Bladelet knapping in the industry of Anui-2 site, horizon B: individual acts of production activity

As a result of a fundamental reframing of the chronology and cultural sequence of the reference archaeological site Anui-2 located in the northwestern Altai, we have obtained new factual material for the study of cultural processes and components that determine the bright and unique appearance of the industries of the Early Upper Paleolithic of the Anui valley. The investigation of the production strategies and use of bladelets from the Anui-2 site provided herein is the first example of addressing the archaeological complexes of the site taking into account the new scheme of archaeological stratification and the updated composition of collections. Based on the study of technological, spatial, and temporal aspects of individual acts of stone knapping, we have determined the specifics and structure of the production activities associated with bladelets of horizon B. Our results indicate that the production of bladelets with a straight and curved profile was a central place in the horizon industry and was based on longitudinal parallel and convergent knapping of blanks along a pronounced arc of simple end and wide-frontal volumetric cores on massive flakes. The production cycle involved transportation of ready-made bases for cores to the site, their knapping and processing of bladelets. The study results allow providing a deeper assessment of the spatial distribution offinds in the horizon, and preservation of horizon structures, to trace the directions and processes of transformation of individual blocks of stone raw material associated with the production and use of bladelets. The study results as supplemented by radiocarbon dating data create a prerequisite for revisiting approaches to interpreting the nature of similarity between the lithic industries of the Anui-2 site and the complexes of the Ust-Karakol cultural tradition of the Early Upper Paleolithic of Altai. In view of new reconstructions, they should be considered rather as synchronous and belonging to the same cultural tradition.