Rodniki 4: the early Paleolithic locality in the south of the Sea of Azov coast-line areas

One of the main areas of the studies concerning archaeology of the Paleolithicare issues of initial settlement of prehistoric population and development of its cultureat the earliest stage of the Early Paleolithic in the territory of Russia. As a result ofsystematic explorations carried out in recent years, a previously unknown Taman EarlyPaleolithic industry of hunters who hunted large mammals, which existed in the periodbetween 1,200,000 and 1,600,000 years ago, was singled out. This task required additionaljustification. The paper analyzes materials from Rodniky 4, i. e. a new Paleolithic locality, which belonged to this industry. The explorations confirmed a rather high level of Tamanindustry sophistication and provided a good case to refer it to the early Acheulean, whichis interpreted as a technological stage in development of lithic industries rather thana cultural tradition.