Open AccessThe problem of the Paleolithic to Mesolithic transition on the Upper and Middle Don River
Author(s) -
A.N. Bessudnov,
Alexander Bessudnov
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
samarskij naučnyj vestnik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2782-3016
pISSN - 2309-4370
DOI - 10.17816/snv201983201
Subject(s) - mesolithic , radiocarbon dating , archaeology , middle paleolithic , upper paleolithic , geography , magdalenian , population , geology , pleistocene , demography , cave , sociology
The youngest Upper Palaeolithic sites in the Upper and Middle Don Valley have radiocarbon dates about 1312 ka BP (Borshchevo 2, Divnogorye 1, 9). Lithic assemblages of these sites are characterized by the presence of backed implements, end-scrapers on blades, burins on truncation which are distinctive features for the final stage of the Eastern Epigravettian. The sites that could be undoubtedly associated with the Final Palaeolithic are not represented in the region. Several Early Mesolithic sites discovered during two last decades have radiocarbon dates about 109 ka BP. Geometric microliths, burins of different types, circular end-scrapers and some pointes and chisels are typical for toolkits. Although at least 2000 years separate Palaeolithic and Mesolithic settlements there are some similarities in technical and typological characteristics of its lithic assemblages. Various scenarios of the Mesolithic formation and its probable origin are discussed in the paper. The most preferable is the point of view that there is no continuity between the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic, and the appearance of the Mesolithic population can be explained by migrations from neighboring territories.