Zagros epipalaeolithic: recent interpretation

Purpose. Сurrent research value of Epipaleolithic complexes of the Zagros has increased significantly as a result of studying the western part of Central Asia Paleolithic complexes, which has intensified. Previously, the main hypothesis justified the origin of the Central Asia Mesolithic being a result of direct migration from the territories of the Zagros. Recent data, which were obtained during the study of Central Asian Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic assemblages, contradict this hypothesis. This work is devoted to the basic concepts of the Zagros Late Pleistocene - Early Holocene complexes in the foreign historiography. We raise the issues of genesis, chronology, stages and further development of Zarzian industries. Particular attention is paid to the hypothesis of cross-cultural interactions between the Levant, Zagros and western Central Asian ancient populations. Results. The only cultural phenomenon and archaeological culture identified on the territory of the Zagros is Zarzian culture. Its feature is primary knapping, which in Zarzian industries was based on the use of bladelet prismatic cores; another type of cores was carinated ones. Tool complexes were mainly non-geometric and geometric microliths, namely truncated bladelets, backed bladelets, scalene triangles, rectangles (trapeziums) and lunates. Burins, end scrapers, notched and denticulated tools were also present. Zarzian chronology describes a considerable variety of complexes expressed in a variety of typological and technological non-geometric and geometric microliths. So far, there has been a lack of absolute dating results. Zarzian complexes are dated between 18000 and 11000 cal bp. The genesis of Zarzian assemblages is defined as a local one, derived from the late stage of Baradostian (or Zagros Aurignacian). Further development is associated with the local Proto-Neolithic complexes in the region. Conclusion. Researchers emphasize significant similarities between Zarzian assemblages and Levant Epipaleolithic cultures (Kebarian, Geometric Kebarian, Nebekian), considering it as a vari ant of the local culture. However, there are a number of differences between the complexes analyzed. We highlight similarities between Zarzian culture and that of Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic of western Central Asia (Terminal Kulbulakian, Tutkaulian). Researchers of the Middle East and western Central Asia Epipaleolithic complexes note that the general trend is gradual transition from non-geometric microliths to geometric forms. The earliest form of geometric microliths for both regions was a scalene triangle. It was subsequently replaced by rectangles (trapezoids), which, in turn, were replaced by segments. We tend to explain the phenomenon of simultaneous spread of complexes with geometric microliths (triangles, rectangles (trapezoids) and lunates) in the Levant, the Zagros and Pamir-Tien Shan region by the fact of cross-cultural interactions.