Paleolithic studies in the Tselinograd region

The Tselinograd Museum of Local Lore expedition continued to explore the Paleolithic sites Vishnevka 4 and Ak-Koshkar 1. At the site Vishnevka 4, collections were made in the central part of the site on 280 sq. m in squares (1X1 m) with a fixation of finds on the plan.

To study the processes of weathering and latinization of porphyrite artifacts, the upper and lower surfaces were recorded for each find; for objects fixed in the ground, a card file was compiled, including the following features: the ratio of the axis of the product to the cardinal points, the angle of inclination of the axis of the product to the slope surface, the angle of the slope of the hill, the line of contact of the product with the slope surface. The collections showed that the finds lie on the surface and in the upper part of a humus layer 20–25 si thick, lying on the bedrocks of porphyrites. The concentration of finds was noted in the central part of the collection area and a gradual decrease towards the edges. The diversity of the material of the monument has been confirmed.

The material comprises three specific technical and typological indicators and weathering features. The difference in the micro conditions of occurrence leaves an imprint on the external state of the artifacts, “blurs” the boundary between the complexes, but does not destroy the main visually observed differences. It is confirmed by artifacts with double and triple processing traces. The collection comprises more than 2500 finds. The late assemblage with bifaces and leaf-shaped arrowheads predominate. The middle complex is most characterized by Levallois-Mousterian splitting techniques with flat elongated oval bifaces. Single flakes represent the ancient complex.

At the Ak-Koshkar 1 site, sampling was carried out on an area of ​​168 sq. m in squares (2x2 m) with a fixation of finds on the plan. The collection area is a working platform for the primary processing of coarse-grained Devonian quartzite sandstone. Accumulations of cores and chips were recorded near large rock boulders. Individual cores and chips reach 30–40 and 20–25 cm. Items with secondary processing are rare, including two large bifaces. The collection (about 1500 finds) contains highly glossy flakes and cores, undoubtedly the most ancient on the site.

The Paleolithic locality Ak-Koshkar 8 was found on a hill composed of Devonian granites. The finds (51 eq.) are made of local porphyrite and localized on 12x5 m. These are flakes of the Mousterian appearance, a triangular biface, a blank, and small chips.