New research data from the Tolbor-21 site (Northern Mongolia)

The 2017 excavation season at Tolbor-21 resulted in the division of the cultural sequence of the site into five horizons from the Final to Initial Upper Paleolithic and exploration of a very rich cultural horizon 3b. This horizon extends over the entire excavation area, contains the evidence of the terminal Initial Upper Paleolithic, and is dated by radiocarbon to 37-39 ka. This cultural horizon has a complex planigraphic structure probably resulting from multiple occupational episodes. The deposits of this horizon contained fireplaces with partial placement of stones around, other stone structures, and isolated accumulations of lithic raw materials and faunal remains. The Middle Paleolithic stone assemblage is small; it is associated with soil complex from the base of the stratigraphic sequence at Tolbor-21.