First results of research into the lithic industry from layer 24 at the Kulbulak site (excavations of 2019)

Despite significant progress in the study of early laminar complexes of the Pamir-Tien Shan, which defined the outlook of the cultural development of the region in the mid Upper Pleistocene, their further study is relevant due to ambiguity of chronology, and insufficient understanding of their genesis and reasons for variability. These problems can be resolved though the comprehensive study of archaeological evidence from the lower unit of deposits at the multilayered Kulbulak Paleolithic site. Recent studies have confirmed that the cultural sequence of this site reveals all stages of formation and development of laminar tradition of stone processing. First indications of this process can be observed already in the Middle Paleolithic industries of the site, which may have the Middle Pleistocene age. The earliest culture-bearing layer at the Kulbulak site is layer 24 of predominantly deluvial origin. The results of preliminary technical and typological analysis of the evidence from the excavations of 2019 well correspond to the results of the comprehensive study of the site in 2010-2018, and confirm that lithic industries with variable blade production appear in the lower layers of the Kulbulak site (over 82,000 BP). The Levallois model of reduction dominated in the industry of layer 24, while it was virtually not used in the later industries of the Obi-Rakhmat cultural tradition. The toolkit consists exclusively of the objects belonging to the Middle Paleolithic typological series, such as elongated point on blade, various side-scrapers, Levallois flake, and spalls with irregular retouching, which confirms the focus on blade production.