Spatial analysis of the Early Upper Paleolithic site Sabanikha-3 (preliminary results)

The article provides preliminary results of the spatial analysis of materials from the Early Upper Paleolithic site of Sabanikha-3. Currently, Sabanikha-3 is one of the few EUP sites in the Yenisei River basin with an undisturbed cultural layer. The site is located on the high bank of the Yenisei River (now the Krasnoyarsk Reservoir) and is associated with the top of a ravine that provided a convenient descent to the water and sources of raw materials, specifically pebble bars. The spatial distribution of artifacts has revealed four functional areas (occupation episodes). The first area involved the core reduction, consumption of horses and Siberian ibex, and the production of personal ornaments. The second area was located in the eastern and southeastern parts of the pit. Based on the assemblage of lithic and bone tools (including end scrapers, splinted pieces, borers, and bone needles), it is assumed that hide processing took place here. The faunal assemblage in this area includes remains of several Capra Sibirica or Ragnifer Tarandus individuals. The third area contains the majority of cores, knapping tools, pebble tools, blocks of diabase, pebble tools, diabase blocks, and most fragments of split antlers. The fourth area is associated with afireplace found in pit 1. The elevation of the fireplace relative to the artifacts suggests that most of the artifacts are not related to the fireplace, which marks the earliest occupation episode of the excavated area. The spatial analysis indicates that the cultural layer of the site represents a palimpsest of short-term occupations by bearers of the same cultural tradition over a relatively short period.