Study of the Early Paleolithic complexes at the Khonako III site (Khovaling District, Tajikistan) in 2024

This article discusses new research of the Early Paleolithic industries at the Khonako III site in 2024. The deposits of pedocomplexes (PC) 4 and 6 were excavated. Pit 3 over the area of 9 sq. m exposed a section 2.3 m thick in the lower part of PC 4. Several finds (4 specimens, pebbles and flakes) were located at two hypsometric levels associated with the top and base of the PC 4B paleosol, separated by 0.8 m of sterile sediments. Pit 4 was made in the place with small natural outcrop showing the deposits of PC 6. Its greatest area at the level of the base of PS 6 reached 4.5 sq. m; its depth was 3.5 m. Artifacts were discovered at two main levels - top and base of the PC 6B paleosol, separated by 1 m of archaeologically sterile sediments. The collection (9 specimens) contained pebbles, spalls, fragments, and two tools: adze and side-scraper. Excavations at Khonako III in 2024 revealed level-by-level occurrence of artifacts in PC 4, which had been previously observed only at the Lakhuti IV site. Rich archaeological evidence was obtained from PC 6 which, according to modern chronostratigraphy, correlates with MIS 15 (621-563 ka BP). The collection from pit 4 corresponds to the main parameters of the Karatau culture obtained from PC 6 at other loess Paleolithic sites of Tajikistan. Considering the composition of the collection and location of finds, Khonako III must have been a short-term hunting camp remote from the sources of raw materials, which was repeatedly and relatively regularly visited during the formation of the same PC.