Upper Paleolithic Sites Research Articles

Soii Havzak: a new Palaeolithic sequence in Zeravshan Valley, central Tajikistan

Abstract Stratified Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites in Central Asia are rare. The recently discovered Soii Havzak rockshelter, in the Zeravshan Valley in northern Tajikistan, is a stratified site that contains several phases of Palaeolithic occupation rich in lithic, faunal and charcoal remains that help establish chronology of the region.

To date or not to date? A comparison of different 14C pretreatment methods applied to archeological marine shells from Vale Boi (Portugal)

Abstract Mollusk shells are often found in archeological sites, given their great preservation potential and high value as a multipurpose resource, and they can often be the only available materials useful for radiocarbon (14C) dating. However, dates obtained from shells are often regarded as less reliable compared to those from bones, wood, or charcoals due to different factors (e.g., Isotope fractionation, reservoir effects etc.). The standard acid etching pretreatment for mollusk shells is the most used in many 14C laboratories, although another protocol known as CarDS (Carbonate Density Separation) was introduced just over a decade ago. We compare these two methods with two newly proposed methods for intracellular organic matrix extraction. We applied all four methods to samples selected from different archeological layers of the well-known Upper Paleolithic site of Vale Boi, rich in mollusk specimens throughout the stratigraphic sequence. Here we compare our results to previous dates to determine which of these pretreatment methods results in the most reliable 14C dates. Based on the results of this study, all four methods gave inconsistent ages compared to previous dates and the stratigraphic attribution.

Between land and sea: A multidisciplinary approach to understand the Early Occupation of Sicily (EOS).

The island of Sicily is considered to be among the first occupied by humans in the European Upper Paleolithic. Studies to understand early occupation of the island are mostly concentrated on the northern shores. Our project, Early Occupation of Sicily (EOS), focuses on southeastern Sicily so to address questions regarding dispersal to Mediterranean islands and Late Pleistocene landscapes and environments. Here, we present the initial results of our terrestrial and underwater surveys in combination with archival work and analyses of museum collections. In SE Sicily very few Upper Paleolithic sites have been excavated and analyzed using scientific methods. We have relocated and assessed ~20 caves and rock shelters identified between the 1870s and 1990s, studied museum collections, and collected raw material to reconstruct procurement patterns. To identify new sites, we conducted land and underwater surveys to reconstruct paleo-shorelines and past environments. We have identified three sites, two on land and one partially submerged, that still contain unexplored archaeological sediments, demonstrated in one instance through seismic tomography. This work shows the potential of re-examining minimally studied sites and materials to reconstruct mobility patterns and environmental impact of the first inhabitants of the island.

Kuyacha – a New Late Upper Palaeolithic Site in the Peschanaya River Valley (Altai Mountains)

Kuyacha – a New Late Upper Palaeolithic Site in the Peschanaya River Valley (Altai Mountains)

Maximizing efficiency in sedimentary ancient DNA analysis: a novel extract pooling approach

In the last few decades, the field of ancient DNA has taken a new direction towards using sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) for studying human and mammalian population dynamics as well as past ecosystems. However, the screening of numerous sediment samples from archaeological sites remains a time-consuming and costly endeavor, particularly when targeting hominin DNA. Here, we present a novel high-throughput method that facilitates the fast and efficient analysis of sediment samples by applying a pooled testing approach. This method combines multiple extracts, enabling early parallelization of laboratory procedures and effective aDNA screening. Pooled samples with detectable aDNA signals undergo detailed analysis, while empty pools are discarded. We have successfully applied our method to multiple sediment samples from Middle and Upper Paleolithic sites in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Notably, our results reveal that an aDNA signal remains discernible even when pooled with four negative samples. We also demonstrate that the DNA yield of double-stranded libraries increases significantly when reducing the extract input, potentially mitigating the effects of inhibition. By embracing this innovative approach, researchers can analyze large numbers of sediment samples for aDNA preservation, achieving significant cost reductions of up to 70% and reducing hands-on laboratory time to one-fifth.

Raw Materials and Lithic Production During the Early Magdalenian in Cantabrian Spain: Cova Rosa (Ribadesella, Asturias)

The lithic assemblage studied here comes from Cova Rosa, one of the main Upper Palaeolithic sites in Asturias (northern Spain). The remains were found in Layer B5, which was excavated by F. Jordá Cerdá and A. Gómez Fuentes in 1978 and are associated with an osseous assemblage and archaeozoological remains. This occupation has been dated by radiocarbon to about 16,400 BP (ca. 19.8–19.6 ka cal BP), corresponding to Archaic/Lower Magdalenian. The present study combines the determination of the raw materials and the identification of the production systems to achieve an understanding of the management of lithic resources by hunter-gatherer groups in the Late Pleistocene. The sourcing of mostly local materials (mainly Piloña flint), the wide variety of rock types of diverse provenances (up to 10 types), and the presence of well-represented lithological tracers (Flysch, Chalosse) turn Cova Rosa into an important case for studying different lithic raw material procurement models. The predominance of microlaminar production and the variability in the exploitation strategies used to obtain backed tools, as well as the poor standardisation of flake production, follow the dynamics observed in other occupations of similar chronology in a wide geographical area that includes Cantabrian Spain and south-west France.

Unraveling the interplay between humans and carnivores in El Olivo Cave during the Middle and Upper Paleolithic period (Llanera, Asturias, Spain)

El Olivo Cave (Llanera, Asturias, Spain) is a small karst cave within the Aboño River watershed. It holds a significant archaeological and paleontological record dating from the Middle and late Upper Paleolithic, featuring several lithic artifacts and faunal remains in each archaeological level. The study of the faunal remains reveals a high representation of ungulates, with Cervus elaphus and Equus ferus being the main ones. Carnivores are also represented by diverse species such as Vulpes vulpes and Canis lupus, among others. The taphonomic analysis evidenced the presence of human activity, accompanied by a significant incidence of tooth marks across all stratigraphic units and water-related processes in the lower part of the sequence. During this temporal range, there were faunal accumulations of anthropogenic origin altered by the action of other agents, especially carnivores. A diverse array of carnivore used the same space and taking advanced of the anthropogenic residues as scavengers. Moreover, we suggest a commensal synanthropic behavior exhibited by foxes. Consequently, El Olivo Cave is an illustrative case to explore the carnivore action in levels with human presence, something unusual at the late Upper Paleolithic sites in Northern Iberia.

4D vizualizace archeologického naleziště: Případová studie z mladopaleolitické lokality Milovice IV, Česká republika

The paper discusses using three-dimensional (3D) models in archaeological research and their combination for four-dimensional (4D) visualisation. The acquisition of 3D models during an archaeological excavation provides high-accuracy records of sites, entire find situations, and individual archaeological features or finds, allowing for their further exploration, study, and analysis at any time. When combined with GIS, 3D models can allow spatial and volumetric analyses, revealing site formation processes. With time as an additional dimension, their combination can also allow site reconstruction and spatio-temporal analysis, providing a perspective on the diachronic evolution of the site. Such use, in the sense of 4D visualisation, can markedly enhance the interpretation of archaeological data. The case study focuses on the multi-layered Upper Paleolithic site of Milovice IV in the Pavlov Hills region of South Moravia, Czech Republic, where 3D data recording was incorporated into the excavation processes. The paper evaluates the effectiveness of 4D mosaics delivered by merging separate 3D models. It turns out that 4D site-scale mosaics, obtained by merging separate models, encounter certain obstacles and are unsuitable for detailed visualisation and interpretation. Conversely, small-(excavation squares)-scale 4D mosaics can more vividly demonstrate the diachronic development of a site, the spatio-temporal relationships between artefacts, and the fieldwork workflow. It is also apparent that the 2D presentation of 4D models has limitations, and thus, other forms of presentation, kept within the virtual space, could better utilise all the benefits of spatiotemporal visualisations.

Ivory beads of the Sungir Paleolithic site: shapes and features of their alternation in set decorations

The article presents the results of an analysis of the shapes of ivory beads from the burials of a male and adolescent boys discovered in 1964 and 1969 by O.N. Bader at the Sungir site (Vladimir region, Russia), the habitation of which dates back to the end of the Early period (30–27 thousand BC) of the Upper Paleolithic. Beads are diverse in shape, small in size, extremely standardized products, which are one of the most mass and widespread categories of personal composite decorations at the Upper Paleolithic sites. Currently, the Sungir site is the only one where set decorations made of ivory beads, which retained their original position, were found in burials in large quantities (more than 10,000 units). These include an abundance of decoration sets such as bracelets and numerous rows of beads running across and along the body, around the waist, arms and legs, as well as the heads of the buried. The studied sample included 113 set of decorations made of beads (more than 4,000 units). The technical and morphological analysis of beads of such ornamental rows reveal that decorations were not formed randomly, but have a certain rhythmic patterns. In some cases, they were formed by the repeated alternation of groups of artifacts of different types, in others by the alternation of groups of items of the same type, but made on different blanks. The study of the complex rhythmic compositions of ivory beads revealed that there are four main independent types of beads at the site: rectangular in plan with notches on wide surfaces and a bidirectional hole in the center; rounded or oval in plan, with flattened proportions and a hole in the center; drop-shaped (“basket-shaped”); thin flat rectangular in plan, with a small hole in the center. Previously unknown beads of an individual shape were also identified — crescent-shaped and in the form of an asterisk. It is established that the dimensional characteristics of beads were an important factor for compositional constructions for ancient craftsmen. The diversity and the principle of consistency characterizing the composite Sungir jewelry indicate that they represent a unique archaeological source, the significance of which has yet to be evaluated.

Formulation of tattoo paints from the assemblage of the Upper Paleolithic site of Ushki V (Kamchatka)

In recent times, the practice of body modification in sociocultural, psychological, and art studies contexts has gained a new impetus for research. This article presents the results of the analysis of pigments found on the sur-face of stone artifacts identified as tattooing tools from the assemblage of layer VII of the Upper Paleolithic site of Ushki V (13–12 ka calBP, Kamchatka Peninsula). The aim of this study is to reconstruct the formulation of paints discovered on the surface of stone tools from the collection of Ushki V, that could have been used for tattooing. The reconstruction was carried out by means of determining the composition and microstructure of the paints using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The conclusions about the structure of colouring substances and the composition of paints are based on the element mapping method, which allows determination of the relationships of chemical elements and establishing the chemical com-position of individual components of the microstructure. Seven samples of red and yellow paint from the surface of six tools (carvers) have been thoroughly analysed. As a result, it has been found that three recipes were used for the manufacture of the pigments. The first (red paint) was based on mixing crushed mineral pigment (hema-tite) with organic binder of animal or vegetable origin. The second (yellow paint) implied the use of limonite, or-ganic binder and a thickener (aluminosilicate material or crushed bone). The third recipe (dark orange paint) in-cluded the compound of limonite and organic binder without thickener. The comparison of the formulations with previously obtained data on the analysis of paints from Ushki V allows for the conclusion that there were continu-ous technological traditions determined by the desired color and purpose of the paint. It has been established that the formulations have analogies both among the assemblages of other Stone Age sites of Eurasia and in ethno-graphic materials. Theoretical and practical significance of this research lies within extending of focused studies of the culture of peoples of the North and initiating of comparative research into similar Late Paleolithic and Neolithic complexes in the territories adjacent to Kamchatka and in the New World.

Ozdoby z gravettienské lokality Krems-Wachtberg v chronologickém a technologicko-kulturním kontextu

Adornments such as pendants, beads, and other perforated objects are an important finds category in Upper Paleolithic sites. Raw materials, production technology, and use-wear can tell us much about the objects and technocultural context of their carriers. Excavations from 2005–2015 at the Gravettian (Pavlovian) site of Krems-Wachtberg provided 110 objects which can be interpreted as adornments. They consist of mammoth ivory beads and pins, perforated canine teeth and molluscs, and fossil Serpulidae. More than half of these objects were found in the context of a double burial of infants. A recently conducted investigation describes all adornments and places them into a chronological and technological context. Analyses of all objects in this study were carried out using a Keyence VHX 7000 stereomicroscope. Micro photos were produced for all objects and allowed a wide range of measurements which would otherwise not have been possible to make considering the objects’ poor state of preservation. The produced micro photos will allow for additional non-destructive morphological analyses in the future. Information concerning the preservation of the raw material, use-wear, traces of production, method of perforation, fire exposure, and residues were collected in a database. The 53 mammoth ivory beads found in the double burial in particular allowed not only for reconstructing a chaîne opératoire for the manufacture, but provided interesting information regarding the objects’ lifecycle. Polishing on the bridges of some of the pendants’ perforations, presumably caused by a thread, and the location of the polished areas in relation to their positions show that some beads had already been worn before being deposited in the burial. This suggests that they were not explicitly made for the infants’ burial as previously suggested.

Phenomenon of Early Upper Palaeolithic Bladelet Assemblages in the Altai Mountains

Purpose. The present study is devoted to the analysis, systematization, verification and generalization of data on “Aurignacian-like” bladelet assemblages of the Early Upper Palaeolithic of the Altai. In the regional context, this luminous phenomenon is considered the main component of the technocomplex of the Ust-Karakolian cultural tradition and even a cultural marker.Results. The study was based on the analysis of archaeological material from known Early Upper Palaeolithic sites in the region, published and archival data containing information on the chronology, stratigraphy and planography of the industries. As a result, the data on the bladelet component of the Ust-Karakolian complexes from Altai, their industrial and spatial contexts have been updated and supplemented. Materials from the Ust-Karakol-1 (excavation 1, horizon B) and Anui-2 (excavation 2, horizon B) sites were found to be the reference for preservation and information of this industrial group. In both cases, the bladelet strategy dominates the assemblage, clearly standing out against the back-ground of non-specialized blade and flake production. The age of the industry was determined to be around 37–34 thousand cal. BP using previously published and new radiocarbon dating data.Conclusion. According to the obtained data, the main problems of identification and research of the Ust-Karakolian sites in Altai are related to the peculiarities of the conditions of their formation. They were determined by the processes of active slope formation, which led to deformation, fragmentation or complete destruction of the original archaeological structures.

Using horse teeth to shape stone tools: an experimental approach to characterise use-wear traces

Horse tooth retouchers have been identified in several Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites. They have been typically characterised as ‘soft’ hammers and/or grouped into the category of ‘bone retouchers’ at a technical level. Bone and teeth have different chemical compositions; teeth are denser and heavier than bone, and consequently, their technological features should not be considered homologous. In this work, we experimentally tested the effectiveness of horse teeth as retouchers. To perform this study, we used 41 modern horse teeth to shape flakes of various raw materials by applying different techniques. The resulting use-wear traces were analysed using high-resolution methods and then characterised. The results allowed us to identify the effectiveness of hypsodont teeth in knapping a wide range of tools and to evaluate the influence of 1) the raw materials, 2) the retouching techniques and 3) the gestures of the different knappers on the morphology of the use-wear marks. This work sheds light on the purpose of using teeth as tools by both Neanderthal and early modern human populations as well as understanding how these human species used them. The study leads us to consider tooth retouchers as important elements of the chaîne opératoire in lithic manufacture. Our goal is to highlight the importance of these types of experimental studies to create analogies and infer past processes.

Competing forces: Subsistence strategies and human-carnivore interactions during the middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Northern Iberia

The comparative assessment of dietary choices as part of landscape use strategies deployed by Neanderthal and Anatomically Modern Human populations in Eurasia constitutes a fundamental avenue of Palaeolithic research. The increasing number of taphonomic assessments enables a better understanding of what remains were brought to sites by human hunters versus mammalian carnivores or raptors. A zooarchaeological approach can further elucidate the spatio-temporal dynamics of interaction between carnivores and human populations in terms of landscape use and prey choice during this transitional period. To achieve this objective, we conducted an examination of zooarchaeological and taphonomic data, carnivore indices, and other relevant variables across 36 Middle and Early Upper Palaeolithic sites in northern Iberia. These sites encompass 126 archaeological layers dating from 50,000 to 30,000 years ago. Our comprehensive bibliographic meta-analysis reveals that human occupations by both groups at sites across the region were punctuated by episodes influenced by carnivores. This observation implies that human occupations in northern Iberia during Marine Isotope Stage 3 were generally characterised by instability and limited to short periods, often seasonal in nature. From a zooarchaeological perspective, the combined assessment of taxonomic data, species richness and assemblage diversity highlights that the range and proportion of species acquired by these different human groups are similar, although Anatomically Modern Humans engaged in a sustained trend towards increasing dietary diversification even at sites with assemblages heavily dominated by one taxon.

The environmental and cultural background for the reoccupation of the Armenian Highlands after the Last Glacial Maximum: The contribution of Kalavan 6

This paper introduces the results from our excavations of the open-air late Upper Paleolithic site of Kalavan 6, Armenia. The site is embedded in a sedimentological sequence spanning from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 26.5–19/20 ka) to the Holocene (i.e., from MIS 2 to 1). Our findings are presented together with chronological, environmental, and climatic data. Luminescence dating provides a temporal framework for reoccupation of the Armenian Highlands after the LGM, while two vegetation proxies (pollen assemblages and leaf waxes) characterize the environment. Based on these pollen data, a quantitative climate reconstruction (temperatures and precipitation) is offered. Techno-typological characterization of the lithic assemblages is presented together with the sourcing of the entire obsidian assemblage by portable X-ray fluorescence, providing insights into the occupants’ exploited territories. Such a framework, which incorporates both environmental reconstruction and hunter-gatherer behaviors, enables us to contextualize possible links between population dynamics during the height of the LGM and post-LGM environmental oscillations. We suggest that, during the LGM between ca. 24 and 19 ka, the combination of declining temperatures and the extension of the winter season limited the occupation feasibility of the region. The regional occupation resumed when environmental circumstances ameliorated. These results support our interpretation that temperatures and the duration of the seasons conditioned the past hunter-gatherer's occupation of the region.

Initial Upper Paleolithic in the Zagros Mountains

The Iranian Plateau and the Zagros Mountain chain, located at the crossroads of Africa and Eurasia, occupy a critical geographical position in out-of-Africa scenarios, sitting astride a major dispersal corridor into southern and central Asia. Yet, the region’s role in human population expansions remains under-investigated. Here, we present findings from new excavations at Pebdeh Cave, a site located in the southern zone of the Zagros Mountains. Pebdeh contained a well-defined layer dating to ∼42–40,000 years ago (ka), with Levallois elements alongside laminar reduction. This transitional feature in the Zagros was not dated and recorded before, and, given its similarity to Western and Central Asian industries with respect to chronology and technological features, we define it here as the Zagros Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP). Although Late Middle Paleolithic and Early Upper Paleolithic technologies have been identified in the Zagros in the time period ranging between 50 and 40 ka, suggesting the presence of Neanderthals and modern humans in the mountainous region, the overall abrupt and constrained chronology of the IUP at Pebdeh, together with the penecontemporaneous appearance of other Upper Paleolithic sites in the Zagros Mountains, is compatible with a population expansion of Homo sapiens rather than an autochthonous development.

The Radiocarbon Chronology of Late Upper Palaeolithic Sites in the Center of the Russian Plain: New Data

The Radiocarbon Chronology of Late Upper Palaeolithic Sites in the Center of the Russian Plain: New Data

Chronology of the Upper Palaeolithic Sites of Byki (Centre of the East European Plain) According to 14C and OSL Dating

Chronology of the Upper Palaeolithic Sites of Byki (Centre of the East European Plain) According to 14C and OSL Dating

Late Middle Palaeolithic and Early Upper Palaeolithic in Poland in the light of new numerical dating

Although the first numerical dating of Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites in Poland was applied at the beginning of the second half of the 20th century, it has only been in the last two decades that a data increase has been recorded, making it possible to discuss both the development of human behaviour and cultural phenomena in time perspective. This paper aims to show the chronological diversity of sites dating from the beginning of the Weichselian glaciation (MIS 5a – MIS 5d, GI-19 – GI-23, Greenland Interstadials) to the middle part of MIS 3 (GI-8 – GI-10). We considered sites dated mainly by thermoluminescence dating (OSL) and radiocarbondating. We relied on a series of recent datings. We attempted to analyse the stratigraphic integrity, the archaeological finds and the numerical dating results. Through OSL dating, we could establish the chronology of Micoquian sites, previously regarded as middle Pleistocene, to the last glaciation. The dating compilation also shows that the Late Middle Palaeolithic and Early Upper Palaeolithic (EUP) sites are unlikely to overlap, or if they do, it is only over a small period. Unfortunately, this period is poorly interpreted because it spans the limit of the radiocarbon dating reliability and goes beyond the bounds of the calibration curve. Confronting the datings of the Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician (LRJ) complex and the oldest finds associated with Aurigniacian sites in Poland lead to the conclusion that these sites may have co-occurred for some time.

EXPECTED AND UNEXPECTED RESULTS FROM 14C DATING AND ZOOMS ON A LATE UPPER PALAEOLITHIC OSSEOUS PROJECTILE POINT FROM THE NOVÁDRÁTENICKÁ CAVE IN THE MORAVIAN KARST (CZECH REPUBLIC)

This contribution presents new information on a long-known Late Upper Palaeolithic site in the Moravian Karst in the Czech Republic: the Nová Drátenická Cave. Previous interpretations of the peculiar archaeological assemblage oscillated between attribution to the Epigravettian on the one hand and to the Magdalenian on the other, as both industries were present in Moravia after the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. In either case, a rather early dating has been supposed. We reassessed the stratigraphy, lithic and osseous industry, and subjected an antler projectile point to 14C dating and palaeoproteomic analysis. We did not find any evidence for stratigraphic mixing and, thus, propose that the assemblage of Nová Drátenická reflects a single or several successive occupations. On typo-technological grounds, we come to the conclusion that the finds are rather consistent with the Magdalenian. The radiocarbon date of the point is 16–15.7 ka cal BP, which places it in the first half of GS-2a. This is congruent with the identification of the raw material as reindeer through ZooMS. Hence, the Nová Drátenická Cave currently provides the earliest solid evidence for the Magdalenian in the Moravian Karst. Together with the contemporaneous assemblages of Kniegrotte in eastern Germany, Dzierżysław 35 in southern Poland, and potentially also Vilshofen-Kuffing in south-eastern Germany and Hranice in Moravia, it probably attests to the first major expansion of the Magdalenian into eastern Central Europe at around 16 ka cal BP.