First research results at the Paleolithic site of Kattasay-2 in the Western Tian Shan

Research at the Paleolithic site of Kattasay-2 may provide the information concerning the population which correlates with the non-lamellar tradition of stone processing in the Western Tian Shan. The stratigraphic deposits of the site can be divided into four layers. The deposits are interpreted as deluvial-aeolian, and only deposits of layer 2b resemble loess. The first of the two archaeological horizons occurs in the zone of bioturbation in layer 2a. The stone industry indicates the use of not-volumetric and volumetric concepts of lithic reduction. The second archaeological horizon occurs in layer 3b. The stone artifacts illustrate the application of not-volumetric concept of lithic reduction, similar to the concept followed at the nearby Kattasay-1 site. Layer 3b at Kattasay-2 seems to be contemporaneous with the culture-bearing layer 4c at Kattasay-1, which suggests that both Middle Paleolithic sites could have functioned synchronously.