Industry of Okladnikov cave layer 1 in the context of new findings

The article discusses the materials of Okladnikov Cave layer 1, which was excavated in 1984-1987. The cave is known as the first discovered site of the Sibiryachikha variant of the Altai Middle Paleolithic the complexes of which contained the first Neanderthal remains. As a result of application of new methods for this site (the attributive and traceological studies), it becomes possible to perform complex comparisons at the modern level both with the known object of the Sibiryachikha (Chagyrskaya Cave) and with the sites of Denisova and Kara-Bom variants of the Altai Middle Paleolithic. As a result of the conducted research, an updated characteristic of the known industry was presented, marked by non-Levallois knapping from radial, flat-faced, and orthogonal cores; a significant toolkit with dominating convergent scrapers and retouched points; planoconvex bifacial tools are represented. Varieties of percussion-abrasive tools were identified, such as retouchers and anvils for retouching. In general, the industry shows a complete similarity with the complexes of Chagyrskaya Cave combined with the manifestation of variability consisting in a more economical use of raw materials. This is indicated by a greater proportion of convergent tools, re-shaped bifacial tools and technical spalls compared to the Chagyrskaya Cave complex, evidencing the intensive processes of tool retouching and re-shaping. The mentioned technical and typological characteristics and complex structure are exclusively characteristic of the Sibiryachikha industries associated with the migration of Late European Neanderthals to the Altai.