New results of studying the Middle Paleolithic complexes in the south chamber of Denisova Cave

This article discusses collections of lithic artifacts from the Middle Pleistocene strata in the central part of the South Chamber in Denisova cave. In 2024, sediments of lithological layers 19.2-16.1 were excavated. No archaeological evidence was found in layers 19.2 and 19.1 which, according to preliminary data, were accumulated at the turn of MIS 9 and 8. Industry of the Initial Middle Paleolithic, consisting of over 1300 objects, was discovered in layers 18 and 17 formed during MIS 7. The primary technology in this industry was mainly based on radial reduction system aimed at obtaining short and shortened, often massive, blanks. Various side-scrapers, including items of the Quina type, ventrally thinned and basally truncated flakes, denticulate and notched tools, and flakes with irregular retouching distinguish the toolkit. Over 900 artifacts of the Early Middle Paleolithic were obtained from layers 16.2 and 16.1 which accumulated in MIS 6. The main technical and typological indicators of this industry were in many ways similar to the complex from the underlying layers with the exception of more developed parallel technology and Levallois production aimed at obtaining flakes, blades, and points. Blades and elongatedflakes were sporadic in the collection from layers 18 and 17 while the share of blades among the blanks reached 10% in the evidence from layers 16.2 and 16.1. The toolkit from these layers contained truncated-faceted items which were not typical for the industries of the Initial Middle Paleolithic.