Research at the Matkechik Paleolithic site in the south of Khakassia

During the exploration survey of 2017, new Paleolithic sites of Matkechik 1, 2, and 3 were discovered in the valley of the Abakan River near the village of Matkechik in southern Khakassia. Two cultural layers were found in the exploration pits at the site of Matkechik 1. The artifacts from the first layer included a pebble core and flakes; the second cultural layer contained pebble cores, core blanks, adze made of a flat elongated pebble, side-scrapers made of big flakes, flakes, blades, spalls, and animal bones. These materials belong to the Late Paleolithic. Stone inventory at the site of Matkechik 2 was found in the cultural layer and along the slope of the terrace. The collection consists offlakes and spalls with traces of retouching, as well as unprocessed flakes. A carbonaceous crust and traces of corrosion were found on some tools. Typologically, the materials from the site of Matkechik 2 can be preliminarily attributed to the Middle and Late Paleolithic. Stone inventory at the site of Matkechik 3 included a side scraper-reamer made of flake, knife with the oval working edge made of flake, as well as flakes and large pebble spalls which can be attributed to the Late Paleolithic.