The end-face method of splitting cores from the industry of layer 6 of the Biryuchya Balka 2 Middle Paleolithic site

The multilayer Paleolithic site Biryuchya Balka 2 was investigated by A. E. Matyukhin in 1989-1990 and 2003-2005. A series of Middle Paleolithic cultural layers was identified in the lower sediment strata. Layer 6 (6.1 and 6.2) occupies the lowest position among the exposed Middle Paleolithic layers in the stratigraphy of the site. This study aims to examine the flint splitting technology in layer 6 and identify signs of a specific type of primary splitting related to the end sections of flattened cores. To achieve this, all cores in the stone industry of the layer were analyzed, revealing specific chipping linked to the initial design stage of the end sections of cores. Chipping of plates from the end working front of cores indicates a Late Paleolithic chipping technique, so each such case in the Middle Paleolithic industry requires special attention. The Late Paleolithic plate technique originated in various ways. A technical and typological analysis of samples of flint objects (cores and plates) from layer 6 shows the presence of the end-face method of core splitting and allows for comparison with Paleolithic sites in Western Europe, Crimea, North-Western Donbass, and the Levant. The observations lead to the conclusion that elements of the end-face method of splitting cores from layer 6 can be found in two contexts. The first (non-targeted) method is associated with correcting and raising the bulge of the working front of typical Middle Paleolithic cores, while the second (targeted) method is an independent technique of end-face splitting of cores, similar to the splitting of Late Paleolithic plate cores.