Exploitation of Lithic Raw Material in The Northwestern Caucasus Upper Paleolithic

Doronicheva, Ekaterina V.; Kulkova, Marianna; Shackley, M. Steven

doi:10.1016/j.aeae.2013.11.004

Cited by 17 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…These results indicate that the situation at Dingcun is same as at most Early and Middle Pleistocene sites in that the lithic materials originate from nearby sources (less than 5 km away) or relatively close localities (between 5 and 20 km distant) (see e.g. Fernandes et al, 2008;Doronicheva et al, 2013). The geochemical data not only shows that the artifacts and source samples are chemically homogenous, but also gives more detail about the quality of the hornfels to provide a reliable basis for classification.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether the presently available sources indicated in geological maps of an area were exactly the same as the sources of the past (Dibble, 1991;Stout et al, 2005). While geological research provides important information about a study area, publications on raw materials based on geological mapping results and topographic maps often yield valuable information on raw material provenance (Fernandes et al, 2008;Raczek, 2012;Browne and Wilson, 2013;Doronicheva et al, 2013).…”

Section: Geological Mappingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The quality and distribution of the raw materials not only impacts on the form and composition of the tools, but also can be regarded as good measurements of the cognitive level, behavior patterns, and movement of groups (Bamforth, 1990;Dibble, 1991Dibble, , 1995Potts, 1994;Potts et al, 1999;Blades, 1999;Braun et al, 2008;Braun et al, 2009b). The identification of raw material sources is therefore a major component of prehistoric research, and is a complex process that involves the integration of geochemical, geomorphological, sedimentological, and archaeological data (Goodman, 1944;Callahan, 1979;Andrefsky Jr, 1994;Church, 1996;Shackley, 1998;Brantingham et al, 2000;Du, 2003;Negash et al, 2006;Fernandes et al, 2008;Orton, 2008;Whittaker, 2010;Eren et al, 2011;Doronicheva et al, 2013). Dingcun, excavated in 1954 and1955, was the first properlyexcavated Palaeolithic site after the foundation of P. R. China in 1949.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Provenancing hornfels in the Dingcun industry: The exploitation of the vicinity source

Yang

Zhang

Zhu

et al. 2017

Quaternary International

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a b s t r a c tIn this paper, we attempt to determine the source of the hornfels used to make the famous Late Middle Pleistocene lithic industry from Dingcun in North China. By combining geological mapping and geochemical fingerprinting (m-XRF), we demonstrate that the source of the hornfels was around the Dagudui Mountain, 7 km east of Dingcun. Taking into consideration the Gujiao site, which is also located along the Fenhe River, the Palaeolithic inhabitants of the Fenhe River drainage basin had a good knowledge of the local rock sources, and used them over a very long period from the Middle Pleistocene to the Neolithic. Our geochemical data not only helps us to establish the source of the Dingcun industry, but also provides a reliable basis for the sub-classification of the hornfels that is more accurate than that resulting from visual inspection. In addition, our research initiates a new method for studying raw material sources of Chinese Paleolithic sites.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Geological Mappingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Provenancing hornfels in the Dingcun industry: The exploitation of the vicinity source

Yang

Zhang

Zhu

et al. 2017

Quaternary International

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“…The area of lithic raw materials procurement in this way outlines the habitation area of the Micoquian Neanderthal population in the north-western Caucasus, i.e. the territory which resources were well known and regularly exploited by this population [ 39 ] (Data 8 in S1 Text ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Archaeological evidence for two culture diverse Neanderthal populations in the North Caucasus and contacts between them

Doronicheva¹,

Golovanova²,

Doronichev³

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Neanderthals were widespread during the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) across Europe and Asia, including the Caucasus Mountains. Occupying the border between eastern Europe and West Asia, the Caucasus is important region regarding the Neanderthal occupation of Eurasia. On current radiometric estimates, the MP is represented in the Caucasus between about 260–210 ka and about 40 ka. Archaeological record indicates that several culture diverse MP hominin populations inhabited the Caucasus, but the region complex population history during this period remains poorly understood. In this paper, we identify for the first time the archaeological evidence indicating contacts between two culture diverse MP Neanderthal populations in the North Caucasus and discuss the nature of these contacts. Basing on the lithic assemblages that we excavated at Mezmaiskaya cave in the north-western Caucasus (Kuban River basin) and Saradj-Chuko grotto in the north-central Caucasus (Terek River basin), dating from MIS 5 to MIS 3, and comparative data from other MP sites in the Caucasus, we identify two large cultural regions that existed during the late MP in the North Caucasus. The distinctive toolkits and stone knapping technologies indicate that the MP assemblages from Mezmaiskaya cave and other sites in the west of North Caucasus represent a Caucasian variant of the Eastern Micoquian industry that was wide spread in central and eastern Europe, while the assemblages from Saradj-Chuko Grotto and other sites in the east of North Caucasus closely resemble the Zagros Mousterian industry that was wide spread in the Armenian Highlands, Lesser Caucasus and Zagros Mountains. The archaeological evidence implies that two culture diverse populations of Neanderthals settled the North Caucasus during the Late Pleistocene from two various source regions: from the Armenian Highlands and Lesser Caucasus along the Caspian Sea coast, and from Russian plain along the Sea of Azov coast.

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“…Mezmaiskaya cave is widely known as a reference late Middle Paleolithic Micoquian occupation 27 , 41 , 53 – 58 , which has yielded three well-preserved Neanderthal fossils. They include the skeleton of a Neanderthal neonate (Mez 1), discovered in 1993 in the oldest Middle Paleolithic Layer 3; an isolated permanent tooth (Mez 3), which was found later, also in Layer 3; and skull fragments of a Neanderthal child (Mez 2), which were found in 1994 in Layer 2, the uppermost Middle Paleolithic level 59 – 63 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional characterization of Mousterian tools from the Caucasus using comprehensive use-wear and residue analysis

Doronicheva¹,

Golovanova²,

Kostina

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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The authors discuss functional characterization of Mousterian tools on the basis of their use-wear and residue analysis of five lithic tools from Mezmaiskaya cave and Saradj-Chuko grotto in the North Caucasus. The results represent the first comprehensive use-wear and residue analysis carried out on Mousterian stone artefacts in the Caucasus. This study unequivocally confirms the use of bitumen for hafting stone tools in two different Middle Paleolithic cultural contexts defined in the Caucasus, Eastern Micoquian and Zagros Mousterian.

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Exploitation of Lithic Raw Material in The Northwestern Caucasus Upper Paleolithic

Cited by 17 publications

References 11 publications

Provenancing hornfels in the Dingcun industry: The exploitation of the vicinity source

Provenancing hornfels in the Dingcun industry: The exploitation of the vicinity source

Archaeological evidence for two culture diverse Neanderthal populations in the North Caucasus and contacts between them

Functional characterization of Mousterian tools from the Caucasus using comprehensive use-wear and residue analysis

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