Emergence of the Levallois technology in the early Paleolithic complexes from Southeastern Dagestan

The time of appearance and subsequent dispersal of the Levallois technology is among the most pressing issues of the Eurasian Palaeolithic. The Levallois reduction is mostly correlated with the Middle Paleolithic, but in Dagestan, the Levallois artifacts are found in the same context with the Early Paleolithic Acheulean-like industries. Lamellar blanks that were used as in-laid parts in composite tools have been also noted in the same early context with the Levallois artifacts. These components have been recorded in the two stratified Early Paleolithic sites of Darvagchay-Zaliv-1 and Darvagchay-Zaliv-4. The chronological assessment of the cultural layers is made on the basis of natural science data and according to the accepted stratigraphic scheme, corresponds to the age of ≈0.35-0.3 million years ago (MIS 10-9).