Interdisciplinary Research of the Kamenka 1 Site and Some Problems in the Study of the Mesolithic of the Don's Left Bank

The article presents the main results of an interdisciplinary research of the Kamenka 1 site. The analysis of the geological, geomorphological, hydrological and soil formation of the site of the soil catena adjacent to the excavation site of Kamenka 1 made it possible to divide the history of surface development into two main stages: the early stage of active floodplain development of the surface near the channel of the Savala River and the late stage of slow floodplain development of the surface next to the overgrown old channel. The first stage is characterized by changes in the time of alluvial sedimentation and soil formation. The Mesolithic man carried out activity at the studied site in the time interval of 8800-8300 BP. The territory within which the Mesolithic cultural layer formed was the alluvial sand surface of the river bed and the coastal slope of the river floodplain. The water in the river was clear and the bottom was sandy. The first and second stages of surface development were separated by an episode of the “cold event” of the early Holocene 8300-8000 BP. At this time, deep frost cracks formed in the soils. The second stage of surface development began after 8000 BP, when there was a natural change in the position of the Savala river bed and the transition of the river bend cut off from the channel to the old mode of functioning. In the first stage of surface development, the rates of alluvial sedimentation exceeded by an order of magnitude those established for the subsequent stage of development. All sites of the Kamenka culture are united by the dominance of quartzite as the main raw material for the manufacture of tools. The stone splitting technique is based on the disposal of the pyramidal, pencil-shaped and end-face nucleus, aimed at obtaining plates using the spinning technique, or chipping through an intermediary, as well as hitting with soft and hard chippers. In the stone industry, despite its expressive microlithic appearance, flake prevails as the main blank. The ensemble of tools is represented by incisors, mainly without working out of the impact platform, end and end-side scrapers, woodworking tools, primarily tesla made of quartzite or slate, as well as polished tools from siltstone. Chiselshaped tools, often of random shapes, symmetrical and asymmetric tips from plates, and medium-high trapezoids are found. Comprehensive studies have made it possible to reconsider the chronological position of the site relating to the Kamenka culture, in favor of the aging of its upper boundary. The possibility of developing this culture up to the beginning of the Neolithic was previously noted. Now, judging by the available data, it is necessary to state the presence of a chronological gap between the Late Mesolithic and the Early Neolithic of the forest-steppe of the Don Left Bank.

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