Cultural Mosaic of the Middle Paleolithic in Western Tien Shan: Kuksarai-2 Site

Purpose. The term “archaeological frontier” was first applied to the Western Tien Shan about 10 years ago to explain the phenomenon of the early appearance of microblade knapping in the Middle Paleolithic industries. Analyzing the Obi-Rakhmat and Kulbulak collections with materials from other synchronous sites in the region, it was suggested that the Western Pamir-Tien Shan could be a zone of competition between the ecdemic population (blade technology bearers) and the autochthonous group (Neanderthals, bearers of Teshiktash-type industries). The paper deals with such composing technocomplex of Kuksarai-2 (based on materials of Trench 1 excavated in 2023).

Results. It has been established that materials of Kuksarai-2 consist mosaic features such as Mousterian (Teshiktash-like) primary knapping for flakes, rare blade technology evidence, and presence of specific types referred to Selungurian technocomplex (Tayacian points, Selungurian side-scrapers). Preliminary the lower cultural sediments of Kuksarai-2 could be dated with MIS-5 time.

Conclusion. The first results of studies of Kuksaray-2 allow us to suggest that the upper reaches of Akhangaran valley were inhabited by Teshiktash tradition bearers in MIS-5 (~130–74 ka BP) when hunan groups with blade technology occupied Obi-Rakhmat and Kulbulak. At the same time, the presence of specific tool types in the most ancient complexes of Kuksarai-2 can be interpreted as the intrusion of Selungurian cultural impulses from neighboring territories into the region also in MIS-5. The mosaic nature of Kuksaray-2 industry is an important argument in favor of recognizing the territory of the western Tien Shan low mountains as a frontier zone in the Middle Paleolithic.

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