Research of the Middle Paleolithic complexes in the Chagyrskaya Cave in the field season of 2024

This article presents the results of field studies in the Chagyrskaya cave - a key site of the Sibiryachikha phase of the Middle Paleolithic in the Altai - which were done in 2024. In that excavation season, the main focus of excavation works was on studying stratigraphy of the site, searching for anthropological remains, and obtaining a collection of lithic artifacts for technical and typological analysis. Two culture-bearing layers, 6a and 6c/1, with numerous lithic artifacts and anthropological remains were identified during the excavation. Preliminary analysis of the lithic complexes has revealed some differences from the typical collections of the Chagyrskaya cave. Thus, new collections contained a significant share of cortical flakes, more cortical striking platforms on flakes, and more bifacial tools in the toolkit. These differences are not cultural, chronological, or stadial, but rather reflect variation in seasonal habitation of the cave by the Late European Neanderthals or differences in the functioning of the excavated areas. The complexes of layer 6c/2, which were typical for the Chagyrskaya cave, represented the remains of Neanderthal base camp for consuming hunting prey, mainly bison. Layer 6a in the cave resulted from colluvial processes and can be functionally defined as a hyena den with remains of Neanderthal material culture from layer 6c/2. Anthropological remains included a proximal fragment of the right humerus of an adult, left upper incisor, and lower right premolar. This discovery of anthropological remains indicates good prospects for continuing field works at the site.