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Paleoenvironment and peculiarities of stone industry development on Barun-Alan-1 site (Western Transbaikal)
Quaternary International xxx (2014) 1e8
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Paleoenvironment and peculiarities of stone industry development on Barun-Alan-1 site (Western Transbaikal) Vasily I. Tashak a, Yulia E. Antonova b, * a b
Institute of Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, 670047 Ulan-Ude, Russia Museum of Buriat Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, 670047 Ulan-Ude, Russia
a r t i c l e i n f o
a b s t r a c t
Article history: Available online xxx
Paleolithic material culture and environments were studied at the multi-layered archeological locality Barun-Alan-1. The entire sequence of deposits includes archeological materials spanning the time interval from the Early Zyryanka glacial time (early Würmian, according to the European system of continental glaciations) to the late Holocene. Palynological and paleofaunistic data provided basis for reconstruction of paleoclimatic conditions of the sediment accumulation and the ancient technology development. The Early Zyryanka period was noted for cold and dry conditions in the entire region with open landscapes prevalent, while the site itself was rather wet. The lowest layers of the Barun-Alan-1 are dated to this period. The archeological materials extracted from those layers display the appearance of the Upper Paleolithic tools and stone knapping technology, while the Middle Paleolithic technologies were still in use. The coexistence of prismatic and Levallois knapping technologies in the lower horizons and an appearance of developed micro-industry towards the end of the Early Zyryanka time make the stone industry of the lower horizons essentially different from the materials of other sites in Western Transbaikalia dated to the same period. The subsequent development of the archeological culture identified in the lower layers of Barun-Alan-1 proceeded in the Early Karginsky period (layer 7) under conditions of a milder climate as compared with the previous stage, though still cool enough. A dramatic change in the archeological culture occurred at the Barun-Alan-1 between 40 and 30 ka. The Khengerekte culture represents the most ancient (in Western Transbaikalia) variant of archeological culture with a well pronounced bifacial technique of stone implement modeling. Chronologically, it may be dated to the final Karginsky (30e25 ka) and to the first half of the Sartan cold epoch (25e20 ka). The paleoclimates of the Sartan period are described as cold and dry. Comparison with data obtained from other localities in Western Transbaikalia makes it possible to conclude on the multicultural development of the region in the Paleolithic epoch. At least two variants of the Upper Paleolithic industries may be distinguished, both practicing blade production and developing in similar natural environments. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Paleolithic Material culture Paleoenvironments Transbaikalia Barun-Alan-1
1. Introduction At present, one of the most promising lines of investigation in the Paleolithic archeology is aimed at reconstructing paleoenvironments and better understanding of interaction and mutual influence of the environments and early humans. A number of technological, social, and economical innovations are closely related to the adaptation strategies of the early humans and may be considered to be responses to environmental and climatic changes,
* Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (Y.E. Antonova).
and landscape restructuring. Technology of the raw stone material treatment and tool production was influenced by natural-climatic factors. However, innovations in the older technologies may not always be considered as direct human response to environmental changes. Taking this into account, it becomes important and quite necessary to analyze the archeological materials with due consideration to the paleoecological context reconstructed on the basis of natural science data. The paper presents some new data on the material culture of Paleolithic humans and environments that the culture developed in. The data were obtained in the process of works on the BarunAlan-1 multi-layered archeological site. The latter was inhabited by early humans for a long time, from 70 ka to the Iron Age.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.073 1040-6182/© 2014 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.
Please cite this article in press as: Tashak, V.I., Antonova, Y.E., Paleoenvironment and peculiarities of stone industry development on Barun-Alan1 site (Western Transbaikal), Quaternary International (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.073
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The Barun-Alan-1 locality is in Western Transbaikalia (Republic of Buryatia), on the western slope of Khengerekte Mt (Fig. 1A) 85 m above a river valley (site altitude is 813 m). It was discovered by V.I. Tashak in 2002. Khengerekte Mt. forms the southern end of the local Khomskiye Goltsy ridge, belonging to the Ulan-Burgasy mountain system. The southern and southwestern spurs of the mountain reach the Alan River valley (a tributary to the Ona R.), the eastern spurs extend to the Ona R. valley, a tributary to the Uda R., a large river in Western Transbaikalia. Numerous archeological localities of various periods are concentrated along the bases of the southern and western slopes of Khengerekte Mt. More than ten are dated to the Paleolithic. Barun-Alan-1 may be considered a key Paleolithic locality of the region, taking into account an abundance of archeological material and the extent to which it has been studied (Tashak, 2007a, 2009a, 2009b, 2009c, 2013). 2. General information on the stratigraphy of Barun-Alan-1 The present-day surface of the ancient multi-layered settlement is a sub-horizontal area at the southern foot of a rocky wall 12.5 m high (Fig. 1B, C). Nine lithological units were identified in the course of the excavations (Tashak, 2009c, 2013), archeological and osteologic material having been found almost in all of them. In layers 2 and 5, the artifacts occurred on the upper part and at the base of the layers, as well as in animal burrows. The upper horizons (layers 1e5) are composed of grayish-chestnut sandy loam with admixture of silt, interlayered with light gray and white silts and silty sands. Archeological materials recorded in the upper layers are few in number and present mostly fragments of ceramics, stone artifacts
and small fragments of bones. Only isolated artifacts were found in silts and silty sands (layers 2 and 5). The sixth stratigraphic unit is described as loose silty sand, grayish-black and grayish-brown in color, locally heavily disturbed by animal burrows. Layers 6 and 7 are separated with a body of displaced rock, with thickness decreasing gradually from the rocky wall southwards. The uppermost part of layer 6 abounds in artifacts of the Bronze and Early Iron ages, while at the base of layer 6 and at the contact of layers 6 and 7 there are Paleolithic materials. It seems possible that layer 6 contains remains of several levels of human habitation, but at present the levels are undistinguishable as the layer seems uniform in color and texture. The finds appear concentrated at the base of layer 6, and the material seems more uniform there and does not contain any admixture from the overlying horizons. Layer 7 is composed of pale yellow loess-like loam with inclusions of coarse sand, gruss, angular stone debris, and cobbles. The entire thickness of the layer is heavily disturbed with holes of burrowing animals. Towards the base, the layer becomes denser and laden with gruss and coarse debris. There are several habitation levels identified within the layer. Levels 7a and 7b are described as local lenses of trampled ground with some charcoal and ash present. Layer 7 was divided into several units (levels) according to vertical distribution of areas with archeological materials occurring in situ. Level 7c a rather thin interlayer in the compact loam noted for its reddish hue, was identified near the base, lying on the surface of layer 7d, which is considered to be a separate stratigraphic unit. Level 7c is a typical level of a long-term habitation. It is partly destroyed by rockfall and animal activities, but there are still some structural elements preserved, such as disturbed fireplaces,
Fig. 1. A e The location of Barun-Alan-1 site on the territory of Buriat Republic (Russian Federation, Western Transbaikal); B e view on Barun-Alan-1 from southewest (from the Valley of Alan river); C e Barun-Alan-1 site, top view.
Please cite this article in press as: Tashak, V.I., Antonova, Y.E., Paleoenvironment and peculiarities of stone industry development on Barun-Alan1 site (Western Transbaikal), Quaternary International (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.073
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workshop areas, storage places of raw material and wastes of stone tool production (Tashak, 2013). Lithological layer 7d consists of gray loams with reddish hue and includes gruss and coarser debris. There are large blocks of displaced rock occurring all over the layer. Slightly humified bands 1e3 cm thick are found occasionally in this layer: presumably these are remains of former living floors. Layer 8 is similar to layer 7d, except for its darker reddish color and lesser proportion of gruss. The zone of disintegrated rocks and the fissures filled with finer material at the base of the sequence is designated as layer 9 as a matter of convenience (Fig. 2). 3. Stone industry of the Barun-Alan-1 site Archeological material occurrence is recorded throughout the sequence, without any distinctly sterile deposits. Paleolithic artifacts occur almost from the recent surface, though most of them are disturbed as a result of burrowing rodents or human activities (Bronze Age). From the middle level in layer 6 downward, the Paleolithic materials are found in situ. In the middle and lower levels of layer 6, as well as in the upper part of layer 7, cultural layers are often disturbed by numerous burrows. However, there are some undisturbed areas that provide a possibility of distinguishing individual assemblages of stone artifacts related to different levels of habitation. The archeological culture present in the lower level of layer 6 is noticeably different from the lower lying materials in the artifact morphology and typology (Fig. 3, 1e4). The Khengerekte culture is bifacial, as several tens of various bifaces were found there. No analogue of this culture has been found in Western Transbaikalia (Tashak, 2007a, 2011). In the stone industry of the 6th layer of Barun-Alan-1, flakes are the main type of blank for tool production. Blades are rather scarce, no more than 3% of the total number of blanks. Judging from irregularly treated dorsal surfaces, as well as from practically total absence of prismatic and subprismatic cores in the described industry, the blades found there may be considered as occasional. The guiding principle of the primary knapping in the layer 6 industry is a parallel reduction. Most cores found here displays two principal ways of stone knapping: parallel reduction of wide flattened cores; or irregular knapping beginning from the ridge of lithic nodules. An orthogonal pattern has also been recorded in the layer 6 industry, though it does not seem to have been of any importance in the culture under consideration. Irregular knapping should be considered as an initial stage of a core processing or as testing of the raw material. During core reduction, irregular knapping was transformed into parallel reduction of the core. Flat faced cores are often natural fragments of raw material suitable for flaking after minimal preparation of the striking platform. In the Khengerekte stone industry, flakes are normally wide and elongated. Among tools are knives, scraper-knives, and scrapers (mostly of side-scraper modification). Some massive and heavy duty tools are present. There is an interesting series of scrapers with short transversal ends, not unlike large-sized endscrapers. The most interesting and dominant group of tools recovered from the 6th layer of Barun-Alan-1, however, are bifaces, highly variable in form and size. According to wear analysis performed by P.V. Volkov, they were used as knives for meat cutting (Tashak, 2011). The stone industry of lithological units (layers) 7, 7d and 8 shows that the artifact morphology and typology, as well as technology of tool making, have much in common (Fig. 3, 5e11). The industry combines clearly defined Levallois core reduction and prismatic core knapping: typical as well is the presence of a distinctive microindustry with a microblade component. The primary stage of tool
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making is characterized by flaking in parallel, radial, convergent and orthogonal patterns, and represented by radial, Levallois, prismatic, and subprismatic, irregular and narrow face cores. Irregular knapping is practiced at an initial stage of a core treatment or as testing of the raw material. Cores for making blades were formed on elongated stone blocks, often platy, suitable for knapping, roughly prepared or unprepared. The microblade knapping is represented by wedge-shaped end cores. Rather numerous are Levallois cores (for making flakes), of oval and sub-triangular shape with faceted striking platform and meticulously knapped laterals and back surface. Both Levallois and prismatic knapping developed concurrently. There is no transitional elements indicative of gradual transformation of Levallois into prismatic technique, as had been suggested for many stone industries of the transitional period in Western Transbaikalia and adjacent regions (Konstantinov, 1994; Lbova, 2000, 2002; Derevianko, 2001, 2010; Derevianko and Shunkov, 2004; Derevianko and Volkov, 2004). Small-size blades are typical of the industry of layers 7, 7d and 8, unlike the large-size blades of the Tolbaga culture (Tashak, 2009a). Blades in this culture are not numerous, though significant. The toolkit is distinct in its combination of large and small tools. The first group includes scrapers on elongated oval or angular jete ” type; transverse scrapers, knives on flakes, heavy flakes of “de duty tools on flakes, flat stones, and stone fragments. Less common among large-size tools are burins and chisel-like pieces. Microtools include end-scrapers, burins, chisel-like objects, small flakes, and microblades with retouch. There is a particularly impressive series of small-size points on backed bladelets and microblades (Tashak, 2007b; Tashak and Antonova, 2011). Edges of many tools are treated with abrupt or semi-abrupt dorsal retouch (Fig. 4). 4. Reconstruction of the paleo-environments The first data on the Barun-Alan-1 paleo-environments have been obtained from meticulous analysis of bones recovered from layer 7. Most of animals the early human of the site hunted belong to steppe species, such as bison, horse, dzeren antelope, and less commonly rhinoceros. The paleontological data were supplemented with fossil pollen and paleosol studies. The results of pollen analysis (performed by S.A. Reshetova) strongly suggest that lithological units 8 and 7d should be considered as a single pollen zone. At the time of the deposit accumulation, the climate in the Khengerekte Mt. vicinity was cold and wet. Remains of hydrophilous plants (such as willow) were found in a considerable quantity directly at the site under the rock. It is quite possible that a small water spring existed there, beginning on under the rock, near the site of ancient humans. In general, though, the climate was cold and moderately humid, with insignificant fluctuations towards greater humidity or aridity. The pollen assemblage recovered from layer 7 is rather scanty. Individual pollen grains, however, suggest a prevalence of foreststeppe vegetation with some nemoral floristic elements. There are, in particular, pollen grains of some thermophilic species, such as oak and hazel. Hazel pollen was also found at the Podzvonkaya Paleolithic site, southern Western Transbaikalia, where the pollenbearing layers are similar in color and structure to those in BarunAlan-1 (Tashak and Savinova, 2009). It may be safely suggested that short episodes favorable for an expansion of forests, including those with broadleaved species, occurred repeatedly during the period of layer 7 deposition. At the same time, levels 7a and 7b (belonging to the same layer 7) abound in fossil horns of dzeren, a typical steppe animal. This suggests that the forests were confined to mountains, while the lower and middle reaches of the river valleys were constantly occupied with steppes.
Please cite this article in press as: Tashak, V.I., Antonova, Y.E., Paleoenvironment and peculiarities of stone industry development on Barun-Alan1 site (Western Transbaikal), Quaternary International (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.073
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Fig. 2. Stratigraphic column of the Barun-Alan-1 site is given according to south profile of the excavation. The 2d and 4th layers wedge out from the north to the south and disappear in the southern part of the excavation.
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Fig. 3. Barun-Alan-1, stone industry. 1e4 e lower level of layer 6; 5 e layer 7 (7c level); 6 e layer 7 (7a level); 7e11 e layer 7d. 1, 2 e bifaces; 3 e end scraper; 4, 8 e side scrapers; 5 e dejete; 6 e transverse scraper; 7 e core; 9e11 e blades and medial fragment of blade.
Layer 6, as follows from the palynological data, was deposited under conditions of cold and dry climate. Open woods of fir and larch with mixed-herb wormwood associations are reconstructed for the lower part of the layer. Artemisia dominated among herbaceous plants. Tree/shrub pollen quantities increase progressively in the upper part of the layer, indicating the expansion of pine-larch woods in the Holocene time. The data of the Barun-Alan-1 locality traces the climatic fluctuations in the region from the cold and moderately wet climate at the Early Zyryanka time to the cold and dry one in Late Karginsky e early Sartan time. The Karginsky Interstadial is represented by loess-like loams in the sequence. The reconstruction of environments of that time is difficult due to impoverished pollen assemblages recovered from the loams. The fauna, however, is indicative of steppe landscapes. On the whole, it is conceivable that the cold climate was dominant throughout the period, with occasional short-term warmings and fluctuations in moisture supply.
However, the chronological studies of the Barun-Alan-1 stone industry have shown dramatic changes in archeological culture about 35e40 ka (boundary of the 6th and 7th horizons) and about 32e38 ka (as follows from chronological studies carried out on adjacent archeological objects). With the gradual improvement in making blades, coexistence of the Levallois and micro-industrial constituents recorded in layers 8, 7d, and 7 ceased abruptly and was replaced by bifacial culture of layer 6 (Khengerecte culture), showing no continuity in evolution of the underlying culture. 5. Chronology The deposits of the 6th layer (middle level) of the Barun-Alan-1 locality were dated by thermoluminescence technique (TL) at 22.5 ka. The base of the layer was TL-dated at 35.5 ka, which is in agreement with infinite 14C dates obtained for the surface of layer 7 (>39 800 ka BP, SOAN-6429) (Tashak, 2009a, b). That provides the
Please cite this article in press as: Tashak, V.I., Antonova, Y.E., Paleoenvironment and peculiarities of stone industry development on Barun-Alan1 site (Western Transbaikal), Quaternary International (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.073
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Fig. 4. Barun-Alan-1, items of microindustry. 1e5 e points; 6, 11 e end-scrapers; 7e10 e fragments of microblades.
basis for attributing the lower level of layer 6 to the final Karginsky e beginning of the Sartan time. The uppermost part of the layer was repeatedly subjected to disruption and erosion, as suggested by the fact that Paleolithic artifacts occur together with those of Bronze and Iron ages.
The radiocarbon date of the lower part of 7a level (layer 7) is infinite e >41,000 BP (SOAN-6604). According to thermoluminescent dating, levels 7b and 7c in layer 7 as well as layer 7d (considered to be an independent unit, as stated above) developed in the range between 60 and 110 ka (at level 7c) (Table 1).
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Nevertheless, comparing the TL dates with those obtained by the radiocarbon method, and with dates obtained in some other localities at the Khengerecte Mt., it may be suggested that the period of formation of units 8, 7g, and 7 covered an interval from the early stage of the Zyryanka cooling to the early and middle stages of the Karginsky interstadial. This suggestion does not contradict spore and pollen data. Layers 8 and 7d accumulated in similar climatic conditions which could be correlated with the Early Zyryan. The TLdate of 110 ka seems to be doubtful at the current stage of investigation. Table 1 Data of radiocarbon and thermoluminescent dating obtained for Barun-Alan-1 site. Strata
Date (ka)
Laboratory index
Material
Layer 6, middle part Layer 6, base of layer Layer 7, upper part in the middle part of excavation Layer 7, upper part in the south part of excavation Layer 7, level 7a Layer 7, level 7c Layer 7, contact zone with layer 6 Layer 7, level 7а
22.5 ± 3 35.5 ± 4 60 ± 7.5
GI SB RAS e 729 GI SB RAS e 733 GI SB RAS e 731
Sediments (quartz) Sediments (quartz) Sediments (quartz)
75.5 ± 7.5
GI SB RAS e 732
Sediments (quartz)
74 ± 12 110 ± 11.5 >39.8
GI SB RAS e 716 GI SB RAS e 734 SOAN e 6429
Sediments (quartz) Sediments (quartz) Bone
>41
SOAN e 6604
Bone
6. Discussion The results of reconstruction of the living environments of the early humans at the Barun-Alan-1 locality agree in general with the earlier data on archeological sites, as well as with results of analyses of the bottom sediment core recovered from Baikal and Kotokel lakes. An analysis of the Baikalian cores attributed to the Early Zyryanka interval (MIS 4) revealed 2 cold stages differing in moisture supply: the climate was wetter at the earlier stage and slightly drier in the second half of the Early Zyryanka (BDP-Members, 2005). Comparable results have been obtained in the Bryan' geoarcheological region (center of Western Transbaikal), on Kamenka and Varvarina Gora localities, where archeologically sterile layers were studied. The data obtained are indicative of wet and cold climate during the Early Zyryanka interval (Lbova et al., 2003, 2005). Layers studied at the Khotyk locality (13 km south of Barun-Alan) and presumably belonging to the same period (level 4) yielded an impoverished pollen assemblage interpreted as indicative of cold and dry conditions (Lbova et al., 2003, 2005). However the stone industry, recovered at Khotyk, differs significantly from the industry recovered from the lower horizons of Barun-Alan-1. There is practically no microindustry here, and prismatic knapping (unlike Barun-Alan-1) is related to the Levallois component, found only occasionally as single pieces (Lbova, 2002). Analyses of both the Baikalian and Kotokel cores characterize the Karginsky Interstadial climate as generally milder than the earlier one, though unstable. There were widely spread steppes and comparatively small forested areas, noted for species diversity (BDP-Members, 2005; Bezrukova et al., 2010). The core from the Kotokel bottom sediments produced an image of the interstadial paleoenvironments in more detail. There are two warmings identified (45e42 ka BP and 35e31 ka BP) when the forested areas expanded, though steppe landscapes were still dominant (BDPMembers, 2005). It is most probable that the warmer and wetter interstadial climate was related to those intervals (as has been reconstructed on some archeological localities (Podzvonkaya e Eastern, South-Eastern and Lower complexes, Kamenka, Khotyk)
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(Lbova et al., 2003, 2005; Tashak and Savinova, 2009). Most of the materials obtained from localities of the Early Karginsky age, such as Podzvonkaya, Tolbaga, Kamenka A, Varvarina Gora, Khotyk (levels 2 and 3), are attributed to the Tolbaga culture, with the tool production based on blades. The materials of the Tolbaga culture dated to the Early Karginsky time show some residual characteristics of the Levallois technique, the tools being a result of a gradual conversion of Levallois to prismatic knapping (Konstantinov, 1994; Lbova, 2002). The materials recovered from Layer 7 of Barun-Alan-1 show a further development of the technique identifiable in the lower layers. In the industry of layer 7 at Barun-Alan-1 the technology typical of the lower-lying layers displays a further development. Characteristic features of layer 7 industry in Barun-Alan-1 locality as distinct from Tolbaga culture are the coexistence of the Levallois-type technique with prismatic reduction, and a preference given to making small-size blades. The industry of layer 6, based on production of bifaces, is referred to the end of the Karginsky interstadial to the beginning of the Sartan stadial. Palynological data of the Sartan glacial record for Lake Baikal and Lake Kotokel display the evolution of cold and dry conditions. This period was drier than the previous Early Zyryanka glacial (BDP-Members, 2005). Researchers reconstruct open steep landscapes for the early stage of Sartan cooling (~30e17 ka BP) (Bezrukova et al., 2010). The next stage (~17e11.65 ka BP) is characterized by gradual increasing of woodland. The transition to Holocene time is marked by expansion of boreal woodland containing such species as Pinus sylvestris, Pinus sibirica and Larix (BDPMembers, 2005; Bezrukova et al., 2010, 2011). The data from BarunAlan-1 correspond to this scheme. The prevalence of the herbaceous taxa (Artemisia, particularly) in the base of layer 6 was changed by the substantial increase of proportion of tree pollen in the layer's upper part, reflecting Holocene time. Nevertheless, the beginning stage of the Holocene is not recorded in the Barun-Alan1 deposits. The transitional period from the Karginsky Interstadial to the Sartan glacial and the early stage of the latter in Western Transbaikal is less investigated than is the early Upper Palaeolithic dated to the Karginsky period. We incline to E.V. Bezrukova's opinion that the Last Glacial (Sartan) beginning at 30 ka. The Kunaley culture is referred to this time (well investigated sites with materials of this culture are not numerous) (Konstantinov, 1994; Lbova, 2000). It arose in the final Karga period and persisted until the beginning of the Sartan glacial. The Hengerekte culture, distinguished for the first time in the materials of Barun-Alan-1, also belongs to this period. It is contained in the lower part of layer 6. This industry is based on production of bifaces and tools on flakes. The presence of bifaces indicates wide analogies in industries of Northern-East Asia (e.g., Dukctai culture, Selemdga culture) (Mochanov, 1976; Derevianko et al., 1998). However, distinct from those cultures, microblade technologies are absent in the Hengerekte culture. Some industries in Transbaikal associated with last glacial maximum and second part of Sartan period (e.g. Sukhotino-4 in East Transbaikal, Arshan-Khundui in Western Transbaikal) demonstrate the use of bifaces and microblade knapping (Konstantinov, 1994; Tashak, 2000). It can be supposed that the industry of the Hengerekte culture became the base for the development of the Sukhotino-4 and Arshan-Khundui industries. 7. Conclusion The Barun-Alan-1 locality demonstrates the evolution of Paleolithic stone industries from the Early Zyryanka to the Sartan cold epoch. The climates and environments reconstructed from the Barun-Alan-1 materials fit well into the paleoclimatic scheme based on the lacustrine core analysis and results obtained from
Please cite this article in press as: Tashak, V.I., Antonova, Y.E., Paleoenvironment and peculiarities of stone industry development on Barun-Alan1 site (Western Transbaikal), Quaternary International (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.073
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other archeological localities, and are also correlatable with schemes of global climate fluctuations. Analyses of pollen assemblages, fossil soils and paleofauna reflect the regional and local characteristics due to variability of landscapes (a combination of mountain ranges, narrow valleys of mountain streams and wide valleys of larger river systems). For example, the lower stratigraphic units of Barun-Alan-1 (layers 7d and 8) show an abundance of hydrophilic plants developed due to some local specific features (probably, a water spring) against the regional background of dry and cold climate. It was at the end of that climatic period (layer 7d) that the older stone industry completed its development. Specific features of this industry were a combination of knapping of prismatic and narrow face cores aimed at blade obtaining, and Levallois technique aimed at making flakes, and microindustry. That kind of stone industry persisted (with increasing proportion of microindustry) throughout the entire layer 7 accumulation, against the background of some climatic and environmental changes recorded in the sediments. At the late stage of layer 7 industry development in the Barun-Alan-1 locality, another Paleolithic culture, Tolbaga, became widespread in Transbaikalia, demonstrating an independent way of evolution. The last phase of the Pleistocene deposition at Barun-Alan-1 is represented by the lower level of layer 6. The depositional environments have much in common with the lower layers, although it contains archeological materials essentially different from the industry recovered from the lower layers. On the whole, one may safely assume a multicultural development of Western Transbaikalia and at least two variants of the Upper Paleolithic industries, both practicing blade knapping in similar natural and climatic conditions. It is within those natural environments that the micro-industry came into being, while the dramatic appearance of a new industry in layer 6 resulted from migration process, and not evolution, in the Paleolithic. Acknowledgements This work was supported by grant no. 11-06-00374-a from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR). Investigations were carried out as a part of the project 33.1 of Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences. References BDP-Members, 2005. A new Quaternary record of regional tectonic, sedimentation and paleoclimate changes from drill core BDP-99 at Posolskaya Bank. Lake Baikal. Quaternary International 136, 105e121. Bezrukova, E.V., Tarasov, P.E., Solovieva, N., Krivonogov, S.K., Riedel, F., 2010. Last glacialeinterglacial vegetation and environmental dynamics in southern Siberia: chronology, forcing and feedbacks. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 296 (1e2), 185e198. Bezrukova, E.V., Tarasov, P.E., Kulagina, N.V., Abzaeva, A.A., Letunova, P.P., Kostrova, S.S., 2011. Palynological study of Lake Kotokel' bottom sediments (Lake Baikal region). Russian Geology and Geophysics 52, 458e465.
Derevianko, A.P., 2001. The Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in the Altai. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia 7 (3), 70e103. Derevianko, A.P., 2010. Three scenarios of the middle to upper paleolithic transition: Scenario 1: the Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition in Northern Asia. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia 38 (3), 2e32. Derevianko, A.P., Volkov, P.V., Li, H., 1998. Selemdja Late Paleolithic Culture. Institute of archeology and ethnography, SO RAN (in Russian). Derevianko, A.P., Shunkov, M.V., 2004. Formation of the Upper Paleolithic traditions in the Altai. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia 19 (3), 12e40. Derevianko, A.P., Volkov, P.V., 2004. Evolution of lithic reduction technology in the course of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in the Altai Mountains. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia 18 (2), 21e35. Konstantinov, M.V., 1994. The Stone Age of the Eastern Part of Baikal Asia. Chita State Pedagogical Institute, Chita (in Russian). Lbova, L., 2000. The Paleolithic of the Northern Part of Western Transbaikal. Buryat Scientific Publishers, SO RAN, Ulan-Ude (in Russian). Lbova, L.V., 2002. The transition from the Middle to Upper Paleolithic in the Western Trans-Baikal. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia 9 (1), 59e75. Lbova, L.V., Rezanov, I.N., Kalmykov, N.P., Kolomiets, L.V., Dergacheva, M.I., Fedeneva, I.K., Vashukevich, N.V., Volkov, V.P., Savinova, V.V., Bazarov, B.A., Namsaraev, D.V., 2003. Paleoenvironment and Human in Neopleistocene (Western Transbaikal and South-western Cisbaikalia). Buryat Scientific Publishers, SO RAN, Ulan-Ude (in Russian). Lbova, L.V., Kolomiets, L.V., Dergacheva, M.I., Fedeneva, I.K., Klementev, A.M., 2005. Paleoenvironments and climate of late neopleistocene in Western Transbaikal (on data from geoarcheological sites). Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia 22 (2), 2e17. Mochanov, Y.A., 1976. The Earliest Stages of the Settlement of Northeastern Asia. Nauka, Novosibirsk (in Russian). Tashak, V.I., 2000. Wedge-shaped cores of Western Transbaikal in Late Paleolithic and Mesolothic. In: Stone Age of Southern Siberia and Mongolia: Theoretical Problems and New Finds. Buryat Scientific Publishers, SO RAN, Ulan-Ude, pp. 59e74 (in Russian). Tashak, V.I., 2007a. To the question of bifacial tools origin in Western Transbaikal. In: Ethno History and Archeology of Northern Asia: Theory, Methodology and Practice of Investigations. Irkutsk State University of Technology Press, Irkutsk, pp. 85e88 (in Russian). Tashak, V.I., 2007b. To the question about microliths on the turn of Middle and Upper Palaeolithic in Transbaikal. In: Northern Asia in Anthropogene: Human, Paleotechnologies, Geoecology, Ethnology and Anthropology, vol. 2. Ottisk, Irkutsk, pp. 224e231 (in Russian). Tashak, V.I., 2009a. Blade industries of Transbaikal. STRATUM plus 1, 79e93 (in Russian). Tashak, V.I., 2009b. Barun-Alan-1: chronology and peculiarities of Upper Paleolithic origin, 1917e1937. In: Institutional Science Archeology and Ethnology of the Northern Asia. Irkutsk School, Amtera, Irkutsk, pp. 316e321 (in Russian). Tashak, V.I., 2009c. Stratigraphy and chronology of the Palaeolithic sites in the Hengerecte Mountains (Western Transbaikalia). Bulletin of the Novosibirsk State University, History and Philology 8 (3), 53e62. Archeology and ethnography (in Russian). Tashak, V.I., 2011. Bifacial tools in Paleolithic Transbaikal. In: Current Problems of Siberian and Far East Archeology. Ussuriysk State pedagogic University, Ussuriysk, pp. 130e140 (in Russian). Tashak, V.I., 2013. Stratigraphy and spatial organization of Paleolithic site BarunAlan-1. In: Cultures and Ethnos of the Northern and Centrel Asia in the Context of Interdisciplinary Investigations, vol. 3. Tomsk State University, Tomsk, pp. 311e326 (in Russian). Tashak, V.I., Antonova, Yu.E., 2011. Microindustry at the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic boundary of Western Transbaikalia (based on the materials of Barun-Alan-1 site). Bulletin of the Novosibirsk State University, History and Philology 10 (5), 141e154 (in Russian). Tashak, V.I., Savinova, V.V., 2009. Paleoenvironment of the south of Western Transbaikal in final Pleistocene e Holocene (on the materials of Podzvonkaya). In: Proceedings of the Laboratory of Ancient Technologies, vol. 7. Irkutsk State University of Technology Press, Irkutsk, pp. 39e51 (in Russian).
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Paleoenvironment and peculiarities of stone industry development on Barun-Alan-1 site (Western Transbaikal) Vasily I. Tashak a, Yulia E. Antonova b, * a b
Institute of Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, 670047 Ulan-Ude, Russia Museum of Buriat Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, 670047 Ulan-Ude, Russia
a r t i c l e i n f o
a b s t r a c t
Article history: Available online xxx
Paleolithic material culture and environments were studied at the multi-layered archeological locality Barun-Alan-1. The entire sequence of deposits includes archeological materials spanning the time interval from the Early Zyryanka glacial time (early Würmian, according to the European system of continental glaciations) to the late Holocene. Palynological and paleofaunistic data provided basis for reconstruction of paleoclimatic conditions of the sediment accumulation and the ancient technology development. The Early Zyryanka period was noted for cold and dry conditions in the entire region with open landscapes prevalent, while the site itself was rather wet. The lowest layers of the Barun-Alan-1 are dated to this period. The archeological materials extracted from those layers display the appearance of the Upper Paleolithic tools and stone knapping technology, while the Middle Paleolithic technologies were still in use. The coexistence of prismatic and Levallois knapping technologies in the lower horizons and an appearance of developed micro-industry towards the end of the Early Zyryanka time make the stone industry of the lower horizons essentially different from the materials of other sites in Western Transbaikalia dated to the same period. The subsequent development of the archeological culture identified in the lower layers of Barun-Alan-1 proceeded in the Early Karginsky period (layer 7) under conditions of a milder climate as compared with the previous stage, though still cool enough. A dramatic change in the archeological culture occurred at the Barun-Alan-1 between 40 and 30 ka. The Khengerekte culture represents the most ancient (in Western Transbaikalia) variant of archeological culture with a well pronounced bifacial technique of stone implement modeling. Chronologically, it may be dated to the final Karginsky (30e25 ka) and to the first half of the Sartan cold epoch (25e20 ka). The paleoclimates of the Sartan period are described as cold and dry. Comparison with data obtained from other localities in Western Transbaikalia makes it possible to conclude on the multicultural development of the region in the Paleolithic epoch. At least two variants of the Upper Paleolithic industries may be distinguished, both practicing blade production and developing in similar natural environments. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Paleolithic Material culture Paleoenvironments Transbaikalia Barun-Alan-1
1. Introduction At present, one of the most promising lines of investigation in the Paleolithic archeology is aimed at reconstructing paleoenvironments and better understanding of interaction and mutual influence of the environments and early humans. A number of technological, social, and economical innovations are closely related to the adaptation strategies of the early humans and may be considered to be responses to environmental and climatic changes,
* Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (Y.E. Antonova).
and landscape restructuring. Technology of the raw stone material treatment and tool production was influenced by natural-climatic factors. However, innovations in the older technologies may not always be considered as direct human response to environmental changes. Taking this into account, it becomes important and quite necessary to analyze the archeological materials with due consideration to the paleoecological context reconstructed on the basis of natural science data. The paper presents some new data on the material culture of Paleolithic humans and environments that the culture developed in. The data were obtained in the process of works on the BarunAlan-1 multi-layered archeological site. The latter was inhabited by early humans for a long time, from 70 ka to the Iron Age.
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The Barun-Alan-1 locality is in Western Transbaikalia (Republic of Buryatia), on the western slope of Khengerekte Mt (Fig. 1A) 85 m above a river valley (site altitude is 813 m). It was discovered by V.I. Tashak in 2002. Khengerekte Mt. forms the southern end of the local Khomskiye Goltsy ridge, belonging to the Ulan-Burgasy mountain system. The southern and southwestern spurs of the mountain reach the Alan River valley (a tributary to the Ona R.), the eastern spurs extend to the Ona R. valley, a tributary to the Uda R., a large river in Western Transbaikalia. Numerous archeological localities of various periods are concentrated along the bases of the southern and western slopes of Khengerekte Mt. More than ten are dated to the Paleolithic. Barun-Alan-1 may be considered a key Paleolithic locality of the region, taking into account an abundance of archeological material and the extent to which it has been studied (Tashak, 2007a, 2009a, 2009b, 2009c, 2013). 2. General information on the stratigraphy of Barun-Alan-1 The present-day surface of the ancient multi-layered settlement is a sub-horizontal area at the southern foot of a rocky wall 12.5 m high (Fig. 1B, C). Nine lithological units were identified in the course of the excavations (Tashak, 2009c, 2013), archeological and osteologic material having been found almost in all of them. In layers 2 and 5, the artifacts occurred on the upper part and at the base of the layers, as well as in animal burrows. The upper horizons (layers 1e5) are composed of grayish-chestnut sandy loam with admixture of silt, interlayered with light gray and white silts and silty sands. Archeological materials recorded in the upper layers are few in number and present mostly fragments of ceramics, stone artifacts
and small fragments of bones. Only isolated artifacts were found in silts and silty sands (layers 2 and 5). The sixth stratigraphic unit is described as loose silty sand, grayish-black and grayish-brown in color, locally heavily disturbed by animal burrows. Layers 6 and 7 are separated with a body of displaced rock, with thickness decreasing gradually from the rocky wall southwards. The uppermost part of layer 6 abounds in artifacts of the Bronze and Early Iron ages, while at the base of layer 6 and at the contact of layers 6 and 7 there are Paleolithic materials. It seems possible that layer 6 contains remains of several levels of human habitation, but at present the levels are undistinguishable as the layer seems uniform in color and texture. The finds appear concentrated at the base of layer 6, and the material seems more uniform there and does not contain any admixture from the overlying horizons. Layer 7 is composed of pale yellow loess-like loam with inclusions of coarse sand, gruss, angular stone debris, and cobbles. The entire thickness of the layer is heavily disturbed with holes of burrowing animals. Towards the base, the layer becomes denser and laden with gruss and coarse debris. There are several habitation levels identified within the layer. Levels 7a and 7b are described as local lenses of trampled ground with some charcoal and ash present. Layer 7 was divided into several units (levels) according to vertical distribution of areas with archeological materials occurring in situ. Level 7c a rather thin interlayer in the compact loam noted for its reddish hue, was identified near the base, lying on the surface of layer 7d, which is considered to be a separate stratigraphic unit. Level 7c is a typical level of a long-term habitation. It is partly destroyed by rockfall and animal activities, but there are still some structural elements preserved, such as disturbed fireplaces,
Fig. 1. A e The location of Barun-Alan-1 site on the territory of Buriat Republic (Russian Federation, Western Transbaikal); B e view on Barun-Alan-1 from southewest (from the Valley of Alan river); C e Barun-Alan-1 site, top view.
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workshop areas, storage places of raw material and wastes of stone tool production (Tashak, 2013). Lithological layer 7d consists of gray loams with reddish hue and includes gruss and coarser debris. There are large blocks of displaced rock occurring all over the layer. Slightly humified bands 1e3 cm thick are found occasionally in this layer: presumably these are remains of former living floors. Layer 8 is similar to layer 7d, except for its darker reddish color and lesser proportion of gruss. The zone of disintegrated rocks and the fissures filled with finer material at the base of the sequence is designated as layer 9 as a matter of convenience (Fig. 2). 3. Stone industry of the Barun-Alan-1 site Archeological material occurrence is recorded throughout the sequence, without any distinctly sterile deposits. Paleolithic artifacts occur almost from the recent surface, though most of them are disturbed as a result of burrowing rodents or human activities (Bronze Age). From the middle level in layer 6 downward, the Paleolithic materials are found in situ. In the middle and lower levels of layer 6, as well as in the upper part of layer 7, cultural layers are often disturbed by numerous burrows. However, there are some undisturbed areas that provide a possibility of distinguishing individual assemblages of stone artifacts related to different levels of habitation. The archeological culture present in the lower level of layer 6 is noticeably different from the lower lying materials in the artifact morphology and typology (Fig. 3, 1e4). The Khengerekte culture is bifacial, as several tens of various bifaces were found there. No analogue of this culture has been found in Western Transbaikalia (Tashak, 2007a, 2011). In the stone industry of the 6th layer of Barun-Alan-1, flakes are the main type of blank for tool production. Blades are rather scarce, no more than 3% of the total number of blanks. Judging from irregularly treated dorsal surfaces, as well as from practically total absence of prismatic and subprismatic cores in the described industry, the blades found there may be considered as occasional. The guiding principle of the primary knapping in the layer 6 industry is a parallel reduction. Most cores found here displays two principal ways of stone knapping: parallel reduction of wide flattened cores; or irregular knapping beginning from the ridge of lithic nodules. An orthogonal pattern has also been recorded in the layer 6 industry, though it does not seem to have been of any importance in the culture under consideration. Irregular knapping should be considered as an initial stage of a core processing or as testing of the raw material. During core reduction, irregular knapping was transformed into parallel reduction of the core. Flat faced cores are often natural fragments of raw material suitable for flaking after minimal preparation of the striking platform. In the Khengerekte stone industry, flakes are normally wide and elongated. Among tools are knives, scraper-knives, and scrapers (mostly of side-scraper modification). Some massive and heavy duty tools are present. There is an interesting series of scrapers with short transversal ends, not unlike large-sized endscrapers. The most interesting and dominant group of tools recovered from the 6th layer of Barun-Alan-1, however, are bifaces, highly variable in form and size. According to wear analysis performed by P.V. Volkov, they were used as knives for meat cutting (Tashak, 2011). The stone industry of lithological units (layers) 7, 7d and 8 shows that the artifact morphology and typology, as well as technology of tool making, have much in common (Fig. 3, 5e11). The industry combines clearly defined Levallois core reduction and prismatic core knapping: typical as well is the presence of a distinctive microindustry with a microblade component. The primary stage of tool
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making is characterized by flaking in parallel, radial, convergent and orthogonal patterns, and represented by radial, Levallois, prismatic, and subprismatic, irregular and narrow face cores. Irregular knapping is practiced at an initial stage of a core treatment or as testing of the raw material. Cores for making blades were formed on elongated stone blocks, often platy, suitable for knapping, roughly prepared or unprepared. The microblade knapping is represented by wedge-shaped end cores. Rather numerous are Levallois cores (for making flakes), of oval and sub-triangular shape with faceted striking platform and meticulously knapped laterals and back surface. Both Levallois and prismatic knapping developed concurrently. There is no transitional elements indicative of gradual transformation of Levallois into prismatic technique, as had been suggested for many stone industries of the transitional period in Western Transbaikalia and adjacent regions (Konstantinov, 1994; Lbova, 2000, 2002; Derevianko, 2001, 2010; Derevianko and Shunkov, 2004; Derevianko and Volkov, 2004). Small-size blades are typical of the industry of layers 7, 7d and 8, unlike the large-size blades of the Tolbaga culture (Tashak, 2009a). Blades in this culture are not numerous, though significant. The toolkit is distinct in its combination of large and small tools. The first group includes scrapers on elongated oval or angular jete ” type; transverse scrapers, knives on flakes, heavy flakes of “de duty tools on flakes, flat stones, and stone fragments. Less common among large-size tools are burins and chisel-like pieces. Microtools include end-scrapers, burins, chisel-like objects, small flakes, and microblades with retouch. There is a particularly impressive series of small-size points on backed bladelets and microblades (Tashak, 2007b; Tashak and Antonova, 2011). Edges of many tools are treated with abrupt or semi-abrupt dorsal retouch (Fig. 4). 4. Reconstruction of the paleo-environments The first data on the Barun-Alan-1 paleo-environments have been obtained from meticulous analysis of bones recovered from layer 7. Most of animals the early human of the site hunted belong to steppe species, such as bison, horse, dzeren antelope, and less commonly rhinoceros. The paleontological data were supplemented with fossil pollen and paleosol studies. The results of pollen analysis (performed by S.A. Reshetova) strongly suggest that lithological units 8 and 7d should be considered as a single pollen zone. At the time of the deposit accumulation, the climate in the Khengerekte Mt. vicinity was cold and wet. Remains of hydrophilous plants (such as willow) were found in a considerable quantity directly at the site under the rock. It is quite possible that a small water spring existed there, beginning on under the rock, near the site of ancient humans. In general, though, the climate was cold and moderately humid, with insignificant fluctuations towards greater humidity or aridity. The pollen assemblage recovered from layer 7 is rather scanty. Individual pollen grains, however, suggest a prevalence of foreststeppe vegetation with some nemoral floristic elements. There are, in particular, pollen grains of some thermophilic species, such as oak and hazel. Hazel pollen was also found at the Podzvonkaya Paleolithic site, southern Western Transbaikalia, where the pollenbearing layers are similar in color and structure to those in BarunAlan-1 (Tashak and Savinova, 2009). It may be safely suggested that short episodes favorable for an expansion of forests, including those with broadleaved species, occurred repeatedly during the period of layer 7 deposition. At the same time, levels 7a and 7b (belonging to the same layer 7) abound in fossil horns of dzeren, a typical steppe animal. This suggests that the forests were confined to mountains, while the lower and middle reaches of the river valleys were constantly occupied with steppes.
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Fig. 2. Stratigraphic column of the Barun-Alan-1 site is given according to south profile of the excavation. The 2d and 4th layers wedge out from the north to the south and disappear in the southern part of the excavation.
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Fig. 3. Barun-Alan-1, stone industry. 1e4 e lower level of layer 6; 5 e layer 7 (7c level); 6 e layer 7 (7a level); 7e11 e layer 7d. 1, 2 e bifaces; 3 e end scraper; 4, 8 e side scrapers; 5 e dejete; 6 e transverse scraper; 7 e core; 9e11 e blades and medial fragment of blade.
Layer 6, as follows from the palynological data, was deposited under conditions of cold and dry climate. Open woods of fir and larch with mixed-herb wormwood associations are reconstructed for the lower part of the layer. Artemisia dominated among herbaceous plants. Tree/shrub pollen quantities increase progressively in the upper part of the layer, indicating the expansion of pine-larch woods in the Holocene time. The data of the Barun-Alan-1 locality traces the climatic fluctuations in the region from the cold and moderately wet climate at the Early Zyryanka time to the cold and dry one in Late Karginsky e early Sartan time. The Karginsky Interstadial is represented by loess-like loams in the sequence. The reconstruction of environments of that time is difficult due to impoverished pollen assemblages recovered from the loams. The fauna, however, is indicative of steppe landscapes. On the whole, it is conceivable that the cold climate was dominant throughout the period, with occasional short-term warmings and fluctuations in moisture supply.
However, the chronological studies of the Barun-Alan-1 stone industry have shown dramatic changes in archeological culture about 35e40 ka (boundary of the 6th and 7th horizons) and about 32e38 ka (as follows from chronological studies carried out on adjacent archeological objects). With the gradual improvement in making blades, coexistence of the Levallois and micro-industrial constituents recorded in layers 8, 7d, and 7 ceased abruptly and was replaced by bifacial culture of layer 6 (Khengerecte culture), showing no continuity in evolution of the underlying culture. 5. Chronology The deposits of the 6th layer (middle level) of the Barun-Alan-1 locality were dated by thermoluminescence technique (TL) at 22.5 ka. The base of the layer was TL-dated at 35.5 ka, which is in agreement with infinite 14C dates obtained for the surface of layer 7 (>39 800 ka BP, SOAN-6429) (Tashak, 2009a, b). That provides the
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Fig. 4. Barun-Alan-1, items of microindustry. 1e5 e points; 6, 11 e end-scrapers; 7e10 e fragments of microblades.
basis for attributing the lower level of layer 6 to the final Karginsky e beginning of the Sartan time. The uppermost part of the layer was repeatedly subjected to disruption and erosion, as suggested by the fact that Paleolithic artifacts occur together with those of Bronze and Iron ages.
The radiocarbon date of the lower part of 7a level (layer 7) is infinite e >41,000 BP (SOAN-6604). According to thermoluminescent dating, levels 7b and 7c in layer 7 as well as layer 7d (considered to be an independent unit, as stated above) developed in the range between 60 and 110 ka (at level 7c) (Table 1).
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Nevertheless, comparing the TL dates with those obtained by the radiocarbon method, and with dates obtained in some other localities at the Khengerecte Mt., it may be suggested that the period of formation of units 8, 7g, and 7 covered an interval from the early stage of the Zyryanka cooling to the early and middle stages of the Karginsky interstadial. This suggestion does not contradict spore and pollen data. Layers 8 and 7d accumulated in similar climatic conditions which could be correlated with the Early Zyryan. The TLdate of 110 ka seems to be doubtful at the current stage of investigation. Table 1 Data of radiocarbon and thermoluminescent dating obtained for Barun-Alan-1 site. Strata
Date (ka)
Laboratory index
Material
Layer 6, middle part Layer 6, base of layer Layer 7, upper part in the middle part of excavation Layer 7, upper part in the south part of excavation Layer 7, level 7a Layer 7, level 7c Layer 7, contact zone with layer 6 Layer 7, level 7а
22.5 ± 3 35.5 ± 4 60 ± 7.5
GI SB RAS e 729 GI SB RAS e 733 GI SB RAS e 731
Sediments (quartz) Sediments (quartz) Sediments (quartz)
75.5 ± 7.5
GI SB RAS e 732
Sediments (quartz)
74 ± 12 110 ± 11.5 >39.8
GI SB RAS e 716 GI SB RAS e 734 SOAN e 6429
Sediments (quartz) Sediments (quartz) Bone
>41
SOAN e 6604
Bone
6. Discussion The results of reconstruction of the living environments of the early humans at the Barun-Alan-1 locality agree in general with the earlier data on archeological sites, as well as with results of analyses of the bottom sediment core recovered from Baikal and Kotokel lakes. An analysis of the Baikalian cores attributed to the Early Zyryanka interval (MIS 4) revealed 2 cold stages differing in moisture supply: the climate was wetter at the earlier stage and slightly drier in the second half of the Early Zyryanka (BDP-Members, 2005). Comparable results have been obtained in the Bryan' geoarcheological region (center of Western Transbaikal), on Kamenka and Varvarina Gora localities, where archeologically sterile layers were studied. The data obtained are indicative of wet and cold climate during the Early Zyryanka interval (Lbova et al., 2003, 2005). Layers studied at the Khotyk locality (13 km south of Barun-Alan) and presumably belonging to the same period (level 4) yielded an impoverished pollen assemblage interpreted as indicative of cold and dry conditions (Lbova et al., 2003, 2005). However the stone industry, recovered at Khotyk, differs significantly from the industry recovered from the lower horizons of Barun-Alan-1. There is practically no microindustry here, and prismatic knapping (unlike Barun-Alan-1) is related to the Levallois component, found only occasionally as single pieces (Lbova, 2002). Analyses of both the Baikalian and Kotokel cores characterize the Karginsky Interstadial climate as generally milder than the earlier one, though unstable. There were widely spread steppes and comparatively small forested areas, noted for species diversity (BDP-Members, 2005; Bezrukova et al., 2010). The core from the Kotokel bottom sediments produced an image of the interstadial paleoenvironments in more detail. There are two warmings identified (45e42 ka BP and 35e31 ka BP) when the forested areas expanded, though steppe landscapes were still dominant (BDPMembers, 2005). It is most probable that the warmer and wetter interstadial climate was related to those intervals (as has been reconstructed on some archeological localities (Podzvonkaya e Eastern, South-Eastern and Lower complexes, Kamenka, Khotyk)
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(Lbova et al., 2003, 2005; Tashak and Savinova, 2009). Most of the materials obtained from localities of the Early Karginsky age, such as Podzvonkaya, Tolbaga, Kamenka A, Varvarina Gora, Khotyk (levels 2 and 3), are attributed to the Tolbaga culture, with the tool production based on blades. The materials of the Tolbaga culture dated to the Early Karginsky time show some residual characteristics of the Levallois technique, the tools being a result of a gradual conversion of Levallois to prismatic knapping (Konstantinov, 1994; Lbova, 2002). The materials recovered from Layer 7 of Barun-Alan-1 show a further development of the technique identifiable in the lower layers. In the industry of layer 7 at Barun-Alan-1 the technology typical of the lower-lying layers displays a further development. Characteristic features of layer 7 industry in Barun-Alan-1 locality as distinct from Tolbaga culture are the coexistence of the Levallois-type technique with prismatic reduction, and a preference given to making small-size blades. The industry of layer 6, based on production of bifaces, is referred to the end of the Karginsky interstadial to the beginning of the Sartan stadial. Palynological data of the Sartan glacial record for Lake Baikal and Lake Kotokel display the evolution of cold and dry conditions. This period was drier than the previous Early Zyryanka glacial (BDP-Members, 2005). Researchers reconstruct open steep landscapes for the early stage of Sartan cooling (~30e17 ka BP) (Bezrukova et al., 2010). The next stage (~17e11.65 ka BP) is characterized by gradual increasing of woodland. The transition to Holocene time is marked by expansion of boreal woodland containing such species as Pinus sylvestris, Pinus sibirica and Larix (BDPMembers, 2005; Bezrukova et al., 2010, 2011). The data from BarunAlan-1 correspond to this scheme. The prevalence of the herbaceous taxa (Artemisia, particularly) in the base of layer 6 was changed by the substantial increase of proportion of tree pollen in the layer's upper part, reflecting Holocene time. Nevertheless, the beginning stage of the Holocene is not recorded in the Barun-Alan1 deposits. The transitional period from the Karginsky Interstadial to the Sartan glacial and the early stage of the latter in Western Transbaikal is less investigated than is the early Upper Palaeolithic dated to the Karginsky period. We incline to E.V. Bezrukova's opinion that the Last Glacial (Sartan) beginning at 30 ka. The Kunaley culture is referred to this time (well investigated sites with materials of this culture are not numerous) (Konstantinov, 1994; Lbova, 2000). It arose in the final Karga period and persisted until the beginning of the Sartan glacial. The Hengerekte culture, distinguished for the first time in the materials of Barun-Alan-1, also belongs to this period. It is contained in the lower part of layer 6. This industry is based on production of bifaces and tools on flakes. The presence of bifaces indicates wide analogies in industries of Northern-East Asia (e.g., Dukctai culture, Selemdga culture) (Mochanov, 1976; Derevianko et al., 1998). However, distinct from those cultures, microblade technologies are absent in the Hengerekte culture. Some industries in Transbaikal associated with last glacial maximum and second part of Sartan period (e.g. Sukhotino-4 in East Transbaikal, Arshan-Khundui in Western Transbaikal) demonstrate the use of bifaces and microblade knapping (Konstantinov, 1994; Tashak, 2000). It can be supposed that the industry of the Hengerekte culture became the base for the development of the Sukhotino-4 and Arshan-Khundui industries. 7. Conclusion The Barun-Alan-1 locality demonstrates the evolution of Paleolithic stone industries from the Early Zyryanka to the Sartan cold epoch. The climates and environments reconstructed from the Barun-Alan-1 materials fit well into the paleoclimatic scheme based on the lacustrine core analysis and results obtained from
Please cite this article in press as: Tashak, V.I., Antonova, Y.E., Paleoenvironment and peculiarities of stone industry development on Barun-Alan1 site (Western Transbaikal), Quaternary International (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.073
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V.I. Tashak, Y.E. Antonova / Quaternary International xxx (2014) 1e8
other archeological localities, and are also correlatable with schemes of global climate fluctuations. Analyses of pollen assemblages, fossil soils and paleofauna reflect the regional and local characteristics due to variability of landscapes (a combination of mountain ranges, narrow valleys of mountain streams and wide valleys of larger river systems). For example, the lower stratigraphic units of Barun-Alan-1 (layers 7d and 8) show an abundance of hydrophilic plants developed due to some local specific features (probably, a water spring) against the regional background of dry and cold climate. It was at the end of that climatic period (layer 7d) that the older stone industry completed its development. Specific features of this industry were a combination of knapping of prismatic and narrow face cores aimed at blade obtaining, and Levallois technique aimed at making flakes, and microindustry. That kind of stone industry persisted (with increasing proportion of microindustry) throughout the entire layer 7 accumulation, against the background of some climatic and environmental changes recorded in the sediments. At the late stage of layer 7 industry development in the Barun-Alan-1 locality, another Paleolithic culture, Tolbaga, became widespread in Transbaikalia, demonstrating an independent way of evolution. The last phase of the Pleistocene deposition at Barun-Alan-1 is represented by the lower level of layer 6. The depositional environments have much in common with the lower layers, although it contains archeological materials essentially different from the industry recovered from the lower layers. On the whole, one may safely assume a multicultural development of Western Transbaikalia and at least two variants of the Upper Paleolithic industries, both practicing blade knapping in similar natural and climatic conditions. It is within those natural environments that the micro-industry came into being, while the dramatic appearance of a new industry in layer 6 resulted from migration process, and not evolution, in the Paleolithic. Acknowledgements This work was supported by grant no. 11-06-00374-a from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR). Investigations were carried out as a part of the project 33.1 of Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences. References BDP-Members, 2005. A new Quaternary record of regional tectonic, sedimentation and paleoclimate changes from drill core BDP-99 at Posolskaya Bank. Lake Baikal. Quaternary International 136, 105e121. Bezrukova, E.V., Tarasov, P.E., Solovieva, N., Krivonogov, S.K., Riedel, F., 2010. Last glacialeinterglacial vegetation and environmental dynamics in southern Siberia: chronology, forcing and feedbacks. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 296 (1e2), 185e198. Bezrukova, E.V., Tarasov, P.E., Kulagina, N.V., Abzaeva, A.A., Letunova, P.P., Kostrova, S.S., 2011. Palynological study of Lake Kotokel' bottom sediments (Lake Baikal region). Russian Geology and Geophysics 52, 458e465.
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Please cite this article in press as: Tashak, V.I., Antonova, Y.E., Paleoenvironment and peculiarities of stone industry development on Barun-Alan1 site (Western Transbaikal), Quaternary International (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.07.073