Results of research of the middle Paleolithic deposits in the Strashnaya cave in 2017

In the field season of 2017, the archaeological team of IAET SB RAS continued excavations in the central part of the Strashnaya Cave and examined the Pleistocene layers 5 and 6, associated with the Middle Paleolithic. The Pleistocene deposits were excavated on the area of 4 m2 to the depth reaching 0. 47 m. Five archaeological horizons were identified, and osteological and lithic collections were obtained. The inhabitants of deciduous forests and sand dunes were discovered among the remains of small mammals. A jasperoid from the Zasuryinskaya Formation was found, which confirms the use of imported raw materials from the Charysh River Valley. The presence of the Levallois component in the stone industries of Strashnaya Cave was confirmed by the discovery of Levallois flakes in the archaeological horizons of layers 5 and 6.