Pages: 339-351

The paper deals with microlithic technology in the Early Upper Palaeolithic of Mongolia. The assemblages from 5 sites under consideration contain both microcores and microblades, but no tools made of microblades are present. The materials from Northern Mongolia and Gobi Altai testify to the existence of microlithic technology since the early stages of the the Upper Palaeolithic (ca. 37—26 kya). In the Early Upper Palaeolithic of Northern Mongolia (Tolbor-4 and Tolbor-15 sites) microblades were usually detached from narrow-front and, less frequently, wedge-shaped microcores. The materials of Tsagan-Agui Cave in Gobi Altai include elongated cores with negatives of microblade removals on the narrow front. The Early Upper Palaeolithic layer of Chikhen-Agui Rockshelter yielded a subprismatic microcore designed for microblade production and 24 microblades. In addition, microblades and microcores were found in the Early Upper Palaeolithic layers of the open air site of Chikhen 2.

Keywords: Mongolia, Gobi Altai, Early Upper Palaeolithic, microlithic technology, radiocarbon dating

Information about authors:

Sergey Gladyshev (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Akademik Lavrentiev Ave., 17, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Andrey Tabarev (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Akademik Lavrentiev Ave., 17, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]