Geometric microliths as a cultural marker in western Central Asia

Geometric microliths are one of the main cultural and chronological markers, typical of the Central Asian Stone Age archaeology. The article provides an overview of the spread of geometric forms in the western Central Asia. The earliest geometric microliths in the region represented by scalene triangles in the Kulbulakian complexes (ca. 31-21 ka BP). The geometric microliths subsequently shift from rectangle (20-15 ka BP) to lunate (15-9 ka BP) forms. Lunates are a defining attribute of a toolset of the Eastern Caspian Mesolithic complexes, which are shifted to scalene triangles and symmetric trapezes in the Neolithic period. The Central Asian Neolithic complexes are characterized by abundance of trapezes in various shapes: symmetric trapezes on microblades (Oyukly culture and early Holocene complexes in the mountainous part of the Central Asia), symmetric shortened and elongated trapezes on blades (Jeitun culture), and horned trapezes (Kelteminar culture). As a result of the research, the following chronological scheme of geometric microliths shape variability was traced in the Central Asian region: scalene triangles - rectangles - lunates - trapezoids. According to the authors, the shape of geometric microliths can be considered as a chronological marker, and the shape of trapezes as cultural marker in the Neolithic complexes. The review allowed us to trace the correlation between the types of geometric microliths and the splitting technique typical of a particular industry. It was established that scalene triangles, rectangles, and lunates are represented in the complexes with the percussion blade/bladelet industries (Kulbulakian, Tutkaulian, Mesolithic and Neolithic of Eastern Caspian). Trapezes are widely spread in the pressure blade/bladelet assemblages (Jeitun, Kelteminar, Oyukly and Hissar cultures, complexes of the Fergana and Naryn valleys).