Middle paleolithic variability in the Pamiro-Tian-Shan region: new insights from Kulbulak (layer 12.1)

Archaeological investigations over recent decades indicate that the ‘Obirakhmatian’ industry (Obi-Rakhmat, Khidji, Kulbulak (l. 23) sites) persisted from from 80-70 thousand years ago to 40-35 thousand years ago in the Pamir-Tian Shan region. The technology of the Obirakhmatian industry shares both Middle and Upper Paleolithic features: a small proportion of Levallois products, a prevalence of flat faced cores including truncated-faceted pieces, and the presence of narrow-faced and subprismatic cores, burin-cores and microcores. The tool-set includes also pieces traditionally associated with different Paleolithic stages (prevalence of blade retouch, pointed tools, and typologically distinct end-scrapers and burins). The combination of different lithic production traditions in Obirakhmatian industry support its designation as a unique regional culture-technological complex. This impression is reinforced by the denticulate, Tayacian-style lithic tradition of another multilayer Paleolithic site in this region, known as Kulbulak (Uzbekistan). The well-known site Kulbulak has a key status for research of Stone Age in Pamir-Tian Shan region from middle part of XX century. New research at Kulbulak revises previous cultural and chronological characterization. In 2014-2016 the study of layer 12 was conducted in the middle part of cross-section geologic study suggests a proluvial-aeolian genesis for this layer, in the context of a warm and humid climate. Archaeological material was recorded at the top (sublayer 12.1) and the bottom (sublayer 12.3) of the layer. Contrary to previous understanding, we argue that lithic industries of most Kulbulak layers are directly relevant to problems of regional Middle Paleolithic culture-chronological variation. Specifically, layer 12.1 shows close affiliation with materials from Obirakhmat. Features such as bladelet knapping, carinated cores, presence of Levallois technique, truncated-facet artifacts, retouched blades and bladelets, side-scrapers, and end-scrapers suggest similarity with the Obirakhmatian industry. The observed variability in bladelet cores, technological processes involved in their production, and the morphology of produced blanks fail to distinguish them from regional Upper Paleolithic patterns. Nonetheless, the assemblage appears dominated by flake production, and the toolkit includes pieces that are somewhat unique for the region (unifaces, tanged forms). This scenario points to regional variability in Middle Paleolithic technology in the Pamir-Tian Shan region.

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