The Upper Paleolithic is unevenly represented in the north-west of Central Asia. The number of sites discovered that date back to this period is small, and in most cases these are sites with a surface occurrence of stone artifacts. A number of researchers explain the small number of Upper Paleolithic sites by depopulation, which probably took place in the range of 40-25 thousand years ago. As a result of the work of the archaeological expedition of the Institute of Electric Power Engineering of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which has been operating in Uzbekistan since 1998, it became possible to state that even in conditions of increased climate aridization, ancient human settlement of the foothill and mid-mountain regions of the region did not completely stop. The article summarizes the results of five-year studies of the Dodecanese-2 site, which provide a basis for changing the existing ideas about the Upper Paleolithic era of the region and allow us to take a new look at the cultural parallels between the already known Paleolithic monuments of Uzbekistan.

Key words: Paleolithic, Central Asia, stratigraphy, Stone Age culture.

Introduction

Despite intensive archaeological research in the second half of the 20th century, the Upper Paleolithic in northwestern Central Asia has been studied unevenly (Vishnyatsky, 1999; Ranov and Karimova, 2005). Only a few Upper Paleolithic sites have been found, and in most cases we are talking about statistically unreliable samples from sites with surface occurrence of stone artifacts (Davis and Ranov, 1999; Vishnyatsky, 1999). A number of researchers see the reason for their small number in the possible depopulation of the region 40-25 thousand years ago. Significant climate aridization recorded by paleoecological data in the second half of the upper neo-Pleistocene could lead to a sharp decrease in animal and plant resources in the territory under consideration and, consequently, to a decrease in the populations of ancient hunters and gatherers (Davis and Ranov, 1999; Ranov, 1972].

Until now, the entire Upper Paleolithic era of such a vast territory was characterized only on the basis of materials from two stratified sites - Shugnou in Eastern Tajikistan and the Samarkand site in Uzbekistan-

The work was carried out within the framework of GC No. 02.740.11.0353 of the Federal Target Program "Scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel of innovative Russia", the RAS program project No. 28.1.9 "Culture of the primitive population of North Asia at the turn of the Middle and Upper Paleolithic", and the RFBR project N 11 - 06 - 12003 ofi-M.

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The study of which was carried out during the XX century (Korobkova and Dzhurakulov, 2000; Dzhurakulov, 1987; Ranov, 1973). Due to the lack of actual data, only the general features of this era in Central Asia were identified. First, the main feature of the Upper Paleolithic of the region, according to researchers, is its mosaic nature, which prevents the association of sites into full-fledged cultures and their further cultural and chronological ranking. The only exception is the "Samarkand" culture, which was identified on the basis of materials from the Samarkandskaya, Siabcha, and Khojimozgil sites (Ranov and Nesmeyanov, 1973; Korobkova and Jurakulov, 2000; Ranov and Karimova, 2005). Second, despite the disparity of data, archaism was considered to be a common characteristic of all Upper Paleolithic complexes in Central Asia. Nuclei and tools of the Middle Paleolithic types (primarily disc-shaped nuclei, pebble variants of scrapers and chopping tools) make up, according to most researchers of the mid-and late XX century, a significant, if not the majority, part of technocomplexes (Ranov, 1966; Abramova, 1984; Korobkova and Dzhurakulov, 2000). Third, the non-plate nature of the Upper Paleolithic industries was postulated, and the atypical or more often complete absence of tools made on plates or microplates was noted. The Upper Paleolithic complexes of the region correlated mainly with the industries of Western and Eastern Siberia, and it was in this context that hypotheses were constructed to explain the genesis of the Upper Paleolithic of Central Asia (Abramova, 1984; Korobkova and Dzhurakulov, 2000).

Research conducted by the international archaeological expedition of the Institute of Electric Power Engineering of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which has been working in Uzbekistan since 1998, has shown that, despite the increased aridization of the climate at the end of the Upper Pleistocene, ancient man did not leave the foothill and mid-mountain regions of the region. After the discovery of a number of new multilayered Upper Paleolithic sites in the Tashkent oasis, in particular, Kyzyl-Alma-2 (Kolobova et al., 2010) and Dodecano-2 (Krivoshapkin et al., 2005), and the resumption of research of previously known Paleolithic sites, primarily excavations at the Kulbulak site (Derevyanko et al., 2007),"The Upper Paleolithic lacuna of the region began to fill up intensively.

This paper summarizes a five-year study of the Dodecanese-2 parking lot. The results of the study make adjustments to the existing ideas about the Upper Paleolithic era of the region and allow us to take a fresh look at the cultural parallels between the already known Paleolithic monuments of Uzbekistan.

Opening history and parking location

In August 2005, employees of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography SB RAS K. I. Milyutin and V. S. Slavinsky conducted an exploratory survey of the territory in the middle course of the Paltau River (right tributary of the Chatkal River, Tashkent region, Republic of Uzbekistan) (Fig. 1, 1). 10 km above the mouth of the river on its right bank on a subhorizontal terraced at the site located at an altitude of about 30 m above the river level and bounded on both sides by the Paltau River and its left tributary (Figs. 1, 2), two points with lifting archaeological material were found in the recess of the field road, 140 m apart. They are collectively called Dodecati, after the mountain peak dominating the river basin, with the numerical designations 1 and 2 (Figs. 1, 4). In 2005, exploration pits were laid in places where the lifting material was concentrated, embedded in the slope of a terraced ledge facing the left tributary of the river. The cultural remains found in the study of the Dodecanese-1 site were included in one lithological layer, which was strongly displaced by slope processes. Stone artifacts are represented by nuclei (demonstrating a single-site plate and small-plate parallel recycling strategy), end scrapers on plates and flakes, scrapers with perimeter retouching, fragments of plates and flakes with retouching (Krivoshapkin et al., 2005). Exploration pit with an area of 6 m2, laid at the location of Dodecano-2 (41°34'20.4" s).North, 70°09 '48.9" E, absolute height 1496 m), demonstrated the presence of several relatively undisturbed cultural layers containing Upper Paleolithic artifacts [Ibid.]. Initially, eight levels of cultural remains were identified, but detailed planigraphic and stratigraphic observations during field studies in 2006-2007 showed that it is more reasonable to speak of five culture-containing layers, the upper one of which, included in the sod-soil horizon, is largely disturbed and contains, in addition to Paleolithic artifacts of a later time. In 2006, a 9 m2 excavation was cut to the exploration pit, where the first mixed horizon (layer 1) and the second crop-containing layer were opened. At the same time, to identify the underlying cultural deposits, clarify the stratigraphy and genesis of the terraced ledge itself, a trench was laid that cuts the side of the terraced platform to the valley level. No cultural deposits were found below archaeological layer 5. Work on the 2006 excavation continued during the 2007 field seasons,

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1. Geographical location of the Dodecanese-2 site (1), view of the monument from the west (2), stratigraphy of cultural deposits (3), situational plan (4) of the monument. a - erosional potholes; b-rivers and ditches; c-individual bushes and groups of bushes; d-thickets of shrubs; e-gardens; d-forest vegetation (birch); g-individual trees-landmarks (walnut, height 10 m); h-tree strips; i-individual stones and piles of stones; k-wire and wooden fences and individual buildings; l - mine workings; m - field dirt roads and pack trails.

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2008, 2010 As a result, all cultural layers (2 - 5) of the monument were excavated. This article analyzes the archaeological materials obtained during the excavations of the Dodecanese-2 site in 2005-2010. (6754 stone artifacts).

Stratigraphy of the monument

The stratigraphy of the Dodecanese-2 site (Figs. 1, 3) is due to the deluvial-proluvial genesis of the foothill plume (a terraced ledge). It is based on a large landslide body, in the middle of the section deposits of ancient periodic mudstone (mudflow) flows are clearly traced, and at the top - deluvial and Aeolian sediments, which contain archaeological layers. The excavation revealed the following stratigraphic deposits containing cultural remains (from top to bottom):*:

Layer 1. Light gray loess-like loam of Aeolian (with a deluvial component) genesis. The primary texture of the sediments is generally massive, but due to the multitude of bioturbations (earthmoving animal movements), it has a mottled appearance. The roof (modern soil) is an interlayer (0.2-0.3 m) of light brownish-gray loam penetrated by the roots of modern plants. Irregular Ca nodules and numerous gastropod shells are found in the lower half of the layer (especially at the contact with the underlying sediments). The sole is indistinct, slightly undulating, and the deposits gradually merge into the underlying ones, which may indicate a consonantal occurrence. However, the movements of earthmoving animals rarely penetrate the denser deposits of layer 2, which may indicate a certain break and change in the conditions of sedimentation. The true thickness of the layer is 0.95-1.10 m. The sediments contain Paleolithic stone artefacts and multi-time ceramics (cultural layer 1), which indicates active bio-and anthropogenic mixing of the layer.

Layer 2. Dense light brown loam with yellowish-gray, dark gray, sometimes black-gray spots. The dark shade is caused by the enrichment of precipitation with humus matter and ash, the lenses of which have a length of 10 to 20 cm and a true thickness of up to 1.5 cm. In the middle part of the layer, the level of Fe oxides is clearly traced in the form of a red-black band (true thickness up to 3 cm) falling along the azimuth of 260-300°. The sediments contain remains of gastropods and mammals. Rare movements of earthmoving animals are noted. Ca nodule pellets, gravel and fine (up to 3 cm) crushed stone are found at the bottom of the layer, while strongly weathered semi - rolled flat pebbles, coarse crushed stone and gray granite boulders are found directly on the surface of the stratification with layer 3 deposits. The contact of the layers is slightly eroded, but there is no evidence of a significant break in sedimentation. The genesis of the sediments is probably proluvial-deluvial. Porosity is practically absent, which also indicates some water processing of sediments (possibly with a high role of Aeolian accumulation). The true thickness of the layer is from 0.3 to 0.5 m. It contains two archaeological levels - layers 2 (upper part of the stratigraphic unit) and 3 (bottom).

Layer 3. Consists of two layers. The first one is a light yellowish-gray (in the wet state it is yellow-brown with a red tint due to Fe oxides) dense loam, with a greenish or bluish tint visible in the lower part. The texture is massive, the porosity is minimal. Genesis is probably proluvial(?)- deluvial, with a certain amount of Aeolian material. The true thickness of the interlayer is from 0.15 (western wall of the excavation) to 0.40 m (eastern wall), the difference is probably due to erosion of the roof. The bottom is indistinct, indistinct, but subhorizontal, and the sediments gradually merge into the underlying sediments. At the contact with the lower interlayer, rare gravel and crushed granite are recorded. The base of the interlayer is associated with the occurrence of archaeological layer 4.The second interlayer is a light brown (dark greenish-brown in the wet state) dense loam, at the very bottom of the sediments acquire a dark gray color with a faint greenish tinge. The texture is massive. In the lower half of the interlayer, there are frequent gravel and small granite rubble. There is no sorting, which may indicate proluvial or colluvial genesis, possibly with a certain role of deluvial processes. The true thickness of the interlayer in the eastern part of the excavation is 0.4 m, in the center - 0.5 m, in the western part - 0.7 m. The increase in power is due to a decrease in the level of the sole. The latter is very uneven, with hollows. The sediments probably overlap the underlying sediments intermittently. From an archaeological point of view, this interlayer is sterile.

Layer 4. These are mainly proluvial deposits, but in some places (especially in the roof) there are interlayers of deluvial origin with an admixture of scree and landslide material (in the area of the rear seam of the landslide, which forms the basis of the terraced ledge). The roof has layers of gravel and fine granite rubble. Below is a very uneven interlayer (true thickness of 0.2 - 0.4 m) of dark gray-brown clay with a large admixture of coarse-grained sand, gravel and fine crushed granite. It is underlain by layered poorly graded deposits, represented by variegated interlayers, lenses and layers consisting of poorly rounded granite fragments (up to 0.05-0.10 m). As a placeholder, you are-

* The description was made by S. V. Leshchinsky.

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It is covered with mixed-grained uncoated sand and, to a lesser extent, light brown (in the dry state) loam. Dark gray-green medium-grained sandstone is found among the debris. The true thickness of interlayers with crushed stone is up to 0.2 m (the proportion of such interlayers is up to 20%). The bulk of the layer consists of light brown, pinkish-brown and light gray (with a faint greenish tinge) interlayers of essentially sandy-clay composition (thickness 0.05 - 0.20 m), in which a large volume is occupied by clay pellets and loams (up to 1 cm). Sorting of the material inside the interlayers is poor, but the surfaces of the layers are diagnosed confidently. The apparent thickness of the entire layer along the excavation wall is 1.55-1.80 m. Its lower part contains the cultural layer 5.

Stone tools

The raw material base of the site industry was approximately equally local (flint on limestone, silicified breccias) and imported (flint, chalcedony, sandstones, quartzites, quartz, diabase from the Chatkal River basin, a distance of about 10 - 15 km) materials (as defined by N. A. Kulik). The most widely used materials were flint (local and imported), chalcedony, sandstones and quartzites.

The description of stone tools is given according to the selected five culture-containing layers, starting from the lower one. The category of industrial waste includes fragments, fragments, flakes, and small flakes (less than 2 cm in the largest dimension); they were not taken into account when calculating the percentage of artifacts within layers. We decided to abandon the common division of small plate blanks into plates (width from 6 to 12 mm) and microplates (width up to 6 mm) in the Russian literature (Abramova, 1979a, b). In our opinion, such a distinction makes sense for industries with a pronounced differentiation of the production of small blanks at the level of both primary cleavage (various types of nuclei and cleavage techniques) and secondary finishing (for example, "small-plate" and "micro-plate" variants of the Upper Paleolithic complexes of Northeast Asia [Lisitsyn, 2000; Akimova, Stasyuk, Motuzko, 2005]). In the materials of all layers of the Dodecano-2 location, small plates and microplates are manufactured according to the same technological scheme. Often, the length and width of the blanks depended only on the degree of harmony of the nucleus. Moreover, the analysis of the nature of secondary processing and the types of tools designed on plates and microplates did not reveal any fundamental differences due to metric restrictions. When describing stone tools, small plates and microplates are combined into one category - "plates" (bladelet, lamelle), i.e. chips whose length is 2 times or more than the width, and the width does not exceed 12 mm (Leroi-Gourhan, 1997, p. 627). Nevertheless, the name "microplate" is used to emphasize the miniaturization of a number of products and the standardization of secondary finishing, regardless of the size of the chip.

Industry of the cultural layer 5. A total of 357 stone artefacts were discovered, of which 177 are from the ancient World.-

Table 1. Distribution of stone artifacts by layers

Primary cleavage category

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4

Layer 5

Quantity

%

Quantity

%

Quantity

%

Quantity

%

Nucleated products*

31

4,0

3

1,8

28

6,0

20

11,1

Technical chips*

56

7,2

2

1,2

50

10,7

11

6,1

Spiky points*

8

1,0

-

0,0

-

0,0

1

0,6

Flakes*

205

26,5

60

36,6

144

30,8

59

32,8

Lamellar flakes*

43

5,5

9

5,5

31

6,6

7

3,9

Plates*

111

14,3

27

16,5

39

8,3

22

12,2

Records*

321

41,4

63

38,4

176

37,6

60

33,3

Total

(without industrial waste)**

775

26,4

164

21,4

468

17,4

180

50,4

Industrial waste (debris, splinters, flakes)**

2 161

73,6

601

78,6

2 229

82,6

177

49,6

Total

2 936

100,0

765

100,0

2 697

100,0

357

100,0

* Specified percentage of the number of artifacts from the layer without production waste.

** The percentage of the total number of artifacts from the layer is specified.

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production processes (Table 1). Primary cleavage strategies were mainly aimed at obtaining different-sized plate blanks from prismatic and end nuclei.

Nucleoid products include nucleoid fragments and typologically expressed nuclei (Table 2). The end splitting principle was used to produce both plates and plates (Figs.2, 12). Combinatorial (a combination of planar and end-face) is represented by a single nucleus. Among the nuclei demonstrating the prismatic splitting principle, the largest series consists of karenoid nuclei on massive cleavages of a transverse system of cleavages with a wide front (Fig. 2, 3, 4, 5).

The blanks were removed from an unprepared impact pad on the ventral plane of the chips in such a way that the useful volume of the nucleus was depleted between the ventral and dorsal planes. The cleavage front was shaped wide, convex, and horseshoe-shaped in plan. As a result, the resulting blanks had a quadrangular shape, often with a slightly rounded distal end with a curved or propeller-shaped profile. 2, 6), two impact pads were used (the ventral plane of the original massive blank and the opposite plane of the natural fault); the removal of the blanks was carried out in the opposite direction, but in different planes. Snya-

Table 2. Distribution of nuclei by layers

Type

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4

Layer 5

Quantity

%

Quantity

%

Quantity

%

Quantity

%

Planar splitting*

4

18,2

-

-

2

10,5

1

10,0

Single-site monofrontal for flakes

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Single-site monofrontal for plates

1

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

Single-site bifrontal for flakes

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Two-platform monofrontal for plates

1

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

Two-site monofrontal for flakes

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

Face splitting*

3

13,6

-

-

8

42,1

2

20,0

Single-site monofrontal for records

3

-

-

-

4

-

2

-

Single-site bifrontal for records

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

Wedge-shaped for plates

-

-

-

-

3

-

-

-

Combinatorial nuclei*

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

10,0

Prismatic splitting*

15

68,2

1

100,0

9

47,4

9

60,0

Single-site for flakes

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Single-site for plates

2

-

1

-

3

-

2

-

Single-site for records

5

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

Two-platform for plates

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

Cone-shaped for plates

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Karenoid for records

3

-

-

-

3

-

7

-

Total

(typologically expressed)**

22

68,7

1

33,3

19

59,1

13

65,0

Depleted nuclei**

3

9,4

-

-

5

22,7

-

-

Nucleated debris**

7

21,9

2

66,7

4

18,2

7

35,0

Total

32

100,0

3

100,0

28

100,0

20

100,0

* The percentage of the number of typologically expressed nuclei from the layer is specified.

** The percentage of the total number of nuclide products from the layer is indicated.

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2. Stone tools from cultural layers 5 (3-15) and 4 (1, 2).

the plates taken from the first platform had a curved profile, and from the second - a straight one. Interesting are the carenoid nuclei with a narrow front, which was created and maintained by lateral removal (Figs. 2, 7, 8). The tracological analysis* showed the complete absence of any traces of the use of these products as tools, only one of them was subsequently re-registered in skreblo (Figs. 2, 15). Close to the above-described category of nuclei, the position is occupied by single-site prismatic nuclei for producing plates (2 copies), which resemble rabo-type scrapers (Figs. 2, 14) [Leroi-Gourhan, 1997, p. 919]. The collection contains one planar

* Tracological analysis of artifacts from the parking lot was performed by E. Y. Girya.

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a single impact site of which chips with plate parameters were convergently removed (Figs. 2, 13).

Technical chips (11 copies) mainly characterize the initial stage of splitting of raw material parts (edge chips), two copies belong to the reduction stage of healing of the chipping front, and one chip was obtained as a result of lateral correction of the carenoid nucleus.

The share of lamellar chips (plates and plates) is 49.4%, and chips with the proportions of flakes - 32.8%.

The gun set consists of 13 copies. (Table 3). Micro-equipment is represented by plates with a blunted edge (Figs. 2, 11) and with retouching of functional origin.

Of the two scrapers available in the collection, one is a longitudinal straight single one (Fig. 2, 10), the other is a single longitudinally convex one (Fig. 2, 15). At the end scraper, the working blade is decorated with a dorsal steep sub-parallel retouch (Fig. 2, 9).

Typologically undistinguished tools are represented by plates with retouching (5 copies) and flakes with recycling retouching.

Industry of the cultural layer 4. The collection includes 2,697 stone artefacts, of which 2,229 are industrial waste (see Table 1).

Nucleated products (see Table). 2) are represented by nucleoid fragments, depleted nuclei, and typologically pronounced nuclei. The planar splitting principle in a parallel cleavage system was used to obtain both-

Table 3. Distribution of tools by layer

Type

Layer 2

Layer 3

Layer 4

Layer 5

Quantity

%

Quantity

%

Quantity

%

Quantity

%

Skreblo

-

-

-

-

1

1,1

2

15,4

Gear implement

-

-

-

-

1

1,1

-

-

Cutter

2

1,7

-

-

1

1,1

-

-

Spiked weapon

5

4,2

1

3,0

4

4,6

-

-

Knife

-

-

2

6,1

-

-

-

-

Scraper

9

7,5

2

6,1

14

16,1

1

7,7

Puncture

9

7,5

-

-

7

8,0

-

-

Chisel-shaped tool

5

4,2

4

12,1

7

8,0

-

-

Combined tool (scraper-chisel)

-

-

1

3,0

2

2,3

-

-

Acuminate with basal notch

1

0,8

-

-

-

-

-

-

Flake with retouching

5

4,2

4

12,1

7

8,0

1

7,7

Retouching plate

11

9,2

5

15,2

6

6,9

5

38,5

Chopper

-

-

1

3,0

-

-

-

-

Micro-equipment

73

60,8

13

39,4

34

39,1

4

30,8

Micro-tip

7

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

Triangular microlite

29

-

3

-

1

-

-

-

Segment

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Trihedral microlite

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

Blunted edge plates and microplates

28

-

1

-

2

-

3

-

Retouched records and microplates

1

-

3

-

9

-

1

-

Plates and microplates with recycling retouching

7

-

4

-

16

-

-

-

Plates with retouching and sub-painting of the base

-

-

1

-

4

-

-

-

Tronked chip

-

-

-

-

2

2,3

-

-

Gun fragment

-

-

-

-

1

1,1

-

-

Total

120

100,0

33

100,0

87

100,0

13

100,0

page 9
as well as small-plate blanks. All end nuclei - single-site monofrontal and bifrontal, wedge-shaped (Figs. 3, 26) - were used for plate production. The prismatic principle of cleavage is represented by one-and two-site nuclei for removing plates, single-site nuclei for producing plates, and carenoid nuclei (Figs. 3, 23, 25).

Figure 3. Stone tools from cultural layers 4 (1 - 3, 8 - 12, 14 - 19, 21 - 26), 3 (4 - 7, 13, 20) and 2 (27).

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The share of plate blanks is 52.6%, flakes-30.8%.

Most technical chips are marginal, but there are ribbed and semi-ribbed ones, as well as two chips of the impact pad adjustment ("tablets").

The gun kit (see Table 3) totals 87 copies. Its most important components are products related to micro-equipment, scrapers and chisel tools. In the micro-equipment group, the most interesting find is a triangular microlite (Figs. 3, 1) formed on a microplate blunted along the right longitudinal edge. The base is diagonally tronked. The untreated long edge has traces of recycling. The collection also includes micro-points made on blunted microplates (see Figs. 2, 1), plates with a blunted edge (see Figs. 2, 2), plates and microplates with retouching (see Figs. 3, 2), bi-longitudinally retouched plates with a combed base. In addition to the deliberately designed tools, the collection of micro-products also includes plates with retouched recycling.

Most of the scrapers (11 copies) are end-mounted (see Fig. 3, 8 - 12, 24), one with a spike (see Figures 3, 17) and two nail-shaped ones, one of which can be typologically defined as a high-shaped scraper (see Figures 3, 14). Combined tools combine the working blades of a scraper and chisel. The single longitudinally convex scraper selected in the collection (see Figures 3, 18) also has a chisel-shaped blade created in the distal part of the workpiece. Chisel-shaped tools are made mainly of flakes and fragments of quartz and rock crystal. Four of them are single-edged (see Figures 3, 19, 22), and three are double-edged (see Figures 3, 15). Punctures (see Figures 3, 3, 21) can be divided into two categories: with a working element set during the primary splitting process (2 copies), and with a tip designed with modifying retouching (5 copies). In the case of massive spike-shaped tools, the working elements are created by retouching the angles between the plane of transverse breakage of the chip-blank and its longitudinal edge. The collection also includes tronked chips (plate and plate), a double multi-facet angle cutter and a toothed product.

Typologically undefined tools include plates with retouching (2 copies), plates and flakes with recycling retouching (4 and 7 copies, respectively). There is also a fragment of a tool of unclear typology (see Figs. 3, 16).

Cultural layer 3 industry. A total of 765 stone artefacts were found, most of which (601 copies) are industrial waste (see Table 1).

Nucleated products (see Table). 2) are represented by nucleoid fragments and the only typologically expressed nucleus of the prismatic splitting principle. The single-site core was designed to produce plates and lamellar flakes from the impact site created on the surface of a natural fault from raw materials.

The share of plate blanks is 60.4%, flakes-36.6%.

All available technical chips in the collection are edge ones.

The gun kit (see Table 3) totals 33 copies. 13 guns are assigned to the micro-inventory. The most interesting are triangular microliths (see Figures 3, 4, 13) made from distal fragments of small plates and microplates tronked at an obtuse angle to the right longitudinal edge, which is blunted by a vertical constant strongly modifying dorsal retouching. The opposite edge bears traces of unmodifying retouching.. Among other categories of micro-equipment, a fragment of a trihedral microlite (see Figures 3, 5), created by steep retouching of both longitudinal edges, stands out. There are also plates with retouching (see Figs. 3, 6), with a blunted edge, with retouching, and a plate with retouching of the longitudinal edges and basal underflow (see Figs. 3, 7).

Chisel-shaped tools are designed on separate pieces of rock crystal (3 copies) and silicified limestone (1 copy). All of them are single-edged, working blades are created using chipped undercoating and bifacial retouching. Scrapers are represented by end (see Fig. 3, 20) and side (Fig. 4, 4) varieties. In the basal part of the last article, traces of thinning ventral undergrowth are recorded. In knives, the remaining smooth impact pads act as the rim, and the working blades (the longitudinal edge of the workpiece) are corrected with dorsal scaly retouching. The combined tool has a scraper working blade designed in the distal part of the workpiece, and two chisel-shaped ones that are located opposite each other on the longitudinal edges. A single specimen is represented by a spike-shaped gun and a chopper made with a steep padding on flat pebbles.

Typologically undistinguished tools include flakes (4 copies) and plates (5 copies) with retouching, mainly of a recycling nature.

Cultural layer 2 industry. This collection is the most numerous with 2,936 stone artefacts, of which 2,161 are classified as industrial waste (see Table 1).

Nucleated products (see Table). 2) include 22 typologically expressed nuclei. The nuclei of the prismatic cleavage principle are dominated: single-site ones, in which the cleavage front occupies 3/4 of the workpiece perimeter (Figs. 5, 29), to obtain flakes; with a front that occupies the entire surface of the workpiece.

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4. Stone artefacts from cultural layers 3 (4) and 2 (1 - 3, 5, 6).

4, 3, 6), for removing plates and with a front occupying 1/2 of the perimeter (see Fig. 5, 31), for producing plates and microplates; cone-shaped nuclei for producing plates and microplates (see Fig. 4, 1, 2); karenoid bifrontal (see Fig. 3, 27) from blanks of a navicular shape in the profile; the nucleus is a scraper (see Fig. 5, 22), in which the chipping front occupies the entire perimeter. The planar splitting principle is represented by single-site monofrontal nuclei for producing flakes and plates, single-site bifrontal for producing flakes, and two-site monofrontal for removing plates. End nuclei are single-site monofrontal (see Figs. 4, 5), formed on a large plate and massive flakes. In two cases, the chipping front was formed by large residual impact sites of chipped blanks, which gave them a wedge-shaped shape.

The share of plate blanks is 61.3%, flakes-26.5%.

The percentage of technical chips is quite high, most of which are marginal. Present like this-

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5. Stone tools from cultural layer 2.

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the same semi-rib (8 copies) and rib plates, chipped touch-ups of impact pads, including "tablets" (5 copies).

The tool kit includes 120 items (see Table 3). Most of the tools belong to micro-equipment. Triangular microliths dominate among them: 19 whole ones (see Figures 5, 1-8, 10) and 10 fragmented ones (see Figures 5, 17, 18). Attention is drawn to the high degree of standardization of these tools. They are identical in size, made on distal fragments of microplates with convergent in the distal part of the longitudinal edges, the right one is treated with a permanent dorsal vertical strongly modifying parallel retouching. The plates are tronked at an obtuse angle to this edge, and only one is at a right angle. The opposite long edge of the blanks has traces of very small sparse dorsal weakly modifying facets of retouching recycling. Traceological analysis showed that these items were used as inserts for grooving tools. An equally numerous category of tools is plates with a blunted edge (see Fig. 5, 9, 11, 12). A smaller series consists of microarrays (see Figures 5, 13, 14), which are formed by modifying secondary touch-up on distal microplate fragments. Individual copies are represented by a retouched plate (see Fig. 5, 19) and a segment of a triangular plate in cross-section. The shape of the latter is given by a permanent dorsal retouch on one of the longitudinal edges, which smoothly passes to the plane of the transverse fracture of the workpiece. Traceological analysis showed that the segment was used as a grooving tool insert. The rest of the micro-products are records and microplates with recycling retouching.

The second most numerous category of gun sets is made up of plates with retouching (see Figures 5, 26-28). Punctures play a significant role, among which one weapon stands out, decorated on a triangular plate in cross-section (see Figures 5, 20). The product is a non-equilateral triangle, the short side of which is formed by transverse tronking of the workpiece at an obtuse angle to the long edge, treated with dorsal vertical constant strongly modifying retouching, and the other long edge bears traces of intermittent non-modifying multi-dimensional recycling retouching. Both morphologically and by the type of secondary finishing, this product is similar to triangular microliths, but significantly exceeds them in size (the length of the gun is 32 mm). Tracological analysis showed that this tool was used to pierce hides, and both sharp ends of the product were used. End scrapers are the most numerous (see Figs. 5, 23, 25). Individual specimens are a high-shaped side and scraper with a small spike formed at the angle of intersection of the longitudinal edge with the distal part of the workpiece (see Figs. 5, 30). Trace analysis showed that the last tool was used for processing wood. One of the nail-shaped scrapers available in the collection (see Figures 5, 16) was made of rock crystal. Chisel-shaped tools are divided into three types, which differ in the number of blades, the nature of secondary finishing and size: single-edged (3 copies), double-edged (see Figs. 5, 15) and single-edged micro-chisel. The collection also includes spiked products and angular multi-facet incisors (see Figs. 5, 21). The tool type, unique for the Upper Paleolithic complexes of the region, is represented by a pointed tip with a basal notch. It is formed on a small elongated pointed chip with a convergent cut of the dorsal surface. Both longitudinal edges bear disparate facets of functional retouching. The basal part of the blank was subjected to intensive additional processing by the ventral modifying scaly undergrowth, resulting in a recess (see Figs. 5, 24). Given the morphology and size of the weapon, it can be assumed that it served as the tip of a light throwing weapon such as a dart. A few flakes with retouching are informal tools that have only facets of episodic recycling retouching.

Industry of the cultural layer 1. The collection is not numerous and is considered by us as a mixed material that combines both Paleolithic artifacts and objects of a much later time. The reasons for the mixing of cultural remains are long-term agricultural activity (deep plowing) and rodent activity.

A significant part of the collection consists of fragments of ceramics (14 copies) of kiln firing. The vessels were formed on a potter's wheel. An accurate cultural and chronological reference of this material is difficult, since such methods of making ceramic products were practiced in the region under study from the Early Iron Age until the Middle Ages.

The stone artefacts (37 specimens) have a Paleolithic appearance and are close to those found in the underlying cultural layers. Primary cleavage is represented by pebbles with traces of disposal, flakes (13 specimens), edge chips (4 specimens), plate and flakes (18 specimens); tools - two end scrapers designed on small flakes.

Functional nature of the parking lot

Based on stratigraphic observations, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1) archaeological

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layer 1 is mixed, containing Upper Paleolithic artifacts and cultural remains of a later time, due to anthropogenic activity and the activity of excavators; 2) cultural layers 2 - 4 are in a relatively undisturbed state, which is also confirmed by planigraphic observations, data from technical-typological and application analysis; while layer 2 combines the material remains of several different types of structures. rather long periods of settlement of the site, and layers 3 and 4 probably reflect brief episodes of the presence of an ancient person; 3) stone artifacts belonging to cultural layer 5, most likely, have undergone both horizontal and vertical displacement, however, they belong to the same episode/period of functioning of the site, as evidenced by the results of technical and typological analysis and the availability of applicableware are also indicative.

Taking into account the geomorphological data for the studied area (a narrow mountain valley with sharp and deep incisions), we can conclude that the geometry of the inhabited site and its hypsometric position relative to the base of the stream changed significantly over time. Accordingly, the areas of archaeological layers uncovered by the excavation could represent functionally different zones of the surface inhabited by ancient man, the spatial organization of which during each episode of habitation was determined by the boundaries that existed at that time and the relative height of the site.

In order to determine the functional specifics of individual cultural divisions of the monument, an analysis of technocomplexes was carried out, including the study of the structure of the tool kit and the effectiveness of activities for the splitting of nuclei and the production of tools according to the methodology presented in the work of E. P. Rybin and K. A. Kolobova [2005]. To characterize the structure of the tool kit, we have divided it into two groups: formal and informal tools. The first category includes products that have undergone significant changes in design or use and have specific features of tool preparation or accommodation. Artifacts that have undergone minimal changes in their design or use, do not have specific morphological features, and do not form a stable series are defined as informal. To assign a product to a particular group, its typological affiliation does not matter much.In this study, we used an approach that takes into account the specifics of secondary processing of a particular item. The uniformity/heterogeneity and intensity of such processing were determined: the degree of modification of the workpiece surface by retouching, the length of retouching. As a result, the predominance of formal tools in the Dodecanese-2 parking lot industries was revealed, the share of which varies from 54% in layer 5 to 65.7% in layer 2. At the same time, most of the products are processed using highly and moderately modifying retouching (from 57.1 to 68%), many carry more than one element of secondary processing on their surfaces (from 30 to 47.5%). Thus, we can conclude that the blanks were modified quite strongly. Guns often served multiple purposes. These facts indicate the intensive use of raw stone and its possible transportation from relatively remote sources.

To assess the effectiveness of nuclear cleavage and tool production, we used the following criteria: the number of tools per core; the ratio of the number of tools to the number of non - retouched chips and nuclei; the ratio of cores, on the one hand, and tools and non-retouched chips, on the other [Ibid.]. As a result, certain differences in the activity of ancient humans at different stages of settlement of the site were revealed. The materials of layer 5 show the least intensive activity in the production of tools (0.65 tools per core) and a high degree of utilization of nuclei (12.8 chips per core). Also, the lowest amount of industrial waste was found here (49.7%). The results obtained allow us to conclude that this site was used as a workshop for the primary cleavage of nuclei and the manufacture of cleavage blanks without their further transformation into tools. The materials of layer 3 indicate a short-term one-time visit to the excavated site of the parking lot. This conclusion is made on the basis of the small number of artefacts, the exceptionally high proportion of tools (11 tools per core), the small number of blank chips (3.9 chips per tool), and the disproportionate ratio of nuclei and chips in comparison with those of nuclei and tools (53 chips per core). Thus, the cleavage was carried out not on the excavated area of layer 3, but on another site of the parking lot or in a different place altogether, and the chips were brought to the Dodecano-2 parking lot, where the main activity was the manufacture of tools (touch-up), as evidenced by a large share of industrial waste (78.6%).

The complexes of layers 2 and 4 are very similar to each other and demonstrate the full production cycle of stone tools. There are 3.1 (layer 4) and 3.6 (layer 2) tools per core, and 4.3 and 5.6 chipped blanks per tool, respectively. Indicators of the intensity of utilization of nuclei are high (15.7 and 23.25 chips per nucleus, respectively). Taking into account the comparator-

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Due to the large number of these complexes, a large share of production waste, intensive utilization of nuclei, average values for cleavage-blanks, and a significant share of tools, it can be concluded that during these periods of operation of the parking lot, it could have been used as a base camp, relatively remote from the sources of stone raw materials. The predominance in the tool set of items classified as microinventaries (primarily triangular microliths and plates with a blunted edge, which served as inserts for grooved tools) suggests the predominance of specialized mining activities (seasonal hunting?), and the presence of processing tools (scrapers, incisors, punctures), apparently, indicates that we have we are dealing with a long-term hunting camp.

Absolute dates of the monument

Currently, there are three absolute dates for the lower part of Layer 4 obtained by radiocarbon dating (AMS) at the NSF laboratory of the University of Arizona (Tucson, USA). Two samples showed very similar ages: 23,800 ± 190 (AA-69073, dated material is coal) and 23,600 ± 330 (AA - 69075, dated material is bone) years. The third date (for coal) is later - 21,850 ± 180 BP (AA-69074). Two samples taken from layer 2 showed a Late Medieval age: 431 ± 33 (AA-69071) and 433 ± 36 (AA-69072) years, which is due to the presence of numerous bioturbations in the upper part of the monument's sediments.

Discussion of the results

In general, the primary cleavage at the Dodecano-2 site is characterized by the predominance of subprismatic and end cleavage, which is mainly aimed at obtaining small plates that were later used as inserts for composite tools. The prismatic splitting principle evolves from the dominance of carenoid nuclei for obtaining plates with a curved and propeller-shaped profile in the lower layer 5 to the prevalence in the overlying layers of single-site nuclei for removing plate blanks with a straight profile. Analysis of the profiles of the plate chips themselves confirms this observation: in the 5th layer, the largest number of chips with an indirect profile (77%), in the 4th their share decreases (66%), and in the 3rd layer products with a direct profile prevail (55.9%). In layer 2, they make up 49% (Figure 6).

6. The ratio of plate chips with different profiles, a-twisted; b-curved; c-straight.

The Dodecanese-2 parking industry has a clear small-plate character. The proportion of plate chips increases slightly from layer 5 (49.4%) to layer 2 (61.35%), and this is due to an increase in the role of plates. Most non-retouched plate chips (including only whole ones) have a length of 10 to 30 mm, a width of 5 to 13 mm, while products with a width of 7 to 9 mm dominate (Fig. 7).

Analysis of the metric characteristics of plate chips and negative images on the nuclei showed that no special splitting techniques, depending on the type of desired blank, or nuclei of a certain type were used to produce microplates, plates, and plates. Blanks with the parameters of microplates, plates, and plates were removed from the same cores. The only specialized type of nuclei is karenoid, which are designed exclusively for the production of small plates. In particular, the significant predominance of such cores is associated with the predominance of 5 small plate blanks with a width of 3 to 6 mm in the layer (Fig. 7).

The main preparation of tools was plate chips, the proportion of which varies from 62% in layer 4 to 87% in layer 2 (Fig. 8). This reflects the clear focus of the industry on microlitization, since a significant increase in the specific weight of plate chips among tool blanks is directly related to an increase in the number of micro-products (triangular microliths, plates with a blunted edge, plates with retouching) (Fig. 9).

The main method of secondary processing was retouching. Retouching is mainly dorsal, steep and semi - steep, permanent, strongly and moderately modifying, forming a wavy working edge, scaly and sub-parallel in the shape of facets. Ventral is quite rare, its rate does not exceed 10%. Some preferences in the technique of secondary processing can be traced-

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7. Distribution of plate chips in layers depending on the width.

Figure 8. The ratio of tool blanks types. a - flakes; b-plates; c-plates.

Figure 9. Micro-equipment shares in gun sets.

ki for certain types of weapons. Thus, triangular microliths and plates with a blunted edge are characterized by a predominant bluntness of the right longitudinal edge (in more than 85% of cases). The second most important technique is chip tronking, which was often used in the manufacture of spike-shaped products and plates with retouching. Triangular microliths are also characterized by metric standardization: the vast majority of whole products have a length of 10 to 14 mm and a width of 4 to 5 mm (Fig.

The cultural affinity of the industries of the selected archaeological strata is also indicated by the stable presence of specific cultural features of the region.-

10. Distribution of whole triangular microliths depending on the length and width of the workpiece.

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types of guns. In all collections there are records with a blunted edge. Triangular microliths appear in layer 4 and reach their maximum amount in layer 2. The main type of combined tools (scrapers-chisels) found in layers 4, 3 is stable.In the same complexes, quite rare products were identified - plates with a cast base.

It is noteworthy that starting from the lowest layer, the microplate industry appears in a fully developed form. The technology of obtaining blanks, methods of secondary finishing, and morphology of the main categories of the tool kit are largely standardized; no significant evolutionary leaps can be traced, except for a large increase in the number of triangular microliths in layer 2, which, in our opinion, is explained by planigraphic (functional?), rather than cultural and evolutionary factors. Taking into account the results of the conducted technical and typological analysis, the majority of all layers of the monument can be attributed to a single cultural tradition, the carriers of which were present in the studied territory about 23 - 21 thousand years AGO (uncalibrated date).

The closest analogies of the Dodekatym industry can be traced in the archaeological materials of the upper layers of the Kulbulak site (Tashkent region, Uzbekistan), discovered and intensively studied in the 60-80s of the XX century. [Kasymov, 1990]. In 2007, field studies of the monument were resumed (Derevyanko et al., 2007). The primary cleavage of the Upper Paleolithic industry of the Kulbulak site was focused on the production of small plates from prismatic and end nuclei, as well as microplates from carenoid nuclei. The tool kit is dominated by retouched plates and microplates, chisel-shaped tools, and end scrapers, including microforms. It is very interesting to find absolutely similar products in the parking lots of Dodecano-2 and Kulbulak. Thus, the Dodecatym narrow-frontal karenoid nuclei from layer 5 (see Figures 2, 5, 8) fully correspond to the Kulbulak ones from layer 2 (Kolobova et al., 2009). In addition, the industries of both sites contain typologically identical specific types of tools: orthogonal two-edged chisel-like products, including exotic ones (see Figs. 3, 15); end micro scrapers (see Figs. 3,12), micro-chisel tools and ventral side scrapers. The retouched plates from the Kulbulak site are similar to the processed plate blanks from the lower layers of the Dodekat-2 site and were also used as inserts for composite tools. In both industries, there are records with a blunted edge. Of greatest interest is the discovery of a triangular microlite in the upper layer of Kulbulak, which is absolutely identical in its manufacturing technique and morphology to the geometric micro-tools from the Dodecano-2 site. Another triangular microlith was identified by us in unpublished materials of T. Y. Grechkina's excavations of the Kulbulak Upper Paleolithic layers. Taking into account such a large number of analogs, the classification of the Upper Paleolithic industries of the Kulbulak and Dodekar-2 sites as a single cultural community seems reasonable. At the same time, despite the lack of absolute dating results of the Upper Paleolithic layers of Kulbulak, it can be assumed that they are older than the Dodecatymian ones. This assumption is supported, in particular, by the almost complete absence of stone splitting and retouching techniques in the Kulbulak industry, while it is presented at the Dodecano-2 parking lot. In addition, micro-equipment in the Kulbulak complex occupies a less significant place than in the Dodekatym complex; for example, it has only a few plates with a blunted edge, and at the Dodekatym-2 site it is one of the leading types of gun kit, characterized by morphological standardization. It should also be noted that the Dodecatym complex of the lower layer 5, containing narrow - and wide-frontal karenoid nuclei, shows the greatest similarity with the Kulbulak industry. In the overlying layers of the Dodecano-2 site, such nuclei were abandoned and a transition was made to the use of single-site prismatic nuclei, which made it possible to obtain blanks with a straight profile.

An even earlier stage in the development of the cultural tradition, which is represented in its developed form at the Dodekum-2 site, can probably be attributed to materials obtained in 2008 during the excavation of a new monument-the Kyzyl-Alma-2 workshop, located on the flint raw material outcrops in the immediate vicinity of Kulbulak (Kolobova et al., 2010). The stone artefacts found in the stratigraphic context significantly disturbed by slope processes have an Early Upper Paleolithic appearance. While the technology of cleaving medium-sized plates from subprismatic and planar nuclei dominates, strategies for obtaining small plates from end nuclei that are similar to those in the Upper Paleolithic industry of the Kulbulak site can also be traced. In a small number of tools, end and side scrapers predominate. Based on preliminary data on the industry of the Kyzyl-Alma-2 monument, it is necessary to pay attention to the use of technological solutions in it

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(combinatorial end-plane nuclei and incisive cleavage nuclei), which are also characteristic of the Obi-Rakhmat grotto industry, which is currently the only candidate for the role of "transition" (from the Middle to Upper Paleolithic) in the region under study.

As for the comparison of the materials of Dodekatym-2 with the most fully researched and published archaeological complexes of the Samarkand site (for the territory of Uzbekistan) [Dzhurakulov, 1987; Korobkova and Dzhurakulov, 2000], we can also note a number of analogs among the typologically expressed products. First of all, this applies to karenoid nuclei-scrapers for the production of small plates, pyramidal nuclei and end scrapers on small chips. At the same time, the presence in the materials of the Samarkand site of a significant number of archaic macro-tools (which, according to many researchers, are a specific feature of the Upper Paleolithic of Central Asia) in the absence of a developed micro-inventory makes it necessary to carefully approach the inclusion of these monuments in a single cultural community. However, it should be noted that both the presence of archaic cutting tools in the developed Upper Paleolithic industry and the absence of microplate cleavage products (if there are nuclei for their production) at the Samarkand site can be explained both by the still questionable stratigraphic context of the cultural-containing deposits of the monument, and by the use of methodological approaches during its excavations that differ from those currently used time.

In search of broader (geographically) analogies, let us turn to the industries of the Late Paleolithic Zarzi culture in the Zagros Mountains of Iraq, first of all to the most significant complexes of the Varvashi, Shanidar, Zarzi, and Palegwara sites (Olszewski, 1993; Wahida, 1999). Primary cleavage in these 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 non-equilateral triangles (products that are morphologically close to Dodecatym triangular microliths), plates with a blunted edge, and plates with retouching. There are corner cutters, end scrapers, toothed and notched products. Based on indirect data (there are no absolute dates), researchers date the Zarzian culture in a broad chronological framework from 20 to 12 thousand years ago. Moreover, at the final stages in this industry, new types of microliths - trapezoids and segments-appear. Near-Upper Paleolithic complexes similar to the Zarzian ones are also found in the Levant. First of all, we are talking about the Okhalo-2 site, whose materials are interpreted by researchers as transitional from the Upper Paleolithic to the Epipaleolithic. Primary cleavage in the parking lot was aimed at obtaining plates from single-site prismatic nuclei, called end ones, and pyramidal nuclei, and the presence of rabo products was noted. The latter are similar to the Kulbulak and Dodecatym karenoid nuclei. Pyramidal nuclei also find analogies in the materials of Dodekatym-2 and the Samarkand site. The gun set from the Okhalo-2 monument is dominated by micro-products: plates with a blunted edge, with retouching and retouching "ochtata", pointed plates with retouching, dufour plates and non-equilateral triangles. In addition, retouched plates, incisors, toothed tools, and punctures are widely used. The presence of bifacial products is noted. According to the results of intensive radiocarbon dating of the monument (45 dates obtained in four different laboratories), its age is 19,500 years (calibrated dates in the range of 23 500 - 22 500 L. N.) [Nadel et al., 2006]. In the Levant, similar industries were also found at the sites of Ein Gev I, Fazael IIIA, IIIB, and X (Nadel, 2003). 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.

The results of the study of the Dodecanese-2 site are also important for studying the history of the subsequent Stone Age period in Central Asia - the Mesolithic era, and in particular the Obishir culture. Published materials on Mesolithic sites in the Ferghana Valley (Islamov, 1980) suggest that they are genetically related to the Dodecanese-2 site industry. Since accurate chronological definitions of the Mesolithic sites studied at the end of the 20th century are completely absent at the moment, and a number of complexes are attributed to this period of the Stone Age on the basis of the presence of microplate splitting and microlith tools, the discovery at the Dodecano-2 site of a developed stone age is considered to be the most significant.

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the production of geometric microliths requires a reassessment of the available Mesolithic data in the region, preferably with accurate dating of the studied sites. It is possible that such studies will lead to an aging of the microlitic tradition in the region and will force to change the cultural and periodization interpretation of some objects. This, in turn, will allow us to speak more reasonably about the local genesis of Mesolithic cultures based on the Upper Paleolithic Dodecatymian appearance.

Conclusion

The study of the Dodecanese-2 site in the context of studying other Paleolithic sites in the region (Obi-Rakhmat grotto, Kulbulak and Kyzyl-Alma-2 sites) suggests that the previously stated hypothesis of depopulation in the region in the range of 40-20 thousand years AGO requires clarification. Apparently, despite the increased aridization of the climate at the end of the Upper Pleistocene, ancient man did not leave the Central Asian region, but changed the adaptation strategies for developing the landscape. The use of natural shelters (grottos and caves) located in the mid-mountain belt was replaced by a preference for open spaces of the foothill zone and intermountain basins, in which constant water flows were preserved (the Samarkand site, Dodecano-2) and / or ascending sources of the foothill collector type (Kulbulak, Kyzyl-Alma-2). Perhaps, in the new ecological conditions, ancient man was forced to radically change his hunting strategies. The need to hunt smaller and more mobile game probably necessitated the use of lighter and / or more remote-controlled weapons. This led to the reorientation of stone production to the production of small plates and microlitization of tools, which is observed at the Dodecano-2 site.

The results of the study of the Dodecanese-2 monument, together with the characteristics of the Kulbulak and Kyzyl-Alma-2 site industries (Kolobova et al., 2009, 2010), as well as preliminary data on the Shugnou complex (Ranov, 1973), give grounds for re-evaluating the trends of Upper Paleolithic development in Central Asia. The materials of these monuments testify to the fine-plate nature of the Upper Paleolithic industries of the region. The illustrated technological and typological relationships between a group of Upper Paleolithic complexes suggest that a new fine-plate culture was identified on the territory of Central Asia.

Acknowledgements

Drawings of stone artefacts were made by leading artists of the Institute of Electrotechnical Engineering of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.V. Abdulmanova and N. V. Vavilina. Absolute dates of the Dodecano-2 monument were determined in the NSF laboratory of the University of Arizona (Tucson, USA) with the active assistance of P. J. Rinn and T. Jala. Detailed characterization of the geological, geomorphological, and stratigraphic situation of the site and the surrounding area was made possible by collaboration with Dr. I. S. Novikov (Institute of Geology, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences) and Candidate of Geological Sciences S. V. Leshchinsky (Laboratory of Micropaleontology, Tomsk State University). The authors are grateful to their colleagues from IAET SB RAS and IA of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan for their criticism and fruitful discussions during the field research and preparation of the article.

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The article was submitted to the Editorial Board on 15.03.11.

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