Upper Paleolithic of Western Pamir-Tianshan (based on materials from Kulbulak site)

A study of the Upper Paleolithic in western Pamir-Tian-Shan in the last ten years has led to a revision of its attribution, formerly proposed main features of this period were – mosaic industries, and the non-blade nature of Upper Paleolithic complexes, the overall shape of an archaic industry – preserving Middle Paleolithic stone processing techniques. The studies of key-sites of the local Upper Paleolithic allow us to say that they belong to the single Upper Paleolithic cultural and technological tradition that demonstrates the development of the original microblade microlithic complex, including backed tools and scalene triangular microliths. In the course of its development, the tradition includes the steps of appearance, formation, flourishing and replacement of carinated technology. This tradition has been traced in lithic assemblages from Kulbulak layers 2.1 and 2.2, Kyzyl-Alma-2, and Dodekatym-2, (Uzbekistan), Shugnou (Tajikistan). This article presents the results of the technical, typological and attribution analysis of Upper Paleolithic stone industries from Kulbulak site obtained in 2007 to 2011 years joint Russian-Uzbek-Belgian expedition.