The early pleistocene site of Kermek in Western Ciscaucasia (preliminary results from a multidisciplinary study)

The Early Pleistocene site of Kermek located in western Ciscaucasia isconnected with a well-studied Early Pleistocene (late Kujalnikian) fluviatile-shallowmarine sequence. These reverse magnetized deposits are characterized by freshwaterand brackish water mollusks (with Dreissena theodori), and by a small mammal fauna(with Allophaiomys deucalion), and are dated to the latest Gelasian or early Calabrianca. 2,1-1,8 Ma. The lithic industry from the site can be attributed to the Classic Oldowanbut with distinctive local features that include indications of «advanced» technologies ofAcheulean such as the manufacture of large flakes and picks. Most likely it is a transitionalindustry between Oldowan/Mode 1 and Acheulean. Site of Kermek is the earliest EarlyPaleolithic site in western Eurasia outside the Caucasus