Middle Palaeolithic assemblages from Denisova cave: new data

Purpose. Comprehensive archaeological studies conducted in the East Chamber of Denisova Cave during 2005-2011 in the Altai region have made it possible to obtain a representative collection of archaeological evidence attributed to the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. Middle Palaeolithic finds were recovered in the greatest numbers. This research mainly focuses on establishing relationships between the new middle Palaeolithic archaeological record documented in the East Chamber and assemblages of the same period found in different areas of Denisova Cave. Results. To date, geochronology of the Pleistocene sequence in the East Chamber is mainly based on biostratigraphic evidence and the preliminary results of OSL dating. These data indicate that deposition of layers 13-11.3 appears to have occurred from late MIS 7 through terminal MIS 4. The lack of sharp boundaries and long sedimentation gaps between lithological units, as well as generally similar techno-typological features of lithic industries from layers 13-11.3, enable consideration of these materials within the same Middle Palaeolithic complex. Archaeological evidence recovered from layers 13-11.3 in the East Chamber (17 326 specimens) and attributed to the middle Middle Palaeolithic has the cultural and chronological counterparts in the Main Chamber (layers 20-12, 7 545 specimens) and in the entrance area (layers 10 and 9, 1 402 specimens) of the cave. The comparison of the major techno-typological characteristics of the lithic industries from these layers makes it possible to provide a general characteristic of the Middle Palaeloithic assemblage found in the cave. In general, these industries can be characterised by different variants of parallel, radial and Levallois flaking techniques. Scrapers constitute a typological basis of the lithic inventory; excavations yielded a high percentage of notch-denticulate tools, Levallois tools and the Upper Palaeolithic implements are present. Conclusion. Techno-typological characteristics of the lithic industries, showing a qualitative uniformity, reveal some dynamics in the quantitative ratio between different categories of the inventory from bottom to top in the stratigraphic sequence. Thus, it was possible to trace a tendency for the increase of the typological variety of cores and a growing percentage of blades among flakes. The tool assemblage is characterised by the increased proportion of the Upper Palaeolithic tools, with a progressive decrease of Levallois and notch-denticulate components.