The lithic industry of the Kuksaray-2 site (Eastern Uzbekistan): flat to volumetric transition

The research of the Kuksaray-2 site with a minimally disturbed cultural-stratigraphic sequence was continued in 2024. According to the paleogeographic reconstruction, layer 0 represents deposits formed during MIS 3, subsequently reworked by soil formation processes in the Holocene. Layer 1 was also formed during MIS 3, but less affected by subsequent soil formation processes. Layer 2 was formed during MIS 4. The deposits of layers 3 and 4 were formed during MIS 5. The collection of layers 0, 1, and 2 is characterized by a symbiotic nature of the lithic industry. The collection of layer 3 is more homogeneous in terms of technology. Among cores and technical spalls, the products that exclusively relate to non-volumetric knapped stone strategies were found. The tools represented in the industry well correlate with them. In the categories of cores and technical spalls of layer 4, products related to the flake production strategies predominate. In addition, the industry has a blade component, although there are no signs of using volumetric knapped stone strategies. Only the materials of layer 4 include artifacts that correspond to the Levallois point technology and the practice of producing tools directly on rock fragments. The dynamics of the lithic industry revealed in the transition from MIS 4 to MIS 5 fully matches the pattern previously identified during the study of the Kulbulak site (layers 12.1-12.3). The diversity of approaches to using raw materials in layer 4 suggests the possibility that the site could have been visited by ancient groups having different processing repertoires and sets of adaptation strategies.