Core-shaped tools from the Early Pleistocene deposits at Bairaki, Moldova

This article deals with a series of core-shaped tools from Early Pleistocene deposits (layers 5 and 6) of the stratified site of Bairaki, located on high above-floodplain terrace VII of the Dniester, Moldova, on the outskirts of Dubasari. The site was discovered in 2010 by a Russian-Moldovan archaeological expedition and excavated in 2011-2014. As a result of interdisciplinary approach, six layers with Early Paleolithic artifacts were identified. Two lowest ones (5 and 6) are associated with the channel alluvium of terrace VII. As the paleomagnetic studies have shown, these deposits belong to the Matuyama epoch, corresponding to the Jaramillo episode. The lithic industry of layers 5 and 6 was found to be comparable to Late Oldowan. Most artifacts are made ofpoor quality flint, there are also pebble tools made of non-silicic rocks. Most lithics are small. A distinct series of coreshaped scrapers and side-scrapers made on residual cores (9 spec.), fragments (1 spec.), and flakes (5 spec.) is identified. All these tools are robust and had been processed in a similar manner. They are made of pebbles no larger than 6 cm. The steep working edges of all implements in this series are heavily retouched. Similar items are known in the Early Paleolithic materials of the region. Such tools were widespread in the Early Paleolithic of Africa and Eurasia. The earliest forms were found in Bed I assemblage of the Olduvai Gorge.