The 2017 archaeological study in the Shilikty valley in the east Kazakhstan region

In 2017, the joint Russian-Kazakhstan expedition continued to carry out research in the East Kazakhstan Region. The study was based on a stationary field investigation of the Ushbulak-1 site, involving excavation work, determination of the total floor space of the site, its stratigraphy at isolated areas, as well as surveys focused on searching for new Paleolithic archaeological sites in the Shilikty valley. Trenches 1 and 2 were produced in the upper and lower parts of the trench excavated in 2016, and test pits were dug down the stream on its both banks (pits 4 and 5) at the section of 18-37 m from pit 1. The survey undertaken at the Zapadny stream, 0.8 km west of Ushbulak-1, has yielded both surface and stratified archaeological finds. Archaeological evidence recovered from the surface and associated with the Paleolithic has been also found on the northwestern edge of the Shilikty valley near the village of Zhanaaul.