Results of Field Studies at the Obishir-5 Site in 2018-2019
The article presents the preliminary results of a comprehensive study combining the analysis ofpottery, paleofauna, and lithic collections found in layers 1 and 2 at the Obishir-5 site (Southern Kyrgyzstan) during the field season of 2018-2019. The analysis of pottery from layer 1 has shown that the site contains several cultural and chronological stages - from late Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. The analysis of paleofauna has revealed the predominance of domesticated animals (sheep, goat, cow, and horse) in the same layer. New data from pottery collection makes it possible to propose a new cultural and chronological approach to Obishir-5. According to the previous research, the site was inhabited during the Early Holocene and in the Middle Ages. The discovery of pottery typical of the Chust and Shurabashat cultures indicates that the area was also inhabited during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. The analysis of lithic industry from layer 2 testifies to the use of microblade technique. The microblades were shaped by ventral retouching. The analysis of paleofaunal evidence has revealed that most of the bones belong to the Ovis/Capra genus and around 25% of them show the traces of human modification. In addition, bone tools (awl, retoucher) and evidence of symbolic practices manifested by an engraved bone and fox tooth with traces of carving have been found. The parallels to these technocomplexes are known from the synchronous sites of the Pamir region (Oshkhona site and Istykskaya cave in Tajikistan).