The article is devoted to the study of one of the most important archaeological sites of the early Upper Paleolithic of Transbaikalia - the Tolbaga site, dating from 35-25 thousand years ago. The main attention is paid to the analysis of the relationship between the features of stone delivery to the parking lot, the technology of splitting and utilization of stone and bone raw materials, the planning of the settlement and methods of consumption of hunting prey. Based on a comparison of the nature of human life-support activities and stone utilization in the settlement, it is concluded that the life cycle of the ancient population of the site was adapted to repeated visits to the territory convenient for seasonal hunting activities.

Keywords: late Pleistocene, early Upper Paleolithic, stone technology, archeozoology, settlement systems.

Introduction

Human populations of the early Upper Paleolithic migrated eastward along the belt of mountains and foothills of Southern Siberia from Gorny Altai around 43-40 Ka BP (Derevyanko, 2001; Derevyanko and Shunkov, 2004). So far, researchers do not have direct paleoanthropological evidence about the physical appearance of the carriers of the culture of this time in Southern Siberia, but the established general and synchronous trend for the spread of specific plate industries in Eurasia allows us to link this phenomenon with the dispersal of modern human anatomical appearance. Upper Paleolithic traditions spread quite rapidly; around 40-38 KA BP, Upper Paleolithic plate industries were already present in Transbaikalia (Khotyk, Kamenka, Podzvonkaya) and Northern Mongolia (Tolbor-4, Orkhon-1, and -7).

Trans-Baikal monuments belonging to the easternmost part of the range of plate cultures of the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic in Eurasia are of considerable interest for reconstructing the character of the first Upper Paleolithic adaptations to the paleogeographic conditions of the contact zone of large natural landscape regions of North and Central Asia (Germonpre and Lbova, 1996; Klementyev, 2001; Rybin, Lbova, and Klementyev, 2005). The present work is based on the materials of the cultural layer of the Tolbaga site. This monument, which was studied in the 1970s and 1990s, became the basis for identifying the first local (Tolbaga) culture of the early Upper Paleolithic period of Southern Siberia (Geologiya i kul'tura..., 1982). The Tolbaga site is one of the most significant monuments in the Trans-Baikal territory, which is characterized by an extensive uncovered area, a rich collection of stone artifacts and a representative set of animal bones. It has already been considered in a number of publications [Ibid.; Ovodov, 1987; Konstantinov M. V., 1994; Goebel, 2004; Vasiliev, 2005]. However, these works did not cover all aspects of this complex or took into account only a part of the collections obtained during the study of the parking lot. We took into account all available materials from the Tolbagi excavations. Using modern methods of analysis of the stone industry and osteological collection, we tried to comprehensively study

This work was supported by grants No. 09 - 01 - 00028a and No. 07 - 01 - 00417a from the Russian Foundation of Natural Sciences, as well as the program of Fundamental Research of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences "Historical and Cultural Heritage and Spiritual Values of Russia", project 1.7.

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Fig. 1.Map-layout of the Tolbaga parking lot.

technical methods, settlement specifics, the nature of mobility and life-supporting behavior of the ancient population of Transbaikalia on the example of one of the reference objects for this region.

Location, stratigraphy and dates of the monument

The Tolbaga Paleolithic site was discovered in 1971 by M. V. Konstantinov. Its coordinates are 51°12 '43.1" N, 109°19 '17.3" E (Fig. 1). The monument is located 230 km east of Lake Baikal. Lake Baikal is located on a deluvial slope in the valley of the Khilok River, a right tributary of the Selenga, at an altitude of 35-50 m from the river level (773-758 m above sea level). The deluvial plume, including the remains of the parking lot, is an accumulative surface with an angle of inclination of 8-12°, extending along the valley for 500-600 km. Moscow, Russia. Deluvial-proluvial processes took part in the formation of the surface, which determined its longitudinally wavy character. A network of shallow gullies periodically formed along a number of poorly defined hollows on the slope, which contributed to the removal of material from the site located along one of these hollows (Fig. 2). Excavations were carried out by the Chita Archaeological team led by M. V. Konstantinov and S. G. Vasiliev in the 1970s-1990s. The excavation area is 1,100 m2. The presence of finds in separate exploration pits allowed us to conclude that the parking lot is located on a site that stretches along the slope for 100-120 m and has a width of up to 30 m. The long axis of the site is oriented in the north-south direction and perpendicular to the river. The profile over 100 m long, corresponding to the slope drop line, reflects the fall of lithological layers with a gradual increase in their thickness to the lower part of the section. Average depth of the received image

page 14
The profile reaches 1.0-1.5 m. A homogeneous stratigraphic situation is recorded, which is generally characteristic of the cover deluvial and proluvial deposits of the Karga and Sartan horizons (Fig. 2). Four lithological layers are identified, which are associated with the archaeological material: 1) soil; 2) chestnut sandy loam; 3) brown sandy loam with dredge; 4) pale-gray loam, including the remains of two paleosols. Further, a gravelly-gravelly layer is traced in the section, revealing a thick pack of gravelly-sandy deposits (traced at a depth of up to 3 m). Hypsometry of the surface of this layer determined the nature of the economic structures of the parking lot. Cytological layers 3-1 are considered as horizons of material redeposition as a result of slope processes. The source of the material is the cultural component associated with layer 4. In the layer where the remains of eight dwellings, about 30 foci and ash spots were found, 77.6 % of all finds were recorded - stone artifacts and animal bones. Tolbaga is one of the few monuments of the early Upper Paleolithic period in Siberia where dwellings are distinguished. It became widely known due to the oldest work of art found on its territory - a sculpture of a bear's head made on the vertebra of a woolly rhinoceros (Konstantinov M. V. et al., 1983). The following 14 C-dates were obtained from bone samples from Layer 4: 27,210 ± 300 Bp (CO AN-1523), 34,860 ± 2,100 bp (CO AN-1522) [Geologiya I kul'tura..., 1982], 26,900 ± 225 BP (CO AN-3078) [Orlova, 1998], 25,200 ± 260 bp (AA-8874), 29,200 ± 1000 BP (AA-26740) [Goebel and Waters, 2000]. The range of values allows us to draw a conclusion about the duration of the habitat period at the site, which covered the second half of the Karginsky interstadial.

Planigraphy and taphonomy

To understand the planigraphic structure of the site, it is important to reconstruct the slope surface during its settlement by Paleolithic people. When analyzing the longitudinal profiles of the excavations, it was found that the line of fall of the base of lithological layer 4, including cultural remains, regularly becomes horizontal through short 5-10 - meter segments. The alignment of the bottom layer is associated with the features of the ancient surface relief formed under conditions of progressive disintegration of gneisses. The surface of the bedrock was an agglomerate of debris, sometimes structured in low ridges that were located along the slope; over time, it was overlain by the products of rock weathering. A layer of pale-gray loams (lithological layer 4) has formed on this pack of gravelly-gravelly sediments, the lower level of which includes the remains of two paleosols defined as Karginsky. Foci, farm complexes, and the bulk of artifacts and animal bones are associated with this level.

Thus, getting used to a given place, people could choose small flat areas alternating along the slope (Fig. 3). Most of these sites could be formed in a shallow hollow with which the parking lot is connected. On flat areas, the ancient population, clearing the necessary territory from large blocks and debris and modifying the surface of gneiss outcrops, also had the opportunity to transform the surface of the habitat without much physical effort.

The correctness of constructing this model of the habitat surface is confirmed in the materials of the excavations. Due to the physical properties of the dense, viscous loam that overlapped the habitat surface, numerous traces of settlement structures were preserved at the base of layer 4 Tolbagi (Geologiya i Kul'tura..., 1982). The main mass of artifacts is associated with the selected sites, in particular, unique objects of Paleolithic art, stone and bone tools. In the intertidal space, the archaeological material is sparse and mainly lies in the overlying redeposition horizons.

In the northern part of the monument, there are complexes that indicate the existence of residential structures, as well as industrial activity zones that were not previously identified at the Tolbaginsky site (Fig. 3). One of the complexes includes a massive gneiss slab; in combination with adjacent bone fragments, it is interpreted as a place for cutting prey. On another site, located near a large hearth, an anvil made of a flat boulder and several large ribs with their ends cut off were found. Downhill from these complexes, a 20-meter-long section is allocated, where the number of finds in both the cultural layer and the redeposition horizons of material is less than in the overlying complexes. A hearth with a large number of bones and ochre was found here. Further (to the south) are housing complexes identified in the 1970s and early 1980s [Ibid.; Konstantinov M. V., 1994]; they also extend along the slope. Such a "nesting" arrangement of housing complexes and areas of industrial activity is explained by the peculiarities of the habitat surface. The creation of residential areas along the slope suggested the development of parking presumably up the slope. This is the development of parking in

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Figure 3. Distribution density of animal bones in combination with selected industrial and housing complexes.

time and space allows us to explain the specifics of the formation of a cultural layer, the material of which was accumulated under conditions of constant demolition-accumulation.

Determining the features of material redeposition is the most important task of studying Tolbagi. To solve this problem, it is important to study the question of the duration of the existence of the parking lot and the possibility of redeposition of cultural remains. In this case, it is necessary to proceed from the nature of deposits of the lithological layer 4. represented by carbonated loam with a thickness of 0.3 - 0.5 m.

In the lower part of the layer, buried surfaces were recorded, with which the bases of all artificial structures of the parking lot were connected. Higher - the levels of redeposition of material dispersed in the "downhill - higher in layers" direction. These include different horizons of the cultural layer and overlying lithological layers. Bones are concentrated in the middle part of the layer (66%) and closer to its base (21 %), part (1 %) it was located at the base level. In levels 1 and 2 of layer 4, the proportion of bones decreases significantly (9 and 3%, respectively). Higher in the profile, in the 3 - 1 lithological layers, the proportion of bones is 1-3 %. Thus, the "bone-bearing" horizon is associated with habitat surfaces in the lower part of lithological layer 4, which were identified from the remains of foci and farm structures. The lower level is also a source of stone artifacts spreading into the overlying layers up to the present day surface.

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Table 1. Typological composition of cultural layer artifacts

Type

Quantity

%

Nuclei and preforms

217

6,8

Tools

644

20,2

Flakes > 2 cm

491

15,4

"< 2 cm

1 005

31,6

Plate chips

Including:

564

17,7

plates pointed plates

48 10

-

plates

506

-

Technical chips

Including:

77

2,4

rib plates

24

-

impact pad adjustment chips

13

-

primary plates

18

-

semi-primary plates

7

-

edge chips

15

-

Debris, fragments

164

5,2

Bumpers, retouchers

14

0,4

Raw pebbles

8

0,3

Total

3184

100,0

Analysis of the distribution of bone material in the horizontal plane revealed three large accumulations. They are confined to homes and hearths. The largest one was found in the northern part of the parking lot. The second and third clusters are associated with the remains of a complex of dwellings identified in the central part [Konstantinov M. V., 1994, pp. 49-50]. The areas of localization of bones of the main species of commercial animals on the territory of the monument correspond to the selected zones of accumulation of bones in general. Bone tools belong to the northern and central accumulations of osteological finds, and the largest share of them falls on the northern part of the site. Most of the tools tend to be hearths. Flakes and bone fragments are concentrated within the designated dwellings. Bones that are not modified by humans are located mainly on sites that are not occupied by residential complexes.

Analysis of the Layer 4 stone industry

The collection is based on stone artefacts, usually consisting of various degrees of silicified and silicified varieties of effusive (volcanic) rocks (mainly acidic), which range in color from black to various shades of gray (93 % of all artefacts), as well as silicified sedimentary rocks (sandstones and siltstones), chalcedony, quartz* (7 %). The artefacts have areas of well-rounded pebble surface. According to M. V. Konstantinov (Geologiya i kul'tura..., 1982, p. 35), the petrographic composition of the artefacts corresponds to the composition of the pebble alluvium of the Khilok River.

The study was conducted on the materials of layer 4 of the parking lot. Artifacts from redeposition horizons in lithological layers 1-3 were not considered as belonging to clearly mixed complexes, possibly including a later admixture. We had 3,184 stone artefacts at our disposal (Table 1). When studying the tool kit and nuclei, we took into account the entire set of artefacts, and non - retouched chips-whole chips and their proximal fragments. Other non-retouched objects-distal and medial fragments, as well as chips less than 2 cm long-were not included in the analyzed mass.

Splitting technology

217 nuclei are represented (Table 1). They are divided into two groups based on the characteristics of belonging to a specific stage of preparation and the degree of utilization.

The first category includes preforms (116 copies): flat, cuboid, and cylindrical pebbles of different sizes. For most items, the impact pad is either not designed, or was formed as a result of a single removal, and negatives of one or three random test chips can be traced on the splitting fronts. The second group is formed by nucleoid forms ("formal" nuclei) - 101 objects. These products are characterized by the presence of designed impact pads and a clearly traceable system of withdrawals on the splitting fronts. The nuclei were split, as a rule, in a parallel splitting system. They differed in the number of designed shock pads and the degree of convexity of the front.

Most of the single-site monofrontal nuclei (pl. 2) (32 copies, 32.7 % of the total number of formal nuclei) It represents the initial stage of cleavage, so it is possible to reconstruct techniques for preparing the cleavage front based on them. The methods of cleavage organization depended on the shape of the initial substrate. If the pebbles were flat, then splitting began from the narrow side of the workpiece, if cylindrical or cuboid in shape, then chipping could begin along natural faces or along the bottom.-

* Petrographic determination of Candidate of Geological and Mathematical Sciences N. A. Kulik.

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Table 2. Typological composition of nuclei

Type

Quantity

%

Orthogonal ones

5

5,0

Single-site monofrontal buildings

33

32,7

Planar two-site monofrontal

23

22,8

Two-site monofrontal subprismatic areas

27

26,7

Small end nuclei for plates

5

5,0

Subprismatic micronuclei

6

5,9

Centripetal

2

2,0

Total

101

100,0

rough edge formed by transverse chipping. As a rule, splitting stopped after removing several chips that ended in creases. Obviously, the initial difference in the morphology of the blank determined the appearance of two main types of complex nuclei, which we designated as two-site monofrontal planar (23 specimens, 22.8 %; fig. 4, 1, 5, 8, 9, 13) and two-site monofrontal ones with a convex front (27 specimens, 26.7 %; Fig. 4, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11). Judging by the preserved negative images, the splitting of these nuclei occurred in a parallel system. Chipping was carried out from opposite sites, the main chipping-billet was plates and sub-rectangular flakes. About a third of the nuclei retain etching-

4. Stone artifacts from the cultural layer (lithological layer 4).

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a sinuous rib is made laterally with the help of transverse chipping and retouching. Despite the differences in the degree of convexity of the working fronts, there is no reason to assume that the types considered reflect different methods or stages of splitting. The distribution of cleavage at the cleavage fronts of these nuclei is very close. Both types of nuclei are characterized by "shuttle" splitting, in which the removal of chips was carried out from one edge of the impact pad to the other. The cleavage front convexity was maintained by removing edge chips (40.8 % of all technical chips), less often by removing rib and semi-rib plates (23.1 %). Most of these technical plates (from 45 to 70 %) are 60-90 mm long; considering this, we can imagine the initial dimensions of the bulk of the nuclei. There is also no difference in the length of the residual nuclei (Table 3). If these objects belonged to different stages of cleavage and planar nuclei were the product of utilization of subprismatic ones, the differences would be obvious. However, the area of the cleavage front in planar nuclei even exceeds that in subprismatic ones. At the same time, subprismatic nuclei are much thicker than planar ones. Analysis of the nuclei that retained the shape of the initial substrate suggests that the degree of convexity of the nuclear cleavage front was determined by the blank. Therefore, the assumption that the planar nuclei reflected the "Archaic" or "Levallois" splitting technology, which differs from the Upper Paleolithic prismatic splitting method, is questionable. The basis for nuclei with a flat front was most often flat pebbles, for subprismatic ones - three-dimensional ones.

Other varieties of nuclei are less frequently represented and do not exceed 18% of the total number of all formal nuclei. Among them, there are such peculiar types as end micronuclei for removing plates, on the narrow face of which narrow (no wider than 12 mm) plates were removed. They are joined by a series of subprismatic micronuclei (Figs. 4, 10), made on small pebbles or fragments of chips, in which 3/4 of the front was occupied by negatives of plate removals. Several samples represent nuclei that split in the orthogonal (subcrest) and centripetal systems.

To better represent the features of primary cleavage based on the dorsal cut of whole artifacts, we conducted a study using the method of D. Adler [Adler, 2002], which allows us to determine the degree of distribution and direction of cleavage removed from the main and auxiliary sites of the nucleus. According to the scheme developed by D. Adler, after placing the object with the proximal part (or the main impact site of the nucleus) up, the dorsal surface of all whole chips (more than 2 cm long) or nuclei is divided into

Table 3. Basic metric indicators of nuclei

Nuclei

Length average / standard deviation, mm

Length max / min, mm

The front width is medium /standard. deviation, mm

Front width max. / min, mm

The thickness is medium / standard. deviation, mm

Thickness max / min, mm

Average site angle, deg.

Split front area/standard deviation, mm2

Length max., negative medium/max., mm

Width max. negative medium/max., mm

Total, copies.

Subprismatic and end plates

41,8/15,6

68/30

25/8

37/15

19,8/4,9

26/15

80

1 032/408

28/41

11/15

11

Single-site monofrontal buildings

63,9/14,3

90/38

51,5/11,5

81/26

35,5/7,7

62/20

83

3316/1 209

41/71

25/41

33

Orthogonal and centripetal coordinates

54,2/10

69/43

42,6/11,4

57/29

31,4/15,6

57/21

76

2 279/630

30/38

25/40

7

Planar two-site monofrontal

69,4/24,8

138/43

58,5/17

103/29

24,5/8,6

45/9

76

4 403/2 094

43/90

25/44

23

Two-site monofrontal structures with a convex front

69,3/15,2

108/46

44,8/9,7

64/30

37,5/10,7

61/24

80

3 099/947

42/65

23/45

27

Total, copies.*

64 (18,4)

138 (30)

48 (15,7)

103 (15)

32 (10,8)

62 (9)

79

3 243 (1 943)

39 (90)

23 (45)

101

* In parentheses - average values for all types.

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four equal sectors. The upper left sector (the left part of the proximal segment) is designated as sector A, followed clockwise by sector B, followed by C and D (the left part of the distal segment). Within each sector, the number and percentage of negative chips removed from the distal and proximal parts, as well as the left and right laterals of the workpiece, are calculated. Based on the distribution of cleavage negatives across the nuclei sectors (the entire array of whole formal nuclei was taken into account), the following picture is reconstructed (Fig. 5): the vast majority of shots in the upper nuclei sectors were taken from the upper impact site (approx. 83 %); 40-43% of cleavage negatives from the upper impact site reached the lower half of the nucleus; from the lower only 39-43% of the chips were removed from the impact pad. In the upper half of the nuclei, only approx. 8 % of negative chips taken from the lower impact pad. This is much less than the rate of withdrawals from the upper shock pad, of which about 40 % reached the lower half of the cores. Thus, the technology reconstructed on the basis of the residual forms of nuclei is a typical longitudinal splitting method; when used, the lower impact platform was intended to remove short chips, which usually served as a means of maintaining the distal bulge of the front. One of the impact pads was used more intensively. Based on the average values of the number of negative chips on the working fronts of the nuclei, we found that an average of 3.5 negative chips were the result of removal from the main impact site, 1.5 negative - from the opposite auxiliary one.

The orientation of the splitting technology of the Tolbaginsky technocomplex to the production of plates is clearly traced by the composition of primary splitting waste. The industry's Lamellar Index (Ilam) is 39. It is calculated from 17.7% of non-retouched plates and their fragments in the total composition of the complex, technical chips that have the proportions of plates (rib, primary and edge), as well as plates on which the tools were designed. The degree of re-registration of plates is very high -41.9 % of all plates were converted into tools.

Figure 5. Schematic distribution of chip negatives on the dorsal surfaces of the main categories of artifacts (%).

Figure 6. Distribution of chips with cut elements on the dorsal surface by length (only whole objects (457 specimens) with a length of more than 20 mm were taken into account).

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See Table 4. Typological composition of tools

Type

Quantity

%

Plates with retouching elements

151

23,4

Flakes with retouching elements

52

8,1

Scrapers

42

6,5

Scraped it

39

6,1

Incisors

7

1,1

Scalloped

13

2,0

Recesses

19

3,0

Toothed-notched

10

1,6

Knives

17

2,6

Coracoid-spiny (punchers)

44

6,8

Dolotovidnye

25

3,9

Plates with petiole isolated

retouching

5

0,8

Points of interest

36

5,6

Scraped on the plates

96

14,9

Combined services

74

11,5

Pebbles

14

2,2

Total

644

100,0

Most of the plates are more than 15 mm wide. The proportion of plates (chips less than 15 mm wide) is relatively small.

Most of the chips bear traces of unidirectional cutting (41.6 %), significantly fewer objects with traces of bipedal (24%) and orthogonal (19.5%) processing of dorsal surfaces. The proportion of chips completely covered with a pebble crust is significant (12.7 %). At the same time, as the analysis shows, as the length of workpieces increases, the proportion of signs of bipedal cutting increases, their maximum values correspond to chips with a length of more than 90 mm - 67 % (Fig. 6).

Thus, the cleavage of nuclei began mainly in the bipedal system; as the length of the nucleoli decreased, the removal of chips aimed at maintaining the distal bulge became increasingly rare. This is reflected in a sharp increase in the frequency of occurrence of dorsal surfaces with traces of unidirectional cutting in smaller chips (54 % of the number of items with elements of unidirectional cutting versus 3 % - with signs of bipedal). The largest proportion of artifacts completely covered with a pebble crust is the smallest; these chips were the products of the primary preparation of the nuclei.

The impact areas of chips are mostly smooth and covered with a pebble crust (74.5 % of all sites); the indices of faceted and dihedral sites (IFlarge) are 20.2, only faceted coupons (IF strict) - 5.2. The share of point and linear sites is very small - only 5.25 %. Analysis of the elements of site adjustments and the degree of convexity of the impact bumps of chips, among which convex varieties predominate, generally suggests that the Tolbagi complex mainly used the technique of chipping with a rigid bump.

Typological characteristics of the gun set

The nature of primary splitting is particularly clearly revealed when considering the composition of blanks for tools - 70.5 % of objects are made on plates. This indicator significantly exceeds the industry's plate strength index and reflects the preferred choice of items with the longest possible working edge. The remaining tools were made on flakes (26.4 %), modified pebbles and nuclei (3.1%).

The typological set of industrial tools in Layer 4 includes several main components (Table 4). The category of situational or informal tools can be attributed to tools that did not require significant labor costs; artifacts related to them have undergone minimal changes during processing. Most of the tools in this category have a single working edge, are processed mainly with weakly modifying retouching, retain traces of single-element, monotonous preparation, and retouching traces are distributed only on 1/4 of the edge perimeter. The basis for these tools were usually small chips-up to 60 mm long. The need to manufacture such tools was caused by the needs that arose directly during the work. The group includes flakes with retouching elements - 8.1 % of all tools, serrated and notched products - a total of 6.5, awl-shaped tools (punchers) - 6.8 (Fig. 7, 29, 31), knives-2, 6, chisel-shaped tools-3.9 % (Fig. 7, 18, 33).

Tools of the second typological group include scrapers (6.5 %). Among the combined tools, 22 items have scraper elements, so that the share of scrapers in the gun set reaches 9.9 %. Scrapers can be divided into two main groups, equal in number: corner ones (Fig. 7, 7) and end ones (Fig.. 7, 6, 16, 26). Most of the scrapers were made on flakes. Scrapers on flakes can also be attributed to the same typological group (6.1 %). Most of the scrapers (16 copies) belong to the longitudinal ones, the rest have elements of retouching around the perimeter (see Figs. 4, 12), and are also presented in transverse and convergent variations.

page 21

7. Stone artifacts from the cultural layer (lithological layer 4).

page 22
The most vivid and expressive group, which largely determines the appearance of the typological set of the Tolbagi gun complex, is the group of universal tools on plates (44.7 %). As noted by M. V. Konstantinov [1994], the division of these objects into typological units can often be conditional, most often the assignment of tools to one or another type is determined by the nature of secondary processing or (in some cases) the features of the workpiece. As universal tools, we determined retouched plates -23.4 % (Fig. 7, 1, 2, 9, 12, 13). 88 guns had only one longitudinal edge processed. Most of the tools (98 copies) show signs of weakly modifying retouching. With one morphological element of secondary processing, 138 tools are presented. 85 items have traces of deliberate fragmentation. Such artifacts with traces of poor processing are the largest in the complex (average length 94 mm). They can be perceived as tools-blanks that could be re-issued, fragmented in accordance with the need that arose, or used after minimal processing in many labor operations. Scrapers on plates (14.9 %) represent the type of the most intensively processed and peculiar tools of the complex. These are long and wide chips that can be separated from the group of retouched plates only by traces of more expressive modifying treatment with steep step and flake retouching. As shown by M. V. Konstantinov [Geologiya i kul'tura..., 1982; Konstantinov M. V., 1994], the tools were first subjected to secondary processing, and then fragmented in order to increase the number of tools suitable for work (Fig.11), this is evidenced by the retouching facets available on many tools, which were torn in half when a strong transverse impact was applied. Of the 96 tools, 71 objects bear traces of deliberate fragmentation, usually carried out by means of a transverse impact, less often-during additional retouching in order to level the fragmentation site (Figs. 7, 25). 14 tools were found intact (Figs. 7, 4, b, 14), 24 objects are represented by proximal (Figs. 7, 15), 31 - medial (Figs. 7, 20, 24) and 27 - distal (Figs. 7, 27, 30) fragments. Thus, the distribution of fragments is fairly uniform; this suggests that fragmentation was carried out directly at the site of the parking lot. With fragmentation, a high degree of product standardization was achieved. The most striking example is the medial scraper fragments, which are characterized by a high degree of uniformity of secondary processing elements and similarity in size. The points on the plates make up 5.6 % of the gun set (Fig. 7, 8, 10, 22). This is one of the most characteristic types of tools for the early Upper Paleolithic of Southern Siberia. The convergence of the edges of these tools is the result of secondary processing. Unlike the scrapers on the plates, the points are less wide and thinner. The spread of deliberate fragmentation is recorded: 19 tools are represented by distal fragments, 15 of them with signs of tronking. Traces of processing on them, as a rule, are diverse; many samples among these tools belong to specific, stylistically significant types common in the territory from Gorny Altai to Mongolia. Stylistically significant types also include plates with the petiole highlighted by retouching, -0.8 % (Figs. 7, 3). These are large plates, in which the longitudinal edges in the proximal part of the tool are treated with a highly modifying accommodation retouch, thanks to which a peculiar petiole is formed.

The complex contains few incisors (1.1 %), represented in angular and median versions (Figs. 7, 23, 31), as well as pebble tools (2.2 %; see Figs. 4, 2). The Tolbagi complex is characterized by a combination of elements of different morphological types on one tool; the share of combined tools is (11.5 % ; see figure. 7, 17, 19, 21).

Secondary processing of tools

Analyzing the signs of secondary processing intensity will help determine the likely role of an artifact in labor processes. Retouching was applied mainly on the dorsal plane of the tool (89.9 % of all tools). According to the shape of facets, it can be divided into parallel (35.8%), scaly (32.5%), and stepped (12.3 %). Less than 20% are tools that represent various combinations of these types of secondary processing. According to the angle of inclination, retouching was divided into flat (18.5% of all tools), semi-steep (46.1%), steep (30 %) and vertical (5.4 %). When analyzing the degree of modification of tools using secondary processing, a relatively low proportion of elements of weakly modifying retouching is noteworthy (they are present on 24.1 % of all tools); the main part of artifacts is processed with medium (46.6 %) and strong modifying (29.3 %) retouching. Traces of secondary processing that occupy 1/2 of the perimeter and more have 57.7 % of the tools, and 12.6% of the tools are processed along the entire perimeter. 44.6 % of the guns have two or more working edges. There is a significant proportion of tools with two or more morphological elements of secondary processing -

page 23

Figure 8. Distribution of tools over the length of the processed edge and the degree of modification.

34.9 % of the total number of guns. The degree of deliberate fragmentation of weapons is exceptionally high; it can be traced to 278 guns (45.5 %). For the first time in Siberia, it was on the example of Tolbaga that the application and widespread use of this technique was proved [Geologiya i kul'tura..., 1982; Meshcherin, 1998; Konstantinov M. V., 1994]. Deliberate fragmentation is indicated by clearly legible marks on the cross-section of the gun fragments. High fragmentation rates and a variety of secondary processing elements allow us to conclude that there is a significant re-registration of tools in the course of labor processes.

To identify the relationship between the size of the guns and the intensity and variety of their secondary processing, the entire array of whole guns was divided into four size groups (Figure 8). The least modified were guns with a length of less than 40 mm. Therefore, it is impossible to assume a reduction in the size of these objects as a result of secondary processing. Probably, such tools were originally intended for short-term and low-intensity use. Objects with a length of 40-70 mm have similar indicators. Thus, tools of this size can be defined as situational or informal. Tools (mostly retouched plates) with a length of more than 100 mm are similar to the tools of the first two groups in terms of secondary processing modification. At the same time, they outperform shorter tools by such indicators as the length of areas with traces of retouching, the number of working edges and morphological areas. The most modified, intensively and variously processed tools are 70 - 100 mm long. Artifacts that fall into this category stand out clearly in the general array of tools. These items could be the basis for subsequent fragmentation.

Intensity of cleavage of nuclei

When analyzing the morphology of artifacts as an indicator of the intensity of stone utilization, we proceeded from the following provisions: the higher the degree of reduction of an object, the lower the percentage of primary crust on its surface, the smaller the number of objects with primary crust in the complex, the smaller the size of artifacts; the higher the level of utilization of a nucleus, the smaller the, as well as the size of negative chips preserved on the nucleus.

Approximately 70% of the nuclei and preforms are between 50 and 90 mm long (Figure 9). Preforms and formal nuclei are distributed approximately equally in size, with the exception of several preforms longer than 90 mm. In the case of intensive use and the associated re-registration of shock pads, the length of the nuclei should have been reduced. However, the small difference between the length of the nuclei and preforms is a sign of relatively low cleavage intensity and lack of striving for maximum use of the nuclei; many of them were probably discarded after the first unsuccessful removal.

As the analysis of the distribution of nuclei over the area of the chipping front covered with a pebble crust shows, 53.5% of the artifacts have traces of the natural surface, only 19.8% have areas of the crust covering more than 1/4 of the surface area.-

page 24
ti of the working front. Given the large number of small chips with a pebble crust, such a significant proportion of objects with a natural surface may indicate that the processes of initial preparation of cores played a significant role in human activity on the territory of the monument.

A comparison of the metric data of the nuclei with traces of pebble crust on the cleavage front and with a fully treated surface (Table 5). It was found that the main sizes of the nuclei of these groups coincide and do not differ statistically. If we assume that the nuclei were split within a single technological sequence in the parking lot, then artifacts without traces of the primary surface at the cleavage front should correspond to a more advanced stage of cleavage and, accordingly, have smaller sizes. However, nuclei without a crust are characterized by even larger extreme sizes (with the exception of thickness) than nuclei with traces of crust. Analysis of the distribution of nuclei by size group revealed the same pattern: the exception is two artifacts with a length of 135 and 138 mm without a crust (see Figures 4, 1, 8). The proportion of nuclei with a crust and processed within each size group is almost the same. The presence of very large samples among the nuclei without traces of pebble crust suggests that some blanks were brought to the site, possibly in prepared form. However, most of the nuclei were most likely delivered in the form of untreated pebbles, which were subjected to initial processing already on site. This is evidenced, for example, by the abundance of preforms in the parking complex. Note that the shape of the dorsal surfaces is similar to that of tools and non-etched chips (see Figure 5). If the nuclei split more intensively and most of them were in a depleted state, then the chips and nuclei would show different dorsal cutting systems: they would relate to different production stages.

9. Distribution of nuclei (101 specimens) and preforms (116 specimens) by length.

The results of comparing the length of the maximum negative cleavage on the nuclei and the length of the residual nuclei can complement the above. There was no desire to maximize the use of raw materials: the nuclei with the negatives of the largest chips less than 50 mm account for 82%, while the share of residual nuclei falling within the same frame is only 20 % (Fig. 10). Only 2% of the nuclei have chip negatives longer than 70 mm, compared to 37.5 % of nuclei of this size. Thus, work with nuclei was stopped at the stage when cleavage was still possible. It is also possible that the parking lot accumulated a stock of prepared nuclei for further use.

Analysis of the ratio of the length of the maximum negative chips on nuclei, non-retouched chips and tools shows that the length of non-retouched chips and negative shots on nuclei are distributed equally (Fig. 11). A different picture can be traced when analyzing the length of tools: 45% of them have more than 50 mm, which does not correspond to the data for the first two categories (only 2% of negative images and 12.5% of non-retouched chips fall into this size group). Based on the data on the absence of signs of maximizing the intensity of cleavage, as well as on the fact that the cleavage of-

See Table 5. Basic metric parameters of nuclei with and without traces of pebble crust at the splitting front

Nuclear cleavage front

Length average / deviation, mm

Length max. / min, mm

Width average / deviation, mm

Width max. / min, mm

Thickness average / deviation, mm

Thickness max. / min, mm

Length max. negative medium/ max., mm

Width max. negative medium/ max., mm

Split front area/ standard, deviation, mm2

Total, copies.

With traces of crust

64/16,5

108/30

46,8/14,5

81/15

34,3/12,1

62/9

37,5/71

23/45

3 071/1 405

54

No crusting marks

64,9/20,5

138/30

49,7/17

103/17

30/8,5

49/14

42/90

23/44

3 441/2 420

47

page 25

10. The ratio of the length of the nuclei and the maximum negative cleavage on the nuclei.

11. The ratio of the length of the maximum negative chips on the nuclei, non-retouched chips and tools.

The removal of most nuclei stopped at the stage of removing flakes and small plates, and we can assume a discrepancy in size between the tools presented in the complex and the nuclei. Judging by the morphological characteristics, the nuclei present in the collection could not serve as a basis for the production of large-plate tools common in the Tolbaga industry. Comparison of metric indicators of chips and tools (tab. 6) revealed a significant superiority of the tool over non-retouched chips in length. Chips and tools are statistically identical in thickness, as well as in width, which is probably due to the reduction in the size of tools during secondary processing. All other indicators (chipped area, elongation indicators (ratio of length (1) to width (m), massiveness indices (ratio of width (m) to thickness (n)) indicate that the surface area of the tools was larger than that of the chips, the tools were more elongated and less flattened

Table 6. Basic metric indicators of non-retouched chips and tools

Category

Length average / deviation, mm

Length max. / min, mm

Width average / deviation, mm

Width max. / min, mm

Thickness average / deviation, mm

Thickness max. / min, mm

Dorsal square/ standard. deviation, mm2

m : n, standard. deviation

I : m, standard. deviation

Total, copies.

Non-retouched chips

51/19,6

153/20

36,4/14,5

98/5

10,3/5,5

31/2

1950/1333

4,24:2

1,57:0,7

392

Tools

71/26

155/24

38,8/13,4

122/10

11,7/3,9

27/4

2850/1677

3,47:1

1,96:0,7

175

page 26

12. Distribution of chips and tools over the length and percentage of the dorsal area covered with pebble crust.

(more massive ones). Probably, a significant part of the largest guns was brought to the parking lot.

Elements of the behavioral characteristics of Tolbaga's inhabitants can be identified by analyzing the degree of pebble coating on the dorsal surfaces of untreated chips and tools. The total proportion of objects that have preserved traces of pebble crust is very significant - 33.6 % of the total number of whole chips and proximal fragments. Indicators of the ratio of the length of tools and chips to the area of the pebble crust covering the dorsal surface indicate that as the size of tools increases, the proportion of natural surface decreases (Figure 12). For example, among tools that exceed 100 mm in length, only 17 % of objects have a natural surface that occupies less than half the dorsal area. Among the non-retouched chips of this size group, the specific weight of artifacts with the same distribution of pebble crust is 34 %. Probably, the largest chips-blanks of tools were made outside the parking lot. They could be chipped off from nuclei that have already passed the stage of decortification, and larger ones, compared to those presented in the parking complex. It is in the size category of objects with a length of more than 100 mm that universal blanks fall-retouched large plates that were already fragmented in the parking lot in order to obtain the maximum number of tools suitable for work. The main cleavage cycle in the parking lot was carried out on the basis of pre-prepared nuclei and untreated pebbles, which were disposed of as needed.

Osteological collection

The original array consists of 4,630 whole bones and fragments. Up to the species level, 1,055 specimens were identified. (definition of cand. biol. nauk N. D. Ovodova). The taphonomic condition of the collection was assessed on a four-point scale-from fragments with a high degree of preservation to bones with a completely destroyed surface layer. The bone remains of Tolbaga are mostly of satisfactory natural preservation, which makes it possible to identify their species and anatomical affiliation.

Bone remains with traces of predation make up 9 % (out of 1,374 modified bones). This suggests a clear predominant role of humans (91 % of the total number of bones) in the formation of the Tolbaga taphocenosis. It should be taken into account that predators could act as commensals in relation to the remains abandoned by humans. Among the main features that can be used to determine the actions of predators are U-shaped cross-sectional tooth marks on individual bones and fragments, different from the traces left by stone tools, as well as signs of gnawing of a spongy mass on individual bones, mainly large diaphyses.

The taphocenosis is dominated by remains of Coelodonta sp. (35.4 %), Ovis ammon L. (25.1%), and Equus (Equus) sp. (15%). The proportion of their bones significantly exceeds the total number of bones of other species. A relatively high indicator corresponds to representatives of the bovine family: Procapra gutturosa Pall. (4,7 %), Spirocerus cf. kiakhtensis M. Pavl. (2,7 %), Bison sp. (1,9 %), Poephagus baikalensis N. Ver. (1,8 %). Note:-

page 27
There is also the presence of Canis lupus L. bones (7.2 %). Mammoth remains, with the exception of a small fragment of a tusk, were not found in the layer. In general, the Tolbaginsky tafocenosis corresponds to the composition of the fauna included in the Late Paleolithic complex identified in Transbaikalia by E. A. Wangenheim (1977, p. 102).

Counting the minimum number of individuals of each animal species (Fig. 13) revealed the predominance of argali, horse, and rhinoceros. The remaining species are represented by isolated finds. If we take into account the losses that occurred even before the bones got into the cultural layer, then the number of animals obtained should be increased many times. The number and composition of bones on Tolbagh was significantly affected by the fact that the butchering of prey was carried out at the hunting site, and individual parts of carcasses were delivered to the settlement. This is evidenced by data on the anatomical composition of the collection. There are 2,385 anatomically identifiable bone fragments (Figure 14). The largest proportion is made up of limb bones - 66.5 %, bones of the distal parts of the hind limbs predominate. The second most common are similar bones of the forelimbs. Approximately the same proportions (5 - 6% each) represent the bones of the humerus.

Figure 13. Minimum number of animals.

14. The ratio of the number of elements of animal skeletons.

page 28
and pelvic girdles and proximal extremities. Trunk bones, including vertebrae and ribs, make up 14.1 % of all identifiable bones. No intact skulls were found in the parking lot. Among the skull fragments (19.4%), visceral bones and lower jaws predominate.

Nature of stone raw material exploitation

What is the place of the Tolbaginsky stone recycling system among its own kind, identified in the South Siberian settlements? To answer this question, we used materials from nine sites, including industrial complexes of 17 cultural layers (Rybin and Kolobova, 2004; Rybin, Lbova, and Klementyev, 2005; Derevyanko et al., 2007). All of them represent plate cultures of the early Upper Paleolithic of Southern Siberia and correspond to 45-30 thousand years ago. The geographical spread is quite wide - from the western border of the range of plate cultures of the early Upper Paleolithic (Gorny Altai) to the eastern one (Transbaikalia and Mongolia). As indicators of the intensity and diversity of production activities in these complexes, we considered elements of secondary processing of tools, as well as the ratio of the main categories of stone inventory of industries (Table 7).

See Table 7. Main categories of stone artefacts in the Early Upper Paleolithic industries of Southern Siberia

Parking lot

Layer

Total registered artifacts, copies.

Artifacts with traces of weakly modifying retouching, %

Artefacts with traces of medium-or high-modifying retouching, %

Artifacts with traces of retouching on 1/4 or less of the perimeter, %

Artifacts with traces of retouching on 1/2 or more of the perimeter, %

Artifacts with a single secondary processing element, %

Artifacts with more than one processing element, %

Nuclei : tools

Tools : fission waste + nuclei

Nuclei : chips + tools

Percentage of nuclei in the complex, %

Percentage of chips in the complex, %

Percentage of guns in the complex, %

GORNY ALTAI

Kara-Bom

VP6

878

59,8

40,2

55,3

44,7

56,3

43,7

1:8,9

1:5

1:52,7

1,8

79,7

16,3

VP5

594

62,1

37,9

61,3

38,7

61,9

38,1

1:11,5

1:6,2

1:82

1,2

83,7

13,6

VP1-4

395

57,9

42,1

70,0

30,0

44,3

55,7

1:9,1

1:4,4

1:48,3

2,0

79,5

18,5

Denisova Cave

11

1326

39,1

60,9

67,0

33,0

53,4

46,6

1:4,9

1:4,5

1:26

3,7

78,3

18

9

804

46,5

53,5

64,2

35,8

43,9

56,1

1:3

1:4,8

1:16,9

5,6

77,1

17,3

Ust-Karakol-1

11

184

78,2

21,8

95,5

4,5

84,6

15,4

1:4,2

1:2,1

1:12,1

7,6

60,3

32,1

10

296

52,0

48,0

83,0

17,0

64,0

36,0

1:6,7

1:1,9

1:12,1

5,1

60,8

34,1

9

628

61,0

39,0

85,0

15,0

73,9

26,1

1:5,6

1:2,2

1:16,9

5,6

63,4

31,0

Kara-Tenesh

b/n

809

27,6

72,4

54,1

45,9

42,1

57,9

1:4,8

1:6,3

1:34

2,8

83,1

13,6

Maloyalomanskaya Street

b/n

48

50,0

50,0

50,0

50,0

71,4

28,6

1:8

1:2

1:23

4,1

62,5

33,3

ZABAIKALYE

Khotyk

mountain 2

675

21,6

78,4

37,3

62,7

60,8

39,2

1:6,4

1:3,6

1:28

2,8

79

18

mountain 3

491

42,0

58,0

32,0

68,0

62,0

38,0

1:4

1:3,3

1:16,5

5

74,5

20,5

Kamenka

A(C)

970

20,7

79,3

27,0

73,0

58,6

41,4

1:8,3

1:2,7

1:32

2,6

74,4

23

Tolbaga

mountain 4

3184

24,1

75,9

42,3

57,7

65,1

34,9

1:3

1:3,7

1:12,8

6,8

72,9

20

NORTHERN MONGOLIA

Tolbor-4

mountain 4

4966

40,3

59,7

51,7

48,3

65,8

34,2

1:3,6

1:11,7

1:44,6

1,1

92,8

6,1

mountain 5

6992

43,7

56,3

57,0

43,0

88,2

11,8

1:2,4

1:10,7

1:27,3

2,8

90,5

6,7

mountain 6

5035

53,6

46,4

76,8

23,2

87,5

12,5

1:1,5

1:15,5

1:23,5

2,7

93,3

4,0

page 29
In the South Siberian industries, medium-and high-modification retouching is typical for 40-60% of all tools. In Tolbagh, this indicator is one of the highest in the region - 75.9 %. Comparable indicators are recorded in complexes A(C) of the Kamenka and Khotyk sites (Horizon 2), as well as the Kara-Tenesh sites. In the Tolbagi collection, tools that have half or more of the working edge length processed make up 57.7 %. In all Altai and Mongolian industries, this indicator is less than 50%, in the Trans-Baikal ones it is higher than Tolbaginsky and is equal to 62-73 %. 34.9% of Tolbagi tools have more than one element of secondary processing; this is lower than in most monuments of Gorny Altai, which are characterized by polymorphic processing of tools. Similar values were found for all Trans-Baikal objects and a number of Kara-Bom layers; Tolbaga values are higher than for Ust-Karakol and Tolbor-4. At the same time, there are relatively many tools with two working edges or more on Tolbagh - 44.6 %.

The percentage of nuclei in the Tolbaga industry is one of the highest among the indicators for Southern Siberia. The specific weight of tools of this monument is average in Siberia; it is very close to the same indicator for Trans-Baikal monuments and is significantly inferior to the indicators of the Ust-Karakol and Maloyalomanskaya cave industries (defined earlier [Rybin and Kolobova, 2004] as short-term hunting camps), but significantly exceeds the indicators of the Tolbor-4 workshop. The percentage of untreated chips is slightly lower than in other complexes. Certain information about the nature of human activity in the parking lot can be obtained by analyzing the ratio of a number of inventory categories. The ratio of nuclei to tools allows us to present the efficiency of the disposal of nuclei on the monument. The ratio of tools to non-mercury chips and nuclei makes it possible to determine the intensity of tool design activities in the industry. The ratio of nuclei to untreated chips and tools can help in determining the intensity of primary cleavage at a monument.

In the Tolbagi complex, there are three guns per core; this is one of the lowest rates of efficiency in the disposal of nuclei, it exceeds the values of only the Tolbor-4 workshop complexes. The cleavage rate is very low: there are 12.8 cleavages per nuclei. Only the Ust-Karakol industries have lower values. The maximum values of splitting intensity are typical for workshops (Tolbor-4) and monuments with an abundance of mineral raw materials (Kara-Bom, Kamenka, Khotyk).

Indicators of the intensity of activity in the production of tools at Tolbagh are very high (3.7 unbrushed objects per tool), they coincide with the data for the rest of the Trans-Baikal objects and are second only to the very high characteristics of Ust-Karakol and the Maloyalomanskaya cave complex. The usual indicators for Gorny Altai are from 4 to 6 primary cleavage products per tool, for Tolbor's workshop - from 10 to 15. In general, in terms of the ratio of the main inventory categories, Tolbaga is most similar to the complexes defined earlier (Rybin and Kolobova, 2004; Rybin, Lbova, and Klementyev, 2005) as short-term hunting sites. However, some features of the Tolbaginsky technocomplex can also be noted. On the one hand, there are a lot of nuclei on the monument, which were split very weakly, and, it would seem, very ineffectively used; this is evidenced by the extremely small indicator of the number of tools per one nucleus. At the same time, every fourth item on this monument was re-registered as a tool.

As part of the technocomplex, a large number of nuclei with traces of pebble crust are recorded, the disposal of which was limited to removing a few flakes. The data presented earlier indicate that the primary processing of the main part of the existing nuclei took place on the territory of the parking lot. The abundance of low-util-ized nuclei may be a sign that a lot of raw materials, probably local, were brought to the parking lot for the upcoming disposal. It is possible that this circumstance caused the low rates of cleavage intensity and the efficiency of using nuclei. The product of the aforementioned disposal is a significant number of small "situational" tools designed to perform short-term and specific functions, often with traces of pebble crust and light processing. At the same time, the technocomplex of the parking lot includes a representative group of tools, usually large and wide plates with a length of more than 70 mm, which have signs of the most intensive and diverse processing. As the comparative characteristics of the main categories of stone artefacts of the industry show, not only raw pebbles - blanks of nuclei-were brought to the site, but also large, intensively processed tools. Artifacts were intended for long-term and diverse operations, as well as deliberate fragmentation in order to increase the number of usable tools. It is precisely the presence of numerous universal ("formal") tools that can explain the apparent

page 30
contradictions between the ratios of the artefact category (a high degree of intensity of tool production and extremely low efficiency of nuclear utilization) and significant indicators of polymorphic and highly modifying secondary processing in the Tolbagi complex.

Transportation and consumption of mining. Artificial bone modification

In the Tolbaga osteological collection, almost all elements of animal skeletons are represented; the bones of limbs, especially distal sections, significantly predominate, due to their abundance in the skeleton of an animal of any kind. The presence of limb bones in the faunal kit means that the prey was transported from the hunting site to the camp in whole or partially butchered form. At the same time, the least nutritionally valuable lower parts of the limbs could be cut off at any stage of cutting or consumed during a food crisis. The variant of human behavior as a scavenger in the analysis of the amount and composition of prey is practically excluded.

The collection of limb bones is dominated by rhino remains (35.6%), followed by argali (23.5%), horse (12.4%), wolf (7.5%), bison (6.2%), reindeer and dzeren (3.6%), screw-horned antelope (3.3%), Baikal yak (2.6 %), red deer (1 %), kulan and bear (0.3 %). The distribution of the bones of the forelimbs and hind limbs by species is approximately the same. Animals of some species are represented only by limb bones. These are kulan, Baikal yak and bear. The body bones belong mainly to rhinoceros, argali, and horse. Single bones of the body of dzeren and reindeer. The highest rate of occurrence of skull bones and teeth corresponds to the horse, followed by argali, rhinoceros, reindeer, wolf, dzeren, bison, screw-horned antelope, red deer.

Analysis of the limb bones of argali as the most represented species (Fig. 15) allows us to draw conclusions about the peculiarities of prey consumption at the site. Unlike the humeral bones, the forearm bones are represented only by the proximal epiphyses. At the same time, more than half of the radial bones have obvious signs of artificial clipping. Thus, the least valuable lower sections of the forelimbs were cut off at the slaughter site. Their remains in the parking lot are almost absent. The exception is two almost complete metacarpals, located in an anatomical ligament at the border of the proposed residential area of the parking lot, which indicates that the lower parts of the forelimbs were not used for food, and possibly also were not brought to the parking lot. Note that the lower sections of the hind limbs predominate in the collection.

As the analysis of osteological materials shows, the inhabitants of the parking lot not only cut off the limbs of the killed animals, but also deliberately dissected, cut, scraped, polished, polished the bones, subjected them to thermal treatment, made tools and jewelry out of them (Fig. 16). The collection contains 639 deliberately dissected bones and more than 2 thousand fragments and fragments reflecting a high fragmentation index. Several bone nuclei were observed. They are prepared for obtaining flakes on the severed epiphysis of the bones of the limbs of large animals. Bone chips with sharp edges could be used for various production operations, but compared to stone tools for a short time, as long as the" fresh " bone retained its strength. Working surfaces were additionally painted and leveled for tools made of bone chips.

Bone tools make up approx. 5 % of the number of artificially treated bones. Anatomical proportions, morphological features, and unique properties of both whole and individual bones were the most important factors in the formation of tools

15. The number of detectable argali bones, units.

page 31

16. Varieties of traces of anthropogenic impact on animal bones.

17. Bone tools. 1,2-awl on the bones of the limbs; 3-scrape on the severed process of the femur of the rhinoceros; 4,5-end tools on the ribs.

parts. The end tools were made of large ribs (Figs. 17, 4, 5). At the broken ends of most of them, traces of artificial part-time work and utilitarian use are highlighted. The ribs could also be the basis for composite tools - two of them have artificial grooves in the middle part of the laterale. Extended rounded endings (epiphyses) of the bones of distal sections of animal limbs served as the handles of awls (Figs. 17, 1, 2) (Vasiliev et al., 1999). There are no analogues in the Paleolithic found on Tolbagh scrapers with a handle made on the processes of the femur bones of woolly rhinoceroses (Fig. 17, 3).

Conclusion

The results of the analysis of the stone industry of the archeozoological collection combined with stratigraphic and planigraphic data allow us to offer a new interpretation of the Tolbaga site. Previously, it was considered as a long-term or seasonal (preferably winter) settlement [Konstantinov M. V., 1994, p. 142; Konstantinov A.V., 2001, p.163-164]. Currently, based on the materials of our research, the object can be considered a place of periodic, multiple, relatively long-term visits by people. The distribution of parking structures that are separated from each other by a distance of up to 100 m in a relatively narrow strip along the slope perpendicular to the Khilok riverbed is the result of a long regular displacement of the "spots" of settlement along the slope, depending on the availability of convenient flat areas, mainly along a narrow hollow stretched along the slope. The selected housing structures show episodes of settlement, and the parking area of more than 1 thousand m2 can be considered as a palimpsest - the result of overlapping episodes.

The person's choice of this place was primarily due to the hypsometry of the slope. It is here that a shallow hollow can be traced, closed from the west and north by watershed elevations.

page 32
The slope is open to the river valley and is illuminated almost all daylight hours due to the exposure and an inclination of 8-12° relative to the horizontal. From this point, the river valley can be viewed for an average of 2 km. The wide river floodplain adjacent to the camp site from the south provided great opportunities for hunting animals that preferred a settled valley landscape (rhinoceros, horse, dzeren, kulan). Argali, deer, and bear could also be hunted in the wooded mountain areas adjacent to the site from the north. Presence in the valley of wood (pine, birch), shrub (alder, hazel) and grass (sagebrush, swans, cereals) Spore-pollen spectra obtained mainly from the lower part of the section are confirmed by the analysis of vegetation. The nature of the palynological spectrum suggests the presence of periglacial steppes with pine-birch woodlands on the slopes and foothills and shrubs in the undergrowth (Konstantinov M. V., 1994).

In the hunting prey of the ancient Tolbagin people, there is a predominance of three animal species-Coelodonta sp., Ovis ammon L. and Equus (Equus) sp. Landscape characteristics of these species ' habitats can only overlap in terms of linking them to a wide river valley. At the same time, the rhino tends more towards swampy shrubby areas, the argali-to mountainous, meadow areas, and the horse - to open sedimentary spaces.

The Tolbaginsky site occupies a special position in the Khilok River basin. Here the river, cutting through the spurs of the Tsagan-Khurtei ridge, forms a relatively narrow (approx. 2 km) the area that the animals may have crossed while moving from one extended section of the valley to another. Given the landscape environment, it can be argued that the hunting areas were located at a relatively short distance from the parking lot (within a radius of 2-3 km), mainly along the valley. According to N. D. Ovodov, who gave the species definition of the Tolbaga collection, hunting took place mainly near the parking lot. "This is indicated by a relatively large number of bones from" inedible "areas of carcasses (distal parts of limbs, fragments of skulls)" (Ovodov, 1987, p.124).

In the Tolbaga tafocenosis, there is evidence of hunting in different seasons. The presence of newborn rhino bones suggests hunting in the spring-summer period, and the unused phalanx parts of the limbs indicate that there was no food crisis at the time of extraction, which is characteristic of winter and early spring; therefore, the prey of these animals was most likely to occur in summer or autumn. This conclusion is also confirmed by the predominance of argali bones in the collection, the probability of extraction of which increased in the autumn period due to the formation of large groups during the rutting season [Land Animals of Russia..., 2002, p.254].

Judging by the composition of the skeletons of the main species of commercial animals, the prey was disposed of right at the parking lot, where a full cycle of its cutting and eating was carried out. Statistics reflect the bones of all parts of the skeleton in proportions approximately equal to the numerical composition of the osteological part of the biomass. This means that all the body parts of the captured animals were present in the parking lot. Probably, various methods of mining utilization were used. Carcasses of medium-sized animals may have been brought to the settlement site as a whole, and large animals (rhinoceros, yak, bison) - in dismembered form, in parts, in large pieces, which were subsequently butchered at the settlement. In this regard, attention is drawn to the small number of skulls of large animals, which should have been preserved better. Probably, massive skulls were left outside the settlement, at the sites of butchering prey. The same may have been done with massive pelvic bones (missing from the Tolbaga osteological collection).

Comparing the nature of human life-support activities and the features of stone utilization, we can assume that the life cycle of the ancient population of the site was adapted to repeated visits to the territory that is convenient for seasonal (summer-autumn)activities hunting activities. Analysis of the Tolbaga tafocenosis reflects a settlement complex with a full cycle of cutting and utilization of prey (significant modification of the bone). The time spent in the settlement was marked by intensive production activities: people brought to the territory carcasses of animals obtained nearby, butchered them with tools made from raw materials delivered from the pebble beaches of the Khilok River. Probably, the transported mobile set of tools included carefully processed large plates, which, along with a certain number of un-dried chips and prepared large nuclei, were also brought to the settlement territory. There, these weapons were subjected to multiple and diverse re-registration, fragmentation, and acquired universal functions. The extensive range of technical techniques used by Tolbagin residents is indicative. Bone tools were actively used in the parking lot, probably similar in function to the "situational" stone tools of the complex. During visits to the parking lot, people adapted the territory of their habitat for their needs; traces of housing structures, hearths and production sites were preserved on it. Study of vital signs of the population

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In the early stages of the Upper Paleolithic of Western Transbaikalia, it is possible to reconstruct the peculiar and complex structure of its settlements, the development of material culture and the ability to adapt to the peculiarities of the landscape.

Acknowledgements

The authors express their deep gratitude to A. A. Anoikin, M. V. Konstantinov, N. A. Kulik, and M. N. Meshcherin for useful comments made during the discussion of the preliminary version of the article.

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The article was submitted to the Editorial Board on 15.06.09.

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