic of the western Central Asia remains poorly understood. On the vast plains and mountainous territories, few sites of this age are known. In this regard, new sites discovered in the contact zone of the steppe and mountain belts of the Northern Tien Shan (Kazakhstan) acquire particular significance. Favorable natural conditions contributed to the active settlement of this territory, and the features of loess sedimentation contributed to the preservation of cultural remains. The first site, discovered and studied in 2004—2006, was the multilayered Maibulak site. The site contains seven cultural layers dated to different stages of the Upper Palaeolithic. The most significant and unique lithic collections were found in cultural layers 3—6, which date back to the Early Upper Palaeolithic. Lithic inventory from layer 6 occupies a special place among them. Two radiocarbon dates were obtained on charcoal from this layer: 35 420 ± 450 14С BP and 34 970 ± 665 14С BP (median 40 557 cal BP and 40 152 cal BP). The lithic industry from layer 6 has certain similarities with the Early Baradostian, Early Ahmarian, Fumanian, Proto-Aurignacian and other synchronous materials from Western Eurasia characterised by the presence of bladelet production technology.

Exploring the Lithic Variability of the Mousterian (MIS 9–3) Open-Air Sites of the Pontine Plain (Central Italy)

This paper presents a preliminary study of the Middle Palaeolithic lithic industries recovered at six selected open-air sites in the Latium region (central Italy), part of a regional cultural complex known as the “Pontinian”. The pedo-stratigraphic analysis combined with 40Ar/ 39Ar age constraints on the sites permits us to provide for the first time a geomorphological and chronological (300–40 ka) framework for several open-air sites in central Italy. The temporal range is remarkably coincident with the Neanderthal presence in this region. Moreover, the lithic collections analysed include the oldest occurrence of a Mousterian industry in this region. The present work, therefore, provides the background context for future re-evaluation of the peculiar Pontinian techno-complex through a more in-depth technological approach and its comparison with the other Neanderthal occurrences in central Italy.

The Significance of Subtlety: Contrasting Lithic Raw Materials Procurement and Use Patterns at the Oldowan Sites of Barranco León and Fuente Nueva 3 (Orce, Andalusia, Spain)

Situated in southern Spain’s Guadix-Baza basin, Barranco León and Fuente Nueva 3 (Orce, Andalusia, Spain) are two of the most important western European Oldowan archeological sites. After 30 years of quasi-uninterrupted excavations, these two occurrences have yielded exceptional lithic and faunal records in precisely dated stratigraphic situations, providing a wealth of information about the oldest presence of hominins outside of Africa (1.4 and 1.3 Ma, respectively). Recently, excavations and multidisciplinary research have allowed to discern new patterns of lithic raw material procurement and use patterns practiced by the Orce hominins that enable us to clearly distinguish different behavioral schemes between these two sites; in spite of their spatial proximity. This paper explores new data from the lithic collections in relation to hominin technical and economic behavior, highlighting subtle but significant differences in their exploitation of local limestone and flint clasts more than a million years ago. During this period of the late Early Pleistocene, these sites were situated on the shores of an ancient saline lake and fresh water sources were available. This favorable environmental situation, while attractive to the hominins, also supported life for an abundance of large mammals, including competitive large carnivores, underlining questions of expedience as an influence on techno-morphology in these early stone toolkits. This paper analyzes these themes, highlighting updated information from these and other key European late Early Pleistocene sites.

Preliminary results of the first lithic raw material survey in the piedmont zones of Kazakhstan

The study of raw materials was comprehensively studied in European and African Palaeolithic. However, systematic research of raw material sourcing has not been undertaken for the Palaeolithic of Kazakhstan, such surveys being embedded in reconnaissance works aimed at discovering new Palaeolithic sites. Our work presents preliminary results of the first lithic raw material survey in Kazakhstan. This study distinguishes the geographic patterns of land-use and their correlation with the stone tools from stratified sites. We describe primary and secondary sources of raw materials and compare macroscopically with the lithic assemblages. The survey results show a heterogeneous distribution of raw materials throughout the study regions. Macroscopic observations of lithic assemblages, and data extracted from literature suggest that hominins primarily selected local raw materials. Regional differences in the utilisation of a particular type of raw material which can be observed through the macroscopic examination of the lithic collections are confirmed by survey results.

Lithic Analysis of Andean Sedentary Societies: A Case Study from the Chachapoyas Region, Peru, and Potential Applications

In the archaeological tradition of what is today Peru, studies of sedentary agricultural groups have accorded a minor role to the analysis of stone tools relative to other suites of material culture. Here, we illustrate the value of such lithic collections via a case study of settlement sites from the Chachapoyas region of northern Peru (AD 300–1500). This study demonstrates the potential of methods such as use-wear microscopy and raw material analysis to address questions of theoretical interest to archaeologists studying sedentary society, such as subsistence, household behavior, and ceremonial practices. A set of generalized linear models of the spatial distribution of volcanic stone indicates that lithic raw material acquisition at these ceramic period sites was likely embedded in other activities. In addition, we examine an unusual set of limestone and carbonate-patinated artifacts that suggest that lithic procurement and selection were informed and strategic, if not conforming to expected technological priorities. We suggest that, by taking the potential value of lithic artifacts into consideration from project design through field collection and assemblage sampling, researchers can minimize biases that may otherwise limit the value of lithic assemblages.

L’Acheuléen saharien : Un constat et une perspective

In this document we are going to update the old data on the Saharan Acheulean, although this data isn’t plenty and all dated from the 20th century. But to resume a new era of research on the subject, it is quite obvious to evoke it. Despite the fruitful discoveries in many lower Paleolithic sites in the Sahara, no scientific interest has been brought, in particular to the numerous lithic collections interposed in several scientific research laboratories. The new Acheulean site “Tehentawek” which was discovered in the region of Idelès, in the Ahaggar, right in the heart of central Sahara, and which was excavated using new research methods, revealed in 2008 and 2010 an interesting lithic material, very representative of the Acheulean industry. The steps adopted in the study of this site are considered renovative in Saharan prehistory. Appropriate and adequate exploration of the environment, the adaptation of field work to the rocky context of the Ahaggar region, allowed us to reconsider the Saharan terrain. The technological study of lithic material has provided a variety of tools containing choppers, hand axes and cleavers, as well as many raw flakes, sometimes compatible with the nucleus. The lithic raw materials used for shaping are local. The results of the analyzes carried out on the sediments collected can lead to a discussion on the Saharan palaeoenvironment.

Use-Wear Analysis of the Stone and Bone Industry of Kostenki-9 Site (Based on Material of 2006–2007 Field Research)

Purpose. The article discusses the results of a use-wear analysis of artifacts from the Kostenki 9 site (Biriutchii log). The site is located in the Middle Don River valley on the southwest of the Russian Plain. Kostenki 9 is related to the group of Paleolithic sites in the Kostenki-Borshchevo locality. Our investigation indicates that paleoeconomy of the local inhabitants was based on the strategies of high specialization.Results. The authors highlight the main types of stone implements and the main technological methods of production. The inhabitants of the site mainly used chalk flint. Knapping technique is prismatic, the main type of workpiece is a blade. For the secondary processing of blanks, site's inhabitants most often used steep and semi-steep dull retouching. Less commonly, flat unilateral or bilateral, marginal, deeply protruding onto the blade’s dorsal surface. On the basis of use-wear analysis, as well as some experiments, the authors came to the following conclusion: the stone industry of the site has Gravettian features. However, it does not have pronounced diagnostic forms.Conclusion. The primary type of activity revealed at the Kostenki 9 site is butchering of animal carcasses. Studied use-wear traces on the stone inventory support this conclusion. The second activity represents wood processing. The ancient inhabitants of the Kostenki 9 made the wooden shafts for the darts and spears. Analysis of bone implements revealed several exciting traits. Inhabitants possessed all the basic techniques of bone processing: making grooves and cutting along the circumference. The collection does not include any tools that can be interpreted as hunting bone weapons. This thesis confirms the assumption that the inhabitants of the Kostenki 9 site used wood for tool-making, while the bones and ivory were kept for production of non-utilitarian objects. The cultural identity of the assemblage raises questions. The closest are lithic collections from the Gravettian sites Borshchevo 5 and Kostenki 8.

Collaborating with Farmers to Recover Indigenous Archaic Period History from Private Lithic Collections in Virginia's Rappahannock River Valley

AbstractRecovering Archaic period history of Native Americans such as the Rappahannock Tribe of Virginia is problematic because most of their rich, riverfront lands were taken by European colonists. Remaining archaeological material culture is now the property of current landowners. I collaborated with farmers along the Rappahannock River to evaluate their previously unstudied lithic collections as archaeological data sources. I tested landowner collections made by decades of repeated surveys for reliability by comparing independently made collections from the same site. The collections were significantly similar in abundance and composition through time, indicating they were representative samples of the underlying population. Comparison of collections including ground-stone tools from two different sites gave evidence of demographic changes and shifting settlement patterns through the Archaic periods and informed narratives of long-term Indigenous cultural change. I consulted with present-day Rappahannock Tribe members, who consider these collections important for tribal history, to develop research questions and evaluate shared results. Although private collections often lack documentation, proactive collaboration with responsive collectors as described allowed essential information to be recovered, documented, and preserved for the archaeological record. Building bridges of trust and information transfer among collectors, archaeologists, and tribe members is key to maximizing the information value of private collections.

ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ РЕПЕРТУАР НЕАНДЕРТАЛЬЦЕВ ТЕШИК-ТАША: НОВЫЕ ДАННЫЕ

The article presents the results of the technological analysis of the Teshik-Tash grotto lithic collection from the Kunstkamera funds (Saint Petersburg). Because the Teshik-Tash industry has an indisputable anthropological link to the Neanderthal population, which is unique for the western part of Central Asia, it is important to fully characterize the technological repertoire of this hominin species by studying the Teshik-Tash collection. Using the methods of mathematical statistics, the metric parameters of the artefacts were analyzed and the technical and typological homogeneity of the Teshik-Tash site complex (layers 1–5) was established, which indicates the representativeness of the sample at our disposal. The applied scar-pattern analysis revealed the dominance of the radial core reduction method aimed at obtaining non-standardized asymmetric blanks. At the same time, the toolkit contains the points with signs of Levallois knapping to obtain blanks: symmetry, regularity of convergent or longitudinally convergent dorsal surfaces, the presence of convex symmetric dihedral butts, overhang reduction. Thus, the problem of the Levallois component in the Teshik-Tash grotto industry remains open. The extent to which the Neanderthal population of Teshik-Tash used the Levallois technology will probably become clear after analysis of the Teshik- Tash grotto collections, stored in the funds of the Anuchin Research Institute and the Museum of Anthropology of MSU and the State Museum of history of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

Middle and early upper Pleistocene human occupations in Southern Italy. A reassessment of the assemblages from Cala d’Arconte, Capo Grosso and Cala Bianca

In southern Italy, the number of Acheulean sites in a secure stratigraphic context is small and sites with control over the age of the deposit and of the artefacts are even less. The open-air sites of Cala d’Arconte, Capo Grosso and Cala Bianca, located along the Italian south-west coastline, represent, in this context, an important source of information for the Lower Paleolithic.These sites were discovered and preliminarily studied in 1967–70 by A. Palma di Cesnola and P. Gambassini of the University of Siena, who ascribed them to the Acheulean due to the recovery of several handaxes associated with flaking reduction systems part of which attributed to the Levallois technology. A small number of the handaxes was recovered in its stratigraphic position while Levallois artefacts were collected exclusively on surface, leaving the question about the relations between these two groups unsolved.Here, the sites of Cala d’Arconte, Capo Grosso and Cala Bianca and their lithic collections are reinvestigated by re-evaluating the stratigraphy at each locality and by analyzing the techno-typology of the available artefacts. During a test trench carried out at Cala Bianca, several Levallois artefacts were discovered in situ in the uppermost part of the sequence in a layer located above a tephra recently attributed to the X-6 marker of the Monticchio series dated to 108.33 ± 1.08 ka. We suggest that these in situ Levallois artefacts belong to a Mousterian layer that must be considered as the most plausible origin for the Levallois assemblage previously collected out of context at this site. In turn, we also suggest that the Levallois and biface components collected from the surface at Cala Bianca and Capo Grosso derive from distinct occupations in time.

Absence does not mean absence: modern-day land use and the visibility of the archaeological record (the Kibbanahalli Palaeolithic Complex, southern India)

Abstract Kibbanahalli is an important Lower Palaeolithic site-complex in southern Karnataka, a state in the southern region of Peninsular India. This region is crucial as it is somewhat centrally located between areas to the north, east and south, where decades of systematic Palaeolithic research has led to the establishment of firm cultural stratigraphy(ies) and even, in some cases, of chronology(ies). However, in stark contrast to these regions, southern Karnataka is often ignored in prehistoric research. Over 90 years of (intermittent) investigations at this site-complex have laid the foundations of our understanding of the Palaeolithic occupation of this region. It is of utmost importance to continue Palaeolithic research in this area as it is one of the fastest-growing industrializing and urbanizing zones of the world, with large population centres such as Bangalore (Bengaluru), Mysore (Mysuru) and others located here. Documenting the rich Palaeolithic heritage in this region before its eventual surrender to the forces of ‘development’ is thus a priority. Further, it is also necessary, if possible, to qualify and quantify the impact of these developmental processes on the visibility and preservation of the archaeological record, in general, and the Palaeolithic record, in particular, which might serve as a model for future research in similar regions. These recent investigations have led to the identification of many new Palaeolithic localities, and a secure identification of the technological attribution of their lithic assemblages. The presence of a uniform stratigraphic association of the archaeological horizon and similarities in their lithic collections has led to the reclassification of the many localities at Kibbanahalli and its vicinity into a site-complex. This paper reports on a series of field observations and remotely sensed data collected to understand the distribution pattern of the various Palaeolithic localities of this site-complex. Results of this study highlight the critical role played by modern-day land-use patterns on the observed distribution of the archaeological record, as well as its visibility. This observation challenges previous interpretations regarding the settlement patterns and strategies suggested for the Palaeolithic occupation of this region. Further, this study draws attention to the need and necessity to understand the role of various site formation processes, especially modern-day land-use activities, on the observed and observable patterns in the archaeological record, as well as the visibility, or lack thereof, of the archaeological record.

Lithic variability and raw material exploitation at the Middle Stone Age (MSA) site of Gotera, southern Ethiopia: A combined technological and quantitative approach

Technological variability within East African Middle Stone Age (MSA) lithic assemblages is considered a reflection of regional or local identities. These identities are a possible outcome of different social dynamics in human populations or interaction with the environment. Here we analysed the lithic assemblage from GOT 1-S site, in the Gotera area (Southern Ethiopia) in order to integrate fresh data from the region into the broader discussion on the technological variability of the MSA of Eastern Africa. To reach this goal, we considered lithic data from a surface dispersion, through the combination of different methods. Technological and statistical analyses performed on lithic assemblage suggest the existence of two distinct reduction sequences related to different raw materials: quartz and basalt. The technological analysis shows a more opportunistic reduction strategy on basalt artefacts, while the quartz lithic assemblage exhibits a more accurate preparation of core striking platforms and more predetermined products. The results of technological analyses on flakes, tools and cores were elaborated using Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis. The two analyses allowed to confirm the hypothesis of two reduction strategies according to different raw material selection and managing. Furthermore, the categorical attributes from cores and flakes were processed by means of Correspondence Analysis, highlighting the technological differences linked to the different raw materials exploited. Moreover, the combined results from the technological and statistical analyses proved the validity of this integrated methodology to analyse a lithic collection from a surface context.

Новые стратифицированные палеолитические местонахождения в долине р. Ахангаран (Узбекистан)

The paper deals with survey data recorded in 2021 in Uzbekistan by joint team of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography SB RAS, Warsaw University, and National Center of Archaeology Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Based on 2018-2019 data, we carried out local excavations, and the Paleolithic artifacts were recorded in the cross-sections of two sites—Ertashsai-12 and Kuksarai-2 located on the right side of the Akhangaran valley in its midstream. The stratified archaeological material of Ertashsai-12 occurs in three lithological positions (layers 2b, 3, and 4) and is represented mainly by fragments of flakes and wastes of lithic production. Together with the surface complex, these materials can be attributed to the Middle to Upper Paleolithic. Materials from the Kuksarai-2 site are more representative; they occur in four layers (layers 2, 3, 5, and 6). In total, the lithic collection includes 43 artifacts. The technical and typological characteristics of the stratified part of the Kuksarai-2 collection are consistent with the appearance of the exposed materials and contain features of the Levallois technology with an admixture of features transitional from the Middle to Upper Paleolithic. The material complexes of Ertashsai-12 and Kuksarai-2 discovered in the buried state are probably correlated with periodic and long-term visits to these territories by human paleopopulations, and the ancient population was a carrier of the Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic process skills. In future, the presence of stratified complexes in the landscape situation of low mountains with the process features of the Middle and Upper Paleolithic can provide a new array of data on the problems of correlating features of the material culture with specific species of ancient hominins, as well as in the context of their relationship with the environment.

Eiguliai, one of Rimutė Rimantienė’s first excavations – a revised interpretation

The Final Palaeolithic site at Eiguliai in Central Lithuania, was monitored by Konstantinas Jablonskis and his daughter, Rimutė Jablonskytė (Rimantienė), when she was already in her teens. By the late 1940s, the site had been partly destroyed, but not before yielding many surface finds. She, therefore, decided to obtain as much archaeological data as possible. Rimantienė’s excavations at the Eiguliai 1 site became one of the very first investigations of her career. The collected lithic assemblage suddenly became a reference in researching Swiderian culture sites. The Eiguliai site was well known to scientists from the Eastern Baltic countries as well as to colleagues in Western Europe. As time passed and new excavation methods appeared, the site, which had been recorded only by several pictures and trench plans and where most of the material had been collected from the sandy surface, came to be regarded as not informative enough and ceded its importance to other newly discovered Swiderian sites. However, during the past five years, with the help of consultations with Rimantienė, the archaeological data from Eiguliai was reviewed and the discussion resumed. The aim of this publication is to present the entire lithic collection of morphological tools ascribed to the earliest stage of the site’s occupation, along with some new insights into the archaeological data from Eiguliai. The site is considered to have been a place that was visited multiple times for hunting purposes. While the Swiderian culture assemblage predominates, the possibility of discussing an even earlier visit pre-dating the Swiderian culture is considered. Various remains of archaeological features once recorded at the site are reviewed and their interpretation is clarified: there are probably only a few features that could be ascribed to the Stone Age, contrary to what had been previously proposed. An analysis of the lithic assemblage has shown that people had probably brought flint material to the site, but did not stay there for long, and made quick decisions when tools needed to be produced.

The Upper Palaeolithic site Radomyshl I (Ukraine): Another phenomenon of the gravettian technocomplex?

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the Upper Paleolithic site Radomyshl I. The previously known ideas and views about this site are revised. Information about the cultural layer, the composition of the faunal collection and the spatial distribution of the bones are discussed. The composition of the lithic collection of this site, its technological features and typological statistics are analyzed in detail. The ascertainment of technological similarity to the Gravettian technocomplex, the typological originality, and possible chronological limit offers a new perspective on the site. Taken together our new data makes it possible to offer a new interpretation of the structure of Radomyshl I and its economic specialization.