The initial Upper Paleolithic assemblages of the Northern Mongolia. The cultural unity and variability

This publication is devoted to the comparative analysis of the archaeological materials from three stratified sites located in the Northern Mongolia in the Khangai Mountains. The discussed assemblages belong to the Initial Upper Paleolithic period and this fact is confirmed with the new radiocarbon dates obtained from horizons 4, 5 and 6 from Tolbor-4 site and horizons 5, 6 and 7 from Tolbor-15 site. Materials of the lowest horizons (5, 6 Tolbor-4 site) are dated back to 37-35, 000 BP and mark the initial stage of the settlement of the mountain regions of Northern Mongolia by modern H. sapiens in the second half of the Late Pleistocene. The Period of existence of the other archaeological complexes spans in the interval from 33,000 to 26-27,000 BP. Materials of the stone industries are analyzed in frames of the unified methods. The authors draw a conclusion that there are some changes in the technique of manufacture and exploration of the cores. Lower horizons (Tolbor-4 site) clearly demonstrate semi prismatic cores with two alternative striking platforms and single surface of percussion. Lately (Orkhon-7, Tolbor-15 sites and horizon 4 at the Tolbor-4 site) they have been modified to the cores with single-platform and flat front. The portion of the narrow front cores also increased. This tendency shows a long adaptation of the ancient population to local sources of raw materials. It should be mentioned that the type-list of stone tools remained without significant changes. Only in later complexes the share of large scrapers and notched tools considerably decreased.