Bone and antler processing (on Upper-Paleolithic site Malaya Syiya, Southern Siberia)

Purpose. On the background of studying initial stages of the Upper Paleolithic of Southern Siberia and Mongolia, the study of the Paleolithic of the Minusinsk Basin is much less intense, full of fragmentary data and unclear concepts. We aimed at conducting a comprehensive study of the archaeological sites and previously obtained materials on the territory of the Minusinsk depression, where Malaya Syiya is situated. Of special interest is the technological analysis of bone and antler processing, which was not previously performed. Results. According to our investigation, the collection in question is statistically representative as objects with traces of artificial bone and antler processing constitute more than one quarter of the total number of bone items in general. The items with signs of technological actions, which are present on more than one third items, are clear evidences of a stable technological cycle. In the collection under consideration, we distinguished bones deliberately split into standard billets, with 5-8 cm and 9-15 cm predominant fragments; specially processed cubic forms (blocks); intentionally removed epiphyses; bone and antler fragments with traces of strokes and cuts; objects with polish or retouch on the untreated bone; fragments of tools and ready-made modified tools. These types are identified as technological stages beginning with initial processing of bone and antler materials and proceeding to the production of typologically stable forms of tools. In the collection analyzed, there are two modified types of tools present, namely intentionally made forms, such as points, chisels, etc., and adapted types of tools, such as awls, small horse’s test slices, or bones with traces of polishing and long-term use adapted to certain functions. In the technological process, stability is observed in processing pointed tools on longitudinal billets of bone or antler, using incisors for removing excess volume and knives, such as a canif, to decorate the working edge. Conclusion. We fix it that search for technological and typological analogies in the materials of the objects of the Early Upper Paleolithic of Siberia proved to be difficult due to insufficient development of the issue as a whole on Siberian materials. Generally, the materials of the study confirm the point of view that allows us to consider Malaya Syiya as a relatively simultaneous ensemble in the context of the cultures of the early stage of the Upper Paleolithic of Southern Siberia, possibly with a small addition of later components.