Research of advanced upper paleolithic and final Upper Paleolithic evidence at the Ushbulak site in 2023

This article presents research of the Upper Paleolithic complexes at the multilayered Ushbulak site in Eastern Kazakhstan in 2023. Excavation area 1 was expanded by 5 sq. m to the west, downstream of the Ushbulak Vostochnyi stream. New stratigraphic sections provided a better understanding of the distribution of archaeological evidence and location of the artificial structure (layer 5). Stone artifacts and paleofauna were identified in all exposed stratigraphic layers. Some interesting artifacts enriched the previous collection from the Final Paleolithic layer 2. Small quantity of archaeological evidence in layer 3 might have resulted from its accumulation time during transition from the glacial maximum to late glacial interstadial. The lower layers (4.1-5.2) of excavation area 1, attributed to the Upper Paleolithic, significantly expanded the available collection of nucleiform artifacts, particularly by preforms, since earlier collections primarily featured highly exhausted items. The assemblage of tools became enriched with chisel-like tools and borers/drills with carefully retouched spurs on microblades. The typological series of these artifacts is of great importance for further study of the site. Despite low number of artifacts in assemblage from layer 5.2, it was possible to find more similarities with evidence from the Initial Upper Paleolithic assemblages (layers 6-7) compared to the Upper Paleolithic layers 4-5.1. The stone structure which was initially discovered in layer 5 in 2018, continued under the artifacts of layer 5.2, making it possible to reconsider its earlier chronological attribution.