New data on the Paleolithic of the Osa-Unga geoarchaeological region

The Osa-Unga (Southern Angara region) geoarchaeological region is known as a locus of concentration of many Paleolithic objects. More than 30 objects of Paleolithic age are known on the southern coast of the Osa Bay, among which geoarchaeological complexes that have become stratotypic (Gora Igetey, Igeteisky Log 1, 3, Bolshoy Naryn 1, 2). The easternmost objects on the southern coast of the bay is the “Tartakhon” Paleolithic site discovered in 1975 on the right side of the Tartakhon ravine and marked by single finds. In 2002, during reconnaissance survey on the southern coast of the Osa Bay, a new archaeological object was discovered, which received the name of Bolshoy Naryn, located on the right and left sides of the ravine of the same name. In general, dating of the Bolshoy Naryn complex fits into the chronological range of 27-33 ka. In 2022, in the Osa-Unga geoarchaeological region, a new archaeological site “Pad Tartakhon” located on the left side of the ravine was discovered and partially surveyed. Archaeological material was recorded at a depth of 130 cm from the modern-day surface in the lavel of the buried soil, presumably of the Sartan age. The finds were located in a compact spot and are represented by 55 stone articles and 41 fragments of tubular mammal bones, as well as several manuports placed in a semicircle. Stone artifacts are represented by two cores, forty-two flakes, four blades, and various fragments. The available small artifactual composition allows concluding that a new Upper Paleolithic object was discovered, which, according to the technomorphological characteristics, is included in the locus of complexes of the Osa-Unga region.