Pages: 133-159 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp241133159

The find of an incomplete skeleton of the mammoth Mammuthus cf. intermedius near the Lenino village (Yenotayevka district, Astrakhan region) is described. The bones occurred in the layer of continental sandy deposits of the Singil regression (end of the Middle Neopleistocene). The skeletal remains belong to a female with an individual age of 35—40 years. This find allows us to clarify the species diversity of elephants that inhabited the Lower Volga area during the relatively cool phase of the Khazar faunal complex existence. Some bones bear what appears to be traces of ancient human activity including traces of hunting. Traceological analysis of one of the bones makes it possible to suggest the anthropogenic nature and ancient origin of these traces. The available evidence may be taken as an indication that the first humans appeared in the territory of modern Astrakhan Region at least at the end of the Middle or beginning of the Late Neopleistocene (MIS 6 — MIS 5). Previously, it was thaught that humans appeared in this territory only 12—14 thousand years ago.

Keywords: Lower Volga, Astrakhan Region, Singil regression, Khazar fauna, Middle Neopleistocene, Middle Paleolithic, bone industry

Information about authors:

Mikhail Golovachev (Astrakhan, Russian Federation). Astrakhan Museum-Reserve. Sovetskaya St., 15, Astrakhan, 414000, Russian Federation; Southern Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences. Chekhov Ave., 41, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0001-9758-9496
Stanislav Remizov (Volgograd, Russian Federation). Historical, ethnographic and architectural museum-reserve “Old Sarepta”.  Izobilnaya St., 10, Volgograd, 400026, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0001-9892-8058
Vadim Titov (Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Southern Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Chekhov Ave., 41, Rostov-on-Don, 344006, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0001-5938-5775
Andrey Zastrozhnov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Geology and Mineralogy. A.P. Karpinsky Russian Geological Research Institute. Sredny Ave., 74, Saint Petersburg, 199106, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0003-2703-6911
Dmitry Zastrozhnov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Geology and Mineralogy. A.P. Karpinsky Russian Geological Research Institute. Sredny Ave., 74, Saint Petersburg, 199106, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0003-2354-4708
Guzel Danukalova (Ufa, Russian Federation). Candidate of Geology and Mineralogy. Institute of geology of Ufa Federal Research Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences. Karl Marx St., 16/2, Ufa, 450077, Republic of Baashkortostan, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0000-0001-7602-5923