The middle Paleolithic complexes of the Chagyrskaya cave: 2016 field results

Chagyrskaya cave is a well-known key-site of Gorny Altai’s Middle Paleolithic. In the field season of 2016 in cultural layer 6 of Chagyrskaya cave new numerous collections of stone artefacts, palaeontological and paleoanthropological materials were obtained. Unique for the regional Middle Paleolithic findings are numerous bone artifacts (retouchers and pressers). Up to now the bone tools and personal ornaments were recorded mainly in the transition and Upper Paleolithic industries in the Altai territory. The multiplicity and diversity of new paleoanthropological remains allows not only to reconstruct the Neanderthal populations ’s physical appearance but also to start studying intra-variability (especially considering the high possibility of receiving DNA information by virtue of good preservation).