The Torgalyk Locality in Tuva and the Question of the Eastern Reaches of the Micoquian

Abstract

The paper deals with the materials collected by Sergey N. Astakhov at the locality of Torgalyk B situated on the right bank of the Torgalyk River in the south of Tuva, not far from the Russian-Mongolian border. The collection consists of surface finds of the Lower and Middle Paleolithic appearance. Of particular interest among the stone artifacts found at Torgalyk B are two objects that differ markedly from the rest of the material in terms of their morphological characteristics. The latter seem to have analogies in the assemblages of the Middle Paleolithic Micoquian or Keilmessergruppe. This may probably suggest that the Micoquian area extended further east than previously thought.