Knapping technology at the Epipalaeolithic site in Mezmay cave, the Northwest Caucasus
The entire Upper Palaeolithic period of the Northwest Caucasus is characterized by a developed blade technology of knapping lithic raw material. In most detail, deposits of this period are represented in the stratigraphic column of Mezmay cave. The article focuses on the analysis of the technological context of layer 1-3 of Mezmay cave (the collection of 2014 excavation) dated in the interval from 16 to 12 kyr ago. Analysis of the morphology of cores and technical flakes, as well as metric and morphological characteristics of the laminar component showed the existence of an evolved technology of lithic raw material knapping based on the reduction of prismatic single- and double-platform cores. Changes in the morphology and proportions of blanks from the lower horizons to the upper horizons of layer 1-3 allow us to assume a transition from the direct percussion technique to the pressure flaking technique.