The article examines and analyzes the stone industries of the Upper Paleolithic Kul'tu-containing layers of the Kul'bulak site (Uzbekistan), a reference monument in Central Asia. As a result of the research conducted at this site, as well as at Kyzyl-Alma-2, Dodekum-2 and Shugnou in the Western Pamir-Tien Shan, the Kulbulak cultural and technological tradition is distinguished for the first time. It is characterized by a fine-plate technique and is represented by an original microlith complex, including products with a blunted back and triangular microliths. In the process of developing the tradition, the stages of appearance, formation, flourishing and replacement of objects of karenoid technology are distinguished. The characteristics of the industry of this technical tradition currently determine the general appearance of the Upper Paleolithic complexes of this region.

Key words: Upper Paleolithic, small plate production, karenoid technology, Central Asia.

Introduction

The Upper Paleolithic epoch in Central Asia has been studied very unevenly. The current situation significantly complicates a holistic interpretation of cultural events in the Asian part of Eurasia in the end of the Upper Neo-Pleistocene. As a result, all researchers dealing with the Upper Paleolithic on the territory of Uzbekistan (and Central Asia in general) recognize the heterogeneity of the known stone structures in the region, when almost every discovered Upper Paleolithic monument is a separate phenomenon (Vishnyatsky, 1999). Moreover, the almost complete absence of absolute age definitions even for a few stratified sites makes it impossible to identify the chronological and cultural variability of the Upper Paleolithic in a given territory. The cultural and chronological schemes of the Paleolithic of the region proposed by a number of researchers (Ranov, 1972; Tashkenbaev and Suleymanov, 1980; Davis and Ranov, 1999) only outline the general trends in the development of the Upper Paleolithic material culture, not allowing for the development of the Upper Paleolithic material culture.

* The work was carried out within the framework of RFBR projects (N 12 - 06 - 33041 mol-a-ved, 12 - 06 - 31235 mol-a) and RGNF (N 12 - 31 - 01322).

Fig. 1. Location of Upper Paleolithic monuments in the Pamir-Tien Shan.

to assess in detail the pace and dynamics of the genesis of cultures and their interaction. This situation is particularly contrasting against the background of quite numerous Mesolithic sites discovered and studied in Central Asia. A number of researchers see the reason for this disparity in the possible depopulation of the region in the range of 40-25 thousand BP, which was caused by a strong aridization of the climate and, as a consequence, a sharp decrease in animal and plant resources in the territory under consideration, which eventually led to a decrease in the populations of ancient hunters and gatherers (Ranov, 1972; Davis and Ranov, 1999]. It has also been hypothesized that most of the Upper Paleolithic sites have not been discovered, because they are buried at a considerable depth (Abramova, 1984) or were destroyed as a result of seismic activity and mudflow activity (Ranov, 1988).

The main features of the Upper Paleolithic, according to researchers, were mosaicity, which prevents the separation of cultures, the general archaic appearance of the industry and their non-plate nature (Ranov, 1964; Ranov and Nesmeyanov, 1973; Abramova, 1984; Korobkova and Dzhurakulov, 2000; Ranov and Karimova, 2005). In this regard, the discovery of new monuments of this chronological period, as well as the revision of collections of previously found objects, lead to clarification of the current situation.

New Upper Paleolithic sites have been discovered in the Western Tien Shan region as a result of research conducted by the international archaeological expedition of the Institute of Electrotechnical and Electrotechnical Research of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which has been operating in Uzbekistan since 1998: Dodecanese-2 and Kyzyl-Alma-2 [Kolobova et al., 2010; Kolobova, Krivoshapkin, Derevyanko, Islamov, 2011]. Also, one of the main activities of the expedition was the resumption of work on the main Paleolithic site of the region - the Kulbulak site. This article is devoted to the main results obtained during the study of the Upper Paleolithic horizons of this monument in 2007-2011.

Research history and location of the monument

The multi-layered open-type Kulbulak site (41°00 ' 31 "N, 70°00' 22 " E) is located on the south-eastern slopes of the Chatkal Range in the Tashkent region. Of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The monument, opened in 1962 by O. M. Rostovtsev, is located on a long promontory on the right bank of the mouth of the Dzharsay River, which flows into the river. Kyzylalma is a right tributary of the Akhangaron River (Fig.

Stationary excavations of the site were carried out in several stages. The first and main researcher of the monument, M. R. Kasymov, carried out excavations intermittently in the period from 1963 to 1985. The maximum thickness (in a small area) of the exposed Quaternary deposits was 19 m, and the total area exceeded 600 ^m2. According to M. R. Kasimov's interpretation, sediments belonging to the Lower (22 layers), Middle (24 layers) and Upper (3 layers) Paleolithic were uncovered. The latter contain artifacts that, according to the researcher, indicate the continuation of the Mousterian traditions of stone processing, but typically Upper Paleolithic nuclei and tools are introduced into the industry (Kasymov, 1990).

In 1994-1995, a Russian - Uzbek expedition led by N. K. Anisyutkin conducted excavations of the upper layer of sediments. Layers 1-4 containing stone artefacts were identified. The researchers assigned small complexes from layers 1 and 2 to the Upper Paleolithic, which, according to their assumption, may correspond to the Upper Paleolithic layers 2 and 3 of the Kasymov Mountain range. It was noted that the collections include scrapers, scrapers, chisels, chisel-shaped tools, punctures, notched products, plates, flakes, flakes and nuclei (Novye Issledovaniya..., 1995).

During 2007 - 2011, excavations at the Kulbulak site were resumed by an international expedition organized by the Institute of Electrotechnical Engineering of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Novosibirsk, Russia), the Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Samarkand, Uzbekistan) and the Royal Museum of Art and History (Brussels, Belgium). The research was conducted in order to obtain new clearly stratified collections of stone artefacts, clarify the stratigraphy of the monument, and select samples for abso-

lute dating and the study of the site with the use of methods of natural science disciplines. The work was focused on three sites, two of which revealed deposits of the Middle Paleolithic layers, and one of which revealed deposits of the Upper Paleolithic layers.

Stratigraphic and planigraphic contexts of the Upper Paleolithic strata

The Upper Paleolithic horizons of the Kulbulak site, discovered in 2007 - 2011, are contained in the second lithological layer (the overlying deposits were excavated in previous cycles of the monument's research), which is a light greenish-gray loam (sandy loam) with different-grained sand, gravel,gravel and rare rubble. The layer is slightly affected by bioturbations, it contains pellets of carbonate aggregates (nodules) and dense clays, there are spots of iron oxides (more often in the bottom). Despite the proluvial genesis of the sediments, the archaeological material contained in lithological layer 2 has undergone only minor displacement. This is evidenced both by the presence of a huge number of scales and small fragments in the collection, and by the fact that the artifacts lie mainly in the horizontal plane, forming clusters separated by empty space (planigraphic allocation of "activity zones"). In addition, several artifacts that broke down in ancient times were identified, whose applicating fragments were in close proximity to each other in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. During the excavation work, it was found that the Upper Paleolithic material within the second lithological division lies in two quantitatively unequal cultural layers, which most likely reflect two episodes of ancient people's habitation at this site, separated by a small time interval, and differing in the intensity of settlement. The upper layer with more numerous artifacts (cultural layer 2.1) indicates a long - term habitation, while the lower layer (cultural layer 2.2) indicates a short-term visit (Figure 2).

Stone tools of the Upper Paleolithic layers of the Kulbulak site

When analyzing primary cleavage, the category of industrial waste included fragments, fragments, flakes and small flakes (less than 2 cm in the largest dimension); when calculating the percentage of artifacts in each layer, production waste was not taken into account. In the metric analysis of small plate blanks, small plates and microplates are combined into a single category - "plates", i.e. chips whose length exceeds the width by 2 times or more, while the width is no more than 12 mm. Nevertheless, we use the name "microplate" when describing the blanks of a number of tools in order to emphasize the miniaturization of some products [Kolobova, Krivoshapkin, Derevyanko, Islamov, 2011].

Layer 2.2 Stone Industry

The complex includes 11,851 artifacts (Table 1). Of these, 10,024 items (84.6%) are classified as industrial waste. There are 94 nucleoid products identified. There are 72 copies of them. - pronounced nucleoli (tab. 2), disposed of within the planar (Fig. 3, 2, 5, b), end (Fig.. 3, 7, 9, 13), 3, 8, 10) of the splitting principles. Among the planar nuclei, Levallois nuclei are distinguished for obtaining sharp cleavages (Fig. 3,12) and flakes (Fig. 3, 11), and among the prismatic ones, only two are classified as carenoid (Fig. 3,3, 4). One combined nucleus demonstrates a combination of prismatic and planar cleavage principles (Fig. 3,1).

In total, there are 90 technical chips in the complex (Table 3). Regional chips are dominant (45 specimens), and a large number of them are noted.

2. Stratigraphic profile of the upper part of the sediments of the northern wall of the Kulbulak excavation site.

Table 1. Composition of stone structures of the Kulbulak parking lot

^* Percentage of the number of artifacts from the non-waste layer. ^{* *} Percentage of the total number of artifacts from the layer.

Table 2. Typological composition of nuclei

End of Table 2

Table 3. Typological composition of technical chips

Figure 3. Nuclei from the culture layer 2.2.

the number of "tablets" (22 copies), followed by costal and semi-costal (12 copies), chips of the correction of the cleavage arc from planar nuclei (7 copies). One chip of the lateral correction of the carenoid nucleus, as well as three incisor ones, was detected.

A bump made of heavily rounded effusive pebbles was found in the complex.

The chip industry (1,643 specimens) consists of flakes, lamellae, plates, lamellar flakes, and spikelets (see Table 1).

The tool kit includes 75 items (Table 4). The most representative category of tools are scrapers of various morphologies (Fig. 4, 1, 2, 10 - 12). Scrapers are divided into convergent (Fig. 4,15,16), straight longitudinal single and obushkovye (Fig. 4, 18). In the complex, 16 plates with retouching of various morphological features were identified (Figs. 4, 14), including one with a blunted edge. Much less significantly represented are notched products, flakes with retouching, chisel - shaped (Figs. 4, 6-9) and awl-shaped tools, peaked tools with retouching (figs. 4, 17), knives with an edge (Figs. 4.13), tools with a cast.

Part of the gun kit (5 copies), due to its miniature size, was allocated to a separate group called microindustry. It includes micro scrapers (Fig. 4, 3, 4), dufour plates (Fig. 4, 5) and a retouched plate.

Layer 2.1 stone industry

The collection includes 43,853 artifacts (see Table 1). 37,751 of them (86%) are classified as industrial waste (flakes, fragments, fragments, and small flakes). There are 472 nucleoid products, of which 336 copies. - typologically pronounced nucleoli (see Table. 2), which were disposed of within the planar (fig.. 5, 17, 18; 6,11 - 17), 6, 1-10) and prismatic

Figure 4. Stone tools from the cultural layer 2.2.

See Table 4. Typological composition of tools

Figure 5. Nuclei from the culture layer 2.1.

Figure 6. Nuclei from the culture layer 2.1.

5, 11-16) of the splitting principles. The brightest and most representative group of prismatic nuclei is the carenoid nuclei (see Figs. 5. 1-10). A single specimen is a combined nucleus that demonstrates a combination of prismatic and end splitting principles used at different stages of its utilization.

290 technical chips were found in the complex (see Table. 3), among which edge (46.5%), "tablets" (20.7%), as well as costal and semi-costal chips (16.2%) predominate. Several chips of the carenoid nuclei were found (Figs. 7, 7-5). The paper presents chips that correct the arc of chipping of planar nuclei, "diving" chips that remove the bases of prismatic one - and two-site nuclei, and incisors.

Of the two chocks found on heavily rolled pebbles, one was fragmented in ancient times (Figs. 7, 23).

The chip industry totals 5,340 copies. and consists of flakes, lamellae, plates, lamellar flakes, and pinnacles (see Table 1).

The weapon set of the complex includes 382 copies (see Table 4). The most numerous category includes scrapers of various morphologies (Fig. 7, 6 - 18, 21). This is followed by chisel - shaped tools, single-edged (Fig. 8, 31-34) and double-edged (Fig. 8, 35-41), plates with retouching (see Fig. 7, 19, 20, 22). Scrapers are divided into single and double ones. The former are represented by longitudinal straight lines and longitudinally convex (Figs. 8, 47), the latter by longitudinal straight lines, longitudinal alternative convex-concave, longitudinally transverse and angular. Dredged and serrated tools are quite numerous. In the category of punchers, awl-shaped tools and punctures are defined. Among the incisors, multi-facet planar (Fig. 8, 46), multi-facet (Fig. 8, 44, 45) and monoface variations of angular incisors are distinguished. A small group of sharp points with retouching (Figs. 8, 42, 43). Knives can be divided into products with natural and blunted edges. The only copies are a unifas, a chopper, a tronked plate and a plate with a blunted edge (Figs. 8, 17). A large, though typologically insignificant group consists of flakes with retouching.

Part of the gun kit, due to its miniature size, was allocated to a separate grouping called microindustry. It is represented primarily by retouched plates, including 16 small plate blanks with facets of unmodifying retouching located on various sections of the longitudinal edges (Fig. 8, 8, 9, 25 - 27) and 9 copies. with deliberate retouching (figs. 8, 10-16). The second most important category of micro-equipment is micro-chisel-shaped tools that do not exceed 20 mm in the largest dimension and are no more than 5 mm thick (Fig. 8, 18 - 21, 29, 30). Well-defined micro-scrapers are typologically assigned to the terminal (Figs. 8, 22-24) and nail - shaped forms. There are also plates with a blunted edge (Fig. 8, 6, 7, 28). Dufour plates were found in the complex, one of which can be identified as atypical (Fig. 8,4), and three demonstrate the treatment of both longitudinal edges with alternative retouching (Fig. 8,1 - 3). Unique in the collection is the triangular microlite (Figs. 8, 5).

Comparison of the stone industry layers 2.1 and 2.2

Since the collections of both layers sufficiently represent all the main types of both tools and products of primary fission, a significant difference in the number of artifacts does not prevent direct correlations between them. In general, the revealed similarity of technological and technical-typological characteristics of these areas allows us to speak about the homogeneity of the Upper Paleolithic complex of the site. Nevertheless, there are certain differences between them, both in the selection and utilization of stone raw materials, and in the production of chips and their secondary processing.

Sources of raw materials are located in the immediate vicinity of the parking lot. Pebbles of effusive rocks and flint were brought from the beds of nearby watercourses-Kyzyl-Alma-saya and Dzhar-saya, and flint in the form of nodules-from the fault of organogenic limestones located at a distance of no more than 1.5 km from the monument. Petrographic analysis has shown that the material of most of the artifacts is not very high-quality, mainly light gray to white and yellowish, less often brown and dark gray flint, which has a latent-crystalline, less often fine-grained composition, in many cases the presence of grains of clastic uncoated quartz up to 0.5 mm in size is noted. The flints are heterogeneous, and the transition to well-translucent light chalcedony with a concentric zonal structure is often observed, while some artefacts show fine veins and isometric nests of fine-crystalline quartz. A smaller number of flints reveal a relict fluid texture, in addition, a significant part of the artifacts are made of fluid acid effusions with varying degrees of silicification. The effusions are weakly porphyritic, and the idiomorphic phenocrysts contain feldspar and quartz (oral report of Candidate of Geological and Mineral Sciences N. A. Kulik, 2007). Chalcedony

Figure 7. Stone artifacts from the cultural layer 2.1.

Figure 8. Stone tools from the cultural layer 2.1.

and quartzite are rare materials for Kulbulak. The main raw materials in both industries are flint and effusive rocks with a predominance of the former (Table 5,6). It should be noted that the proportion of flint among plate chips tends to increase due to a reduction in the specific weight of effusive rocks, and it reaches its maximum values in the category of fine-plate chips with microplate parameters. Thus, in both industries, the share of flint raw materials for plate blanks increases in direct proportion to the reduction in the size of the removal.

Both complexes exhibit planar, prismatic, and face splitting principles. Parallel, less often convergent, orthogonal and radial methods of removing workpieces were used. Both industries are dominated by the former. Biplatform nuclei exhibit parallel counter-splitting, and their proportion is noticeably less than that of monoplatform ones. Based on the negatives of the last shots, it is determined that the planar nuclei were intended for obtaining blanks of various types: flakes, lamellar flakes, plates and plates. The cores are characterized by a slight degree of tweaking, rather careless design of the fronts and shock pads.

The proportion of planar nuclei in layer 2.1 is noticeably reduced compared to layer 2.2 as a result of a significant increase in the proportion of prismatic nuclei. The latter were split using parallel and convergent methods. It should be noted that the method of splitting bi-site prismatic nuclei is common for both complexes, in which it was carried out from two impact sites in different zones of the front in such a way that mostly unidirectional negatives of previous shots were recorded on the dorsal surfaces of the blanks taken. For the industrial layer 2.1, the appearance of prismatic nuclei is more perfect compared to the complex of layer 2.2: they demonstrate regular production of lamellar blanks, the core fronts are longer, in some cases closed, and several specimens can be estimated as close to pyramidal forms. Both collections are characterized by the same types of prismatic nuclei, but presented in different numbers. The latter is especially true for karenoid nuclei: only two were found in layer 2.2, and 64 specimens were found in layer 2.1. At the moment, this is the most numerous complex of karenoid products in Central Asia. Based on an attribute analysis of these artefacts, it was possible to reconstruct the main stages of utilization of such nuclei [Kolobova, Krivoshapkin, Flyas et al., 2011].

Karenoid products are similar in morphological criteria to some types of end cores. The proportion of end nuclei in layer 2.1 increases slightly compared to layer 2.2.In these industries, these nuclei were mainly intended for the production of plates and plates with a predominantly straight profile, and the complex of layer 2.1 is more focused on the production of small-plate blanks.

The percentage of technical chips in collections is approximately the same. The largest group in the

See Table 5. Distribution of artifacts from layer 2.1 depending on the type of raw material

Table 6. Distribution of artifacts from layer 2.2 depending on the type of raw material

both complexes have edge chips, including those with plate proportions. In addition, semi-finned chips of various modifications are widespread. It should be noted that in the case of layer 2.2, the fraction of splinters in the adjustment of the impact pads of prismatic nuclei is greater than the nuclei themselves of this splitting principle. Layer 2.1 also contains a significant number of "tablets", but it is consistent with the proportion of prismatic nuclei in this complex.

Collections have approximately the same percentage of plates. Judging by the length of whole artifacts, most plates from layer 2.1 are slightly shorter than most of them from layer 2.2. The width indicators of all workpieces also indicate a decrease in the size of plate chips (Figure 9). In general, small plates were preferred in industries. Both complexes are dominated by chips with straight profiles, while in layer 2.1 there is a large proportion of plates with curved profiles (Table 7). In layer 2.2, triangular plate chips in cross-section predominate (Table 2). 8), and in layer 2.1, the proportion of plates with trapezoidal and polygonal shapes increases slightly. The dorsal surfaces of blanks of this type in both cultural divisions mainly bear negatives of parallel unidirectional cuts (Tables 9, 10), while the number of chips with convergent cut is high. Both industries are dominated by smooth residual impact pads of plates, and in layer 2.1 their share increases due to dihedral and polyhedral ones, which are quite numerous in layer 2.2 (Tables 11, 12). Thus, up the section, there is a decrease in the size of plate chips, an increase in the number of plates with a curved profile and a trapezoidal cross-section shape, an increase in the number of smooth, point and linear impact pads, along with a slight increase in the proportion of their reduction.

The complexes are characterized by a quantitative growth of the small-plate component and prismatic nuclei for plates. It should be noted that the largest increase in the number of small-plate chips with a width of less than 6 mm affected the group. The width values of all such blanks indicate that layer 2.1 is dominated by more than

Figure 9. Width distribution of plate chips in layers 2.1 and 2.2 industries.

Table 7. Plates of different profiles

Table 8. Plates of different shapes in cross-section

Table 9. Different types of dorsal surface chips in the layer industry 2.1

Table 10. Different types of dorsal surface chips in the layer industry 2.2

Table 11. Chips with different types of residual impact pads in the layer industry 2.1

Table 12. Chips with different types of residual impact pads in the layer industry 2.2

narrow plates (Fig. 9). In both industries, small-plate chips were produced mainly with a straight profile (Table 13), while in the upper cultural division, an increase in the number of plates with a curved profile is recorded, while maintaining the same proportion of chips with a twisted profile. If we analyze the plates within groups with different metric parameters, it becomes obvious that their curvature increases simultaneously with the decrease in size. Small-plate chips with a triangular cross-section prevail in both complexes (Table 14). This indicates that when splitting, they preferred to use one guide rib. Judging by the faceting of the dorsal surfaces of the plates, parallel unidirectional cleavage prevailed in both industries, with a significant proportion of convergent-cut chips (see Tables 9, 10). Among the residual impact sites in the complex of layer 2.2, smooth ones predominate with a significant number of point and linear ones (see Tables 11 and 12), the proportion of which increases significantly in layer 2.1.

The category of flakes is associated with the processes of core decortication, since a significant part of the chips (layer 2.1 - 37,3 %, 2.2 - 29,6 %) areas of the gall/pebble surface are fixed. Many flakes can be attributed to the primary stages of decortication.

If we consider the metric parameters of all elongated chips as a whole (Figure 9), it becomes clear that often both plates and plates were obtained within the same reduction strategies, and often the size of the chip depended only on the degree of harmony of a particular core. For all elongated chips, a general trend of decreasing metric parameters is recorded from the bottom up along the section.

The most noticeable changes observed in the upper culture layer compared to the lower one were revealed in the primary cleavage technique: a significant increase in the number of carenoid nuclei of various modifications for the production of plates with an indirect profile. At the same time, small-plate chips have approximately the same proportions of twisted profiles in both sets-

Table 13. Plates of different profiles

Table 14. Plates of different shapes in cross-section

2.1. Thus, the morphological parameters of cleavages reflect changes that occurred in the processes of primary cleavage. In addition, it can be concluded that karenoid nuclei in their total mass were intended for the production of chips with curved profiles, and twisted profiles were obtained at the final stages of cleavage of nuclei of various modifications.

Against the background of the general dominance of plates and plates with a triangular cross-section in the upper layer, an increase in the proportion of trapezoidal and polyhedral cross-sections is recorded, the most significant among the plates. In the category of finely lamellar chips, a slightly different picture is observed. With an increase in the proportion of trapezoidal plates in the cross-section, triangular plates remain dominant, and their specific weight is higher the smaller the width of the chips. Conversely, the larger the chip, the higher the probability of obtaining it using two guide edges and, accordingly, the greater its width (and length). This is consistent with the observations made during the technological analysis of the industry of layers 2.1 and 2.2 of the Kulbulak site based on the materials of excavations in 2007-2009. [Pavlenok, 2011].

Complexes are not characterized by frequent touch-up of shock pads, although in the industry of the upper cultural layer they were corrected more often. Most rarely, traces of touch-up are recorded in flakes, more often-in plate chips, and the smaller the size, the more often: among plates from layer 2.1, they are traced to 28.2 % of chips, and among plates-to 14 %. A similar pattern is observed in the complex of layer 2.2. It should be noted that when removing large plate chips, the method of searching the cornice was more often used to work out the impact pads, and when receiving plates, reverse reduction was used.

In the complex of layer 2.1 in the category of plates, there is a significant increase in the number of chips with point and linear impact pads compared to the industry of layer 2.2. At the same time, the proportion of plates with reduced impact pads also increases (methods of reverse reduction and cornice busting in 73.7 and 75.0% of cases, respectively, are recorded in conjunction with point or linear impact pads).

As blanks for tools in industries, plates, flakes, pegs, pebbles and nuclei were used. In layer 2.1, the proportion of tools on flakes increases significantly (54.1 % vs. 41.0 % in layer 2.2), which does not correspond to the reduction in the percentage of shortened workpieces recorded among untreated chips. This is probably due to an increase in the number of chisel-shaped tools and scrapers, which in most cases are designed on such blanks, as a result of which in the upper cultural layer industry most of the flakes were selected for the production of tools. In addition, in the tool kit of layer 2.1, there is a significant reduction in the proportion of plates (23.0 % vs. 38.3 % in layer 2.2), which probably occurred, among other things, as a result of their partial replacement by tools on plates, whose specific gravity significantly increases (4.1 % in layer 2.2, 11.5 % in layer 2.1) . the content of small-plate products increases in proportion to the increase in

the proportion of karenoid cleavage, and, accordingly, an increase in the number of small-plate blanks with an indirect profile.

It should be noted that there is a significant typological similarity between the gun sets of both complexes. At the same time, in layer 2.1, as already noted above, the share of scrapers and chisel-like tools, as well as micro-equipment, including both tools on plates and micro-plates, and exclusively small scrapers and chisel-like tools, increases, which is one of the specific features of the industry.

Thus, on the basis of a comparative analysis, we can conclude that the functional activity is similar, which is reflected in the stone industries of layers 2.1 and 2.2.However, we can also distinguish a number of nuances. The exposed section of layer 2.2 was probably a parking lot-a workshop with a full cycle of utilization of stone raw materials, starting with its delivery and ending with the manufacture of tools, some of which may have been carried away from the excavated area. The materials of layer 2.1 also demonstrate the full cycle of utilization of stone raw materials. Some of the manufactured tools (mainly chisel-shaped ones and scrapers) remained in the parking lot, where they were used for certain labor operations related to the processing of wood, bone and leather. This is supported by both the increased share of the tool set in the complex and the highly specialized focus on secondary processing of most of the tools recorded in the layer.

Paleoanthropological material

In 2009, an ancient human tooth was found in the base of layer 2.1, which is the third lower premolar of Homo sapiens (oral report by B. Viola, 2009). It was found in an undisturbed stratigraphic context and has good preservation. At the moment, this find represents the first indisputable evidence for the territory of Central Asia that associates the Upper Paleolithic industry with a specific Homo species.

Discussion

The results of a technical and typological analysis with elements of an attributive approach make it possible to attribute the industries of layers 2.1 and 2.2 of the Kulbulak site to a single Upper Paleolithic cultural tradition. The recorded differences indicate both the different time of formation of layers and the different functional orientation of the excavated sites.

The most geographically close Upper Paleolithic monument located to Kulbulak is the Kyzyl-Alma-2 site, which was discovered in 2007 and is located at a distance of 1,200 m to the north-northwest directly at the flint raw material outlets. Here, four lithological divisions are distinguished, in which Upper Paleolithic material is recorded in a context significantly disturbed by slope processes. It is most similar to the complex of layer 2.2 of the Kulbulak monument. This suggests that Kyzyl-Alma-2 and Kulbulak (layer 2.2) are parts of a unified system of space exploration by an ancient collective, in which blanks of nuclei and tools were brought from the workshop site at the raw material outlets (Kyzyl-Alma-2) to the main site (Kulbulak) (Kolobova et al., 2010)..

In 2005, in the middle reaches of the Paltau River, a right tributary of the Chatkal River (Republic of Uzbekistan), a monument to the Dodecans-2 was discovered. Four cultural layers (5 - 2) belonging to the developed Upper Paleolithic period were identified at the site in a relatively undisturbed state. They contain industries belonging to the same Upper Paleolithic cultural tradition, whose carriers lived in the study area around 23-21 thousand years AGO (uncalibrated values). The Dodecano-2 (layers 5 - 2) and Kulbulak (layers 2.1 and 2.2) parking complexes have many common technological and technical-typological characteristics. The collection from the lower kulyu-containing layer 5 of Dodecatym-2, despite its small number, has striking features that allow it to be compared with the complex of layer 2.1 of Kulbulak. The most notable feature of this Dodecatymian industry is the prevalence of karenoid nuclei in primary cleavage. The high proportion of such cores corresponds to their significant role in the industry of layer 2.1 of the Kulbulak parking lot. According to their technological and technical-typological characteristics, Dodekatym nuclei fully correspond to Kulbulak karenoid products. The main technological and technical-typological parameters allow us to attribute both complexes to the same cultural tradition and assume that they have approximately the same age or the industry of layer 5 of the Dodecanese-2 site is slightly later.

The materials of the overlying cultural layers of Dodekatym-2 undoubtedly demonstrate the continuation of the development of the layer 5 industry and, accordingly, belong to the same cultural tradition as the complexes of layer 2 of Kulbulak, but document later stages. The main trend is the gradual abandonment of the utilization of carenoid nuclei for the production of plates with an indirect profile and

replacing them with single-site prismatic cores to produce plates with a straight profile. At the same time, there is a significant increase in the share of micro-equipment in the tool kit and the expansion of its nomenclature. First of all, the specific weight of plates with a blunted edge increases, and starting from layer 4, triangular microliths appear in collections, which in the complex of layer 2 of the Dodecanese-2 site become one of the leading and most standardized types of tools.

The industries of Dodecatym - 2 layers 4-2 and Kulbulak layer 2.1 show many similarities. They present typologically identical specific types of tools: orthogonal two-edged chisel-like products, ventral side and spiked scrapers, end micro-scrapers, micro-chisel-like tools. In the Kulbulak collection there are also several plates with a blunted edge. The greatest interest in the context of industry comparison is the discovery of a triangular microlite in layer 2.1 of Kulbulak, which is absolutely identical in manufacturing technique and morphology to products in the form of a non-equilateral triangle from Dodecatym-2.

Another multi-layered stratified reference site of the Upper Paleolithic in the region is the Shugnou site (Republic of Tajikistan), discovered in 1968. Five kulyu-bearing layers were identified here, which were assigned by V. A. Ranov to the Upper Paleolithic (layers 4-1) and Mesolithic (layer 0) [1973; Ranov, Nikonov, and Pakhomov, 1976; Ranov, Karimova, 2005]. The additional technical and typological analysis carried out in 2010 - 2011 with elements of an attributive approach made it possible to clarify the preliminary characteristics of parking complexes. Based on new data and correlation results with the industries of adjacent territories, all the technocomplexes of the monument are attributed to the same Upper Paleolithic cultural tradition, whose carriers periodically inhabited the site in the period from 30 to 23 to 21 thousand years AGO (uncalibrated values) [Ranov, Kolobova, Krivo Shapkin, 2012]. Judging by the parameters of primary splitting and secondary processing, the industries of the lower layers (4 - 2) of Shugnow most correspond to the complex of layer 2.2 of Kulbulak. The predominance of planar cleavage and the presence of prismatic nuclei bring it closer to the collection from layer 4, and the presence of carenoid and end nuclei brings it closer to the complexes of layers 3,2. It should be noted that the karenoid cores from both sites are almost identical and were disposed of under a single technological scheme (Kolobova, Krivoshapkin, Flyas et al., 2011). Also, the complexes are brought together by a few, but bright micro-equipment. However, the share of karenoid products in the collection of layer 2.2 of Kulbulak is significantly lower than at the Shugnow site, which can serve as an argument in favor of the chronologically intermediate position of this Kulbulak complex (between the industries of layers 4 and 3, 2 of Shugnow).

The industry parameters of layer 1 of the Shugnou monument most closely correspond to the complex of layer 2.1 of Kulbulak. First of all, they are brought together by significant fractions of carenoid nuclei and small-plate chips with an indirect profile. The complexes present identical types of tools, primarily retouched plates and blunted edge plates, which are also available in the collections of layers 3 and 2 of the Shugnow site. It should be noted that one triangular microlith was found on both monuments. At the same time, the Shugnow layer 1 industry seems to be somewhat more developed, since it has a higher proportion of carenoid nuclei, there are several pyramidal nuclei for the production of plates, the residual impact sites of plates often bear traces of reduction, and the specific weight of micro-equipment is also slightly higher. All this may indicate that layer 1 of Shugnou is younger than layer 2.1 of Kulbulak, but perhaps functional specifics play a certain role, which makes the complex of the Kulbulak parking lot-workshop look somewhat older.

Thus, the Shugnow and Kulbulak industries (layer 2), in our opinion, reflect different stages of development of the same cultural and technological tradition: the production of plates from planar and prismatic nuclei (layer 4 of Shugnow), the appearance of karenoid products and the increase in the number of small plate chips (layer 2.2 of Kulbulak, layers 3.2 of Shugnow), the flourishing of and the dominance of karenoid technologies simultaneously with an increase in the share of micro-equipment (layer 2.1 of Kulbulak, layer 1 of Shugnou) and the refusal to produce blanks from karenoid cores after an indefinite period of time (layer 0 of Shugnou).

Complexes of two layers of the Kharkush site located in the spurs of the Hissar Range also show some similarity with both the Shugnou and Kulbulak industries (Filimonova, 2007; Ranov and Karimova, 2005). In the context of cultural and technological correlations, it is impossible not to mention the key monument of the Upper Paleolithic of Central Asia-the Samarkand site. Three cultural layers are recorded on it, which, according to some researchers, are more or less simultaneous and belong to the developed Upper Paleolithic. Special attention should be paid to the expressive group of "high-shaped scrapers", which are similar in appearance to the karenoid nuclei of the first layer 2.1 of Kulbulak (Korobkova and Dzhurakulov, 2000). It is also necessary to indicate the Ch. Valikhanov parking lot (Southern Kazakhstan), the materials of which can be correlated with the Kulbulak ones. Mee-

that finding contains six cultural layers. For the first one, the date (uncalibrated) 24,800 ± 1,100 AD is indicated. Based on the available data, the monument's collection is interpreted as a peculiar Early-Upper Paleolithic industry with a significant share of archaic features. In addition, researchers note that the presence of high-shaped scrapers brings it closer to the complexes of the Samarkand site, Shugnou, Khoja Gora, and Kara-Kamara (Taimagambetov and Ozerelev, 2009). At the recently discovered Maibulak site in Southeastern Kazakhstan, three cultural layers containing few stone artifacts are identified. A characteristic feature of horizon 3, for which the date (uncalibrated) 34,970 ± ± 665 BP was obtained, is an expressive microplate complex. Layer 2 is dated by the AMS method between 30 and 28 Ka BP, and layer 1 is 24,330 ± 190 BP (uncalibrated values). Most of these layers contain scrapers of various modifications, including high shapes, which can be defined as carenoid [Ibid.].

Outside of Central Asia, the most interesting site where expressive karenoid products have been found is Kara-Qamar (Northern Afghanistan). The site researcher K. Kuhn identified four archaeological horizons. The third cultural layer contains the Upper Paleolithic industry of the Aurignacian type. 10 radiocarbon dates were obtained for this horizon in the range of 32-20 and > 32 Ka BP. Coon considers it possible to date this horizon to 30 Ka BP (Coon and Ralph, 1955). The main typological group in the industry is "karenate scrapers" in the terminology of V. A. Ranov and A.V. Vinogradov [Vinogradov, 2004; Ranov and Karimova, 2005] or "karenate scrapers/nuclei for plates" as defined by R. Davis [Davis, 2004].

Thus, in our opinion, the Kulbulak, Kyzyl-Alma-2, Dodekatym-2 and Shugnou parking complexes can be attributed to a single cultural and technological tradition on the territory of the Pamir-Tien Shan. Upper Paleolithic industries (Samarkand site, Kharkush, Maibulak, Ch. Valikhanov site, Kara-Kamar) are distinguished in the nearby territories, which contain elements, primarily of karenoid technology, which make it possible to compare them with these complexes.

If we draw broader geographical parallels, then significant similarities with the complexes of the selected cultural and technological tradition are found in the industries of the Baradost culture (Zagros), in particular Shanidara, Varvazi and Yafteh, which are the most famous. They are characterized by a developed karenoid technology for producing plates and a significant proportion of karenoid incisors. The tool kit is dominated by Dufour plates and Argenet points (Olshewski, 1993a; Olszewski and Dibble, 1994; Olszewski, 1999; Otte et al., 2011). A series of dates in the range of 35-31 Ka BP (uncalibrated values) was obtained for the Yaptech site (Otte et al., 2011). On the territory of Western Iran, a new culture was recently allocated, called Rostamian. For its key site, Gar-e-Buf, we obtained a series of dates in the range of 37-31 Ka BP (uncalibrated values) [Conard and Ghasidian, 2011]. Apparently, the materials of this cultural division are very similar to the Baradosta complexes. The Baradost culture in the Zagros Mountains is replaced by the Zarzian culture, the most famous monuments of which are Varvazi, Shanidar, Zarzi and Palegvara. The primary cleavage in its industries is based on the use of single-site prismatic nuclei to produce plates, and there is also a noticeable presence of wide-frontal carenoid nuclei. The tool kit is dominated by micro-equipment, which includes items in the form of a non-equilateral triangle (morphologically similar to Dodecatym triangular microliths), plates with a blunted edge, and plates with retouching. Researchers of this culture date it in a broad chronological framework from 20 to 12 thousand years ago (Olshewski, 1993b; Wahida, 1999). Near-Upper Paleolithic materials similar to Zarzian industries are also found in the Levant (Ohalo-2, Fazael X, Ein Gev I, Fazael SHA, and SHV) (Nadel, 2003).

Through the Baradost culture, which is the easternmost manifestation of the Levantine Aurignacian (Olszewski and Dibble, 1994, 2006), the Kulbulak and Shugnou complexes can be considered close to the distribution area of the Aurignacian traditions of the Middle East (Kzar-Akil, Khayonim, Kebara, Yabrud-2, etc.). The Levantine Aurignacian industries date from 32 to 26 KA BP and contain various modifications of carenoid products, plates with an indirect profile, dufour plates, Argenet points, as well as a significant proportion of bone and horn products, including split-base points and jewelry, mainly various pendants (Mellars and Tixier, 1989; Belfer- Cohen, Goring-Morris, 2007].

Undoubtedly, it is rather difficult to talk about direct cultural ties in the Upper Paleolithic period of interest between the Levant and Zagros, on the one hand, and Central Asia, on the other, given the geographical remoteness of the regions and the varying degree of study. Nevertheless, the significant technical and typological similarity of chronologically similar industries in these regions may indicate, in our opinion, if not the phenomena of cultural diffusion (direct or indirect), then at least similar development trajectories, the reasons for convergence of which have yet to be established.

Conclusion

The results of the analysis of the materials of the new stage of excavation of the Kulbulak site (2007-2010) allowed us to review not only the characteristics of the Upper Paleolithic complexes of the monument obtained in the course of previous studies (Kasymov, 1990), but also the general provisions concerning the Upper Paleolithic of the region. A new study of the Upper Paleolithic sites of Kulbulak, Kyzyl-Alma-2, Dodekatym-2, and Shugnou (Kolobova et al., 2010; Kolobova, Krivoshapkin, Derevyanko, Islamov, 2011; Ranov, Kolobova, and Krivoshapkin, 2012) suggests that they belong to a single Upper Paleolithic cultural and technological tradition called the Kulbulak tradition (Kolobova,2012). Krivoshapkin, Derevyanko, and Islamov, 2011; Ranov, Kolobova, and Krivoshapkin, 2012]. It was formed in the Upper Paleolithic on the territory of the Western and Southwestern Tien Shan. This tradition is characterized by a fine-plate technique with an original microlith complex, including products with a blunted back and triangular microliths. In the course of its development, it went through the stages of emergence, formation, flourishing and growing into the Mesolithic culture of the region. Based on the stratigraphic position of the complexes, their technical and typological characteristics, and available absolute dates, the industry was divided to reflect different stages of the evolution of this tradition.

The early stage (Kyzyl-Alma-2, Kulbulak, layer 2.2, Shugnou, layers 4 - 2) is characterized by a predominance of planar mono-and bipolar parallel splitting. However, these complexes contain (and increase) a significant number of prismatic and end cores focused on the production of plates and plates. Either the absence (Shugnou, layer 4) or the presence in single specimens (Kyzyl-Alma-2, Kulbulak, layer 2.2, Shugnou, layers 3.2) of karenoid nuclei for producing plates with an indirect profile is noted. The share of plates among chips is insignificant. The tool sets are dominated by scrapers of various modifications, mainly end ones, there are ventral or alternative versions of scrapers, mainly longitudinal scrapers, peaked tools with retouching, chisel-shaped tools, single products from the category of micro-equipment (plates with retouching and dufour). The complex of layers 3,2 of the Shugnow site can be called the final one for the early stage of the Kulbulak tradition, since it already contains quite a significant number of karenoid products, plates with an indirect profile, and bright micro-equipment items. According to preliminary estimates, this stage can be dated in the range of 30 (35?) - 25 thousand years ago.

The developed Kulbulak tradition (Kulbulak, layer 2.1, Shugnou, layer 1, Dodecano-2, layer 5) is characterized by the predominance of prismatic splitting to produce lamellar and finely lamellar blanks. At the same time, among prismatic nuclei, the most significant role is played by carenoid nuclei for the production of plates with an indirect profile. The karenoid nuclei were disposed of within the same technological scheme. Plates, including those with an indirect profile, make up a significant share of the chip industry. End nuclei are also mainly focused on the production of plates. Prismatic bi-site cores for obtaining lamellar blanks are noted. At the same time, the role of cleavage blanks for the production of formal tools increases in tool sets. Scrapers of various modifications dominate, ventral variants of lateral and angular scrapers are noted, and some complexes contain a significant number of chisel-like tools. The share of microinventaries, in which the main role is played by retouched plates, as well as dufour, increases; several plates with a blunted edge and single non-equilateral triangular microliths are presented. Using the results of absolute dating, the age of this stage is determined as exceeding 21-23 thousand years, presumably 23-25 thousand years.

At the final stage (Dodecum-2, layers 4 - 2), the Kulbulak complexes gradually evolve into an industry characterized by a significant development of prismatic monopolar splitting and the spread of products with a blunted back and triangular microliths. Carenoid nuclei intended for the production of plates with an indirect profile are replaced by prismatic monoplan nuclei to produce plates with a direct profile, which become dominant in nuclear sets. This is probably due to the increased need for the production of triangular microliths made from such blanks. The tool set continues to be dominated by scrapers and chisel-shaped tools, including orthogonal versions. However, the leading role begins to be played by micro-equipment, the main elements of which are plates with a blunted edge and triangular microliths. This stage dates back to a time later than 20 thousand years ago.

The genesis of the Kulbulak cultural and technological tradition could be related to the gradual development of regional Late-Middle Paleolithic and transitional plate structures presented in the materials of the sites of Khuji (Tajikistan), Obi-Rakhmat (Uzbekistan) and Kulbulak (layer 23, excavations in 2007-2010) [Ranov, Amoso-

va, 1984; Derevyanko et al., 2001; Krivoshapkin et al., 2010]. These industries were aimed at obtaining plate and point blanks from planar and subprismatic nuclei; a significant proportion of plates obtained from end and subprismatic nuclei is traced; a significant role of small-plate production is noted, in which the splitting of incisor nuclei, wedge-shaped end nuclei, tronkirovanno-faceted and subprismatic nuclei was used; cases of retouching of plates were recorded. Separately, we should mention the discovery of several karenoid products in layer 23 of Kulbulak and layer 21 of the Obi-Rakhmat site. Thus, in these industries, almost all the elements that could have formed the complexes of the early stage of the Kulbulak tradition are represented: developed plate and point production, volumetric splitting, numerous components of small-plate splitting, including end wedge-shaped cores, and karenoid products.

If we take into account the dates of the upper layers of the Obi-Rakhmat (Derevyanko et al., 2001) and Khudzha (Ranov and Amosova, 1984) monuments, it becomes obvious that direct correlations between the Kulbulak (Layer 23), Obi-Rakhmat and Khudzhi site industries, on the one hand, and the early stage complexes of the Kulbulak Upper Paleolithic period are possible. traditions (Shugnou, layer 4, Kyzyl-Alma-2, Kulbulak, layer 2.2) - on the other hand, should be carried out with a certain degree of caution. Even if we focus on the lower chronological boundary of this stage, there is a significant gap between them, the explanation of which requires additional study. However, there is currently no data at all to suggest a non-local origin of the Kulbulak technological tradition, which allows us to accept as a working hypothesis the local genesis of the Upper Paleolithic complexes of the region.

The further development of the Kulbulak tradition probably lies in the Mesolithic cultures of Central Asia (Islamov, 1980; Ranov and Karimova, 2005). Since accurate chronological definitions of Mesolithic sites studied at the end of the 20th century are currently completely absent, and the assignment of a number of sites to this particular period of the Stone Age was carried out on the basis of the presence of microplate splitting and the manufacture of microlith tools, the discovery of an advanced production of geometric microliths in the Upper Paleolithic period at Dodekatym-2 requires a re-evaluation of the available data on the Mesolithic of the region, preferably with the implementation of works to determine the exact age of the studied monuments. It is possible that this will force us to change the kulyur-periodization interpretation of a number of objects and allow us to speak more reasonably about the local genesis of Mesolithic cultures based on the Upper Paleolithic Kulbulak tradition.

Acknowledgements

Drawings of stone artefacts were made by N. V. Vavilina, a leading artist of the Institute of Electrotechnical Engineering of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The authors are grateful to their colleagues from IAET SB RAS and NA AS RUz for their criticism and fruitful discussions during the field research and preparation of the article.

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