Chronology of the Popovo 1 Site Based on the Recent Field Investigations

During the latest excavations at Popovo 1 site (Lacha lake basin) the thick layer of kitchen middens consisting mainly of fragmented fish bones was revealed in one of the test pits. Based on the archeological material the kitchen middens layer was attributed to the Mesolithic Veretye culture. The characteristics of the cultural layer as well as the composition of the fauna indicate the high role of fishing in the subsistence system. A few mammal bones from the layer were AMS-dated. Thus, the kitchen middens layer was dated to the late Preboreal (10.6-10 cal kyr BP). AMS-dating allowed to reconsider dramatically the chronological position of Popovo 1 site within the Veretye culture. According to the latest data, Popovo 1 should be considered as one of the earliest settlements in the region.