The lithic industry from Mesolithic site Obi-Kiik (Tajikistan)

Purpose: Obi-Kiik site is located in the northern part of Pamir-Alai mountain system, 50 km to south of Dushanbe. The fact that previously there was published only a selection of the lithics from Obi-Kiik site, the fact that recently a new data on the final Paleolithic of region was obtained, and the artifact’s interpretation from Tutkaul Mesolithic key-site partially was revised it became necessary to re-evaluate the industry of Obi-Kiik site in order to clarify its cultural and chronological position. The site was found in 1948 by A. P. Okladnikov and excavations were carried out in 1964 by V. A. Ranov who identified two lithological layers at the site with archaeological material being included into upper part of layer 1. As a result of field investigations it was concluded that the archaeological material lies in a re-deposited context. Nevertheless, based on number of features, it can be claimed that found archaeological material belongs to the single complex, both culturally, and chronologically. Present (preserved) collection of lithic artifacts from Obi-Kiik site consists of 300 examples. Conducted by N. A. Kulik a petrographic analysis showed that all artifacts were made on flint. Primary flaking strategies are represented by carinated and narrow-faced bladelet cores. The tool-kit is dominated by lunate microliths, notched tools, backed bladelets, blades and bladelets with alternate retouch, borers, and end-scrapers. Results: Based on materials from the regional Mesolithic key-site Tutkaul it became possible to separate two evolutionary stages in local cultural development: Early and Late Mesolithic. Early Mesolithic was identified on the materials from layer 3, Tutkaul site; lithic collection is represented by carinated cores, microscrapers and geometric microliths (mostly rectangles but also a few examples of lunates - 3 pcs., and a single triangle). Comparative study of Obi-Kiik industry and a collection from layer 3, Tutkaul site showed the following common features: raw material is solely flint; carinated cores are present; presence of similar tool types (blades and bladelets with alternate retouch, backed bladelets and lunates). Late Mesolithic is represented by layer 2a, Tutkaul site. Raw material study showed more variable system of procurement (presence of different types of raw material). Primary flaking strategies were mostly oriented into purposeful production of flakes. Bladelets and microblades were produced from narrow-faced and prismatic cores with mostly one or two (30 %) striking platforms. There is lack of carinated cores in this industry. The tool-kit is dominated by lunates, tutkaulian points and end-scrapers. Comparative study of Obi-Kiik industry with lithics from layer 2a of Tutkaul site showed the following common feature - the predominance of metrically similar lunates and notched tools in tool-kit. Conclusions: In previous years in course of comparative studies of local Mesolithic complexes a differential focus was made on identifying a kind of «cultural dichotomy» - complexes with lunates produced from narrow-faced or prismatic cores from one hand, and industries with carinated cores and lack of lunates from another hand. Carinated cores were associated with Upper Paleolithic and Early Mesolithic industries (Shugnou, Kharkush, Dodekatym-2, Tutkaul site, layer 3) and the lunates marked the Late Mesolithic stage of regional cultural development (Tutkaul site, layer 2a, and Darai-Shur site). In frame of this research doctrine such features as presence / lack and shape of microliths thought to be the main (and sometimes the only) cultural and chronological marker. Nowadays it became clear that we have at least one Mesolithic industry where lunates and carinated cores are present together. According to our point of view, the lithic industry from Obi-Kiik site may represent a transition evolutionary stage from the Early to the Late Mesolithic.