CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EARLY UPPER PALEOLITHIC STONE INDUSTRY FROM THE MULTILEVEL TOLBOR-15 SITE
This article is devoted to a comparative analysis of Early Upper Paleolithic complexes from the Tolbor-15 Site in northern Mongolia. These industries fall within a range of 34-28,000 ya established by finite radiocarbon dates. Six lithological and seven artifact-bearing archaeological levels have been identified in the site's stratigraphy, of which the lower horizons (H 5-7) are associated with the Early Upper Paleolithic. Single-platform and flat-front cores for the production of large blades and bladelets dominate these complexes. Thorn-like tools, thick scrapers, large side-scrapers (skreblos), denticulates and notched implements comprise the majority of the tool-kit. An evolution in the technology of reduction from large prismatic cores for the production of long blades to flat, uni-directional and orthogonal nuclei took place during the period of formation of Horizons 5-7, concomitant with an overall decrease in the dimensions of tools and cores. On the other hand, typologically, the tool-kit didn't change dramatically during this period, which supports conclusions regarding the evolutionary development of tool-making traditions and their use. The data presented in this article and the wide range of reported assemblages analogous to those from the Tolbor-15 Site make it possible to determine the latter's place within the spectrum of South Siberian and Central Asian Early Upper Paleolithic industries. The technology associated with the lithic complexes discussed here is very similar to the basic principles of parallel blade percussion known in archaeological collections across the region. In spite of some local peculiarities, the tool-kit also confirms the existence of strong connections between Mongolian industries and complexes in adjacent territories in framing the phenomenon of the initial Upper Paleolithic in South Siberia. The lithic collections from Tolbor-4 and Tolbor-15 exhibit a combination of Early Upper Paleolithic traits shared between the Altai Mountain region and the Trans-Baikal as well as local, specific Mongolian features.