The discovery and excavation of Uzynagash 1, a recently discovered Early Upper Paleolithic site in the Southeastern Kazakhstan

The Upper Paleolithic period in Kazakhstan in Central Asia is one of the least studied periods in the region. In 2018-2022 active investigations were carried out in the piedmont areas of the Northern Tien Shan near the Zailiysky Alatau Range (Trans-Ili Alatau). Uzynagash 1-9, a recently discovered complex of Upper Paleolithic stratified sites, was discovered in 2021 and the first excavations at Uzynagash 1 were carried out in 2022. The excavation found that the site had not less than three occupation layers in situ. Each occupation layer revealed lithic finds (debitage and tools) and remains of hearths remains of hearths. The overall stone assemblage consists of 4396 items. Lithic industry belongs to the single cultural complex dating dating to the Early Upper Paleolithic. On the whole, the investigations reveal that in the Early Upper Paleolithic a large, distinctive cultural center with lithic industries containing a component of the Aurignacian type existed in the Northern Tien Shan piedmont.