Pages: 239-258 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp221239258

This article presents the results of recent archaeological and geochemical studies at the Late Palaeolithic site of Yudinivo. The reported research was focused on the area with dwelling No. 5, a large pit with mammoth bones on its bottom and an ash damp. The micro-stratigraphy of the cultural layer makes it possible to identify a number of stages in the life history of large household constructions. It has been established that an ash damp was formed first, while dwelling of mammoth bones was erected somewhat later and simultaneously a large pit was dug with large mammoth bones laid on its bottom. The pit and the dwelling appear to have been constructed at the same time and used synchronously with the ash damp. The geochemical analysis of the deposits above the ash damp and the pit, as well as in the filling of the latter, show that the cultural layer formed during an extremely long period of time with long intervals. One can distinguish at least four episodes corresponding to different climatic conditions. Two of these episodes are characterized by a high anthropogenic load, indicating that the site occupation was particularly active 17100—15000 cal. BP and 14000—13200 cal. BP.

Keywords: Upper Palaeolithic, Desna river basin, Yudinovo site, settlement structure, stratigraphy, micro-stratigraphy, radiocarbon dating, geochemistry

Information about authors:

Gennady Khlopachev (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Peter The Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) of Russian Academy of Sciences. Universitetskaya Emb., 3, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Marianna Kulkova (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Geologo-Mineralogical Sciences. Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia. Moyka River Emb., 48, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Yurii Gribchenko. Candidate of Geographical Sciences.