Kolpakov ruchey site: early upper paleolithicon the middle Angara river (Siberia, Krasnoyarsk region)

During rescue excavations in the flood zone of Boguchan hydroelectric powerstation in the Middle Angara reaches in the cultural deposits of the Kolpakov Ruchey sitePalaeolithic layer was discovered. The tool complex is characterized by combination oforthogonal and radial flake knapping; parallel uni- and bidirectional reduction of flat-facedand sub-volumetric cores designed for producing big blades; parallel flat and subprismaticreduction technology related to bladelets production The tool set comprises side-scrapers,retouched blades and flakes, end-scrapers. Combination of such features is typical of theearliest stages of the Upper Palaeolithic in Siberia and Central Asia. On the surface of theartifacts traces of aeolian surface abrasion are visible. Proceeding from the complex of strati-graphic, archaeological and natural-scientific data the layer in question may date back to thefirst half of the Karginsky interstadial (ca. 55-35 thousand BP), which makes it possible toconsider the complex one of the earliest ever known in the Middle Angara region.