ANALYSIS OF THE CHARENTE INDUSTRIES OF TRANSCARPATHIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37445/adiu.2025.01.04Keywords:
Middle Paleolithic, stratigraphy, industry, Quina.Abstract
The results of the research of chronology, stratigraphy, and techno-typological characteristics of the lithic collections from Layer II of the Korolevo site, Ruban’, and Complex II of Maly Rakovets IV are analyzed in detail in the paper. The sites demonstrate a different thicknesses of deposits and preservation conditions of the cultural layer. At the first two sites, artifacts were recorded in situ, but in Maly Rakovets IV the thickness of the layers was reduced due to denudation processes. The industries may be very close in terms of their existence within the chronological period from the end of MIS 5a to MIS 4 (74—40000 years ago).
The sites are located directly on the raw material deposits: Korolevo — andesite (vitrophyric dacite), Malyi Rakovets IV — obsidian Carpathian 3, Ruban — siliceous sandstone. The complexes are characterized by combined activities, including stone production and the use of tools with varying degrees of usage intensity of the sites. The bearers of these industries used similar methods of stone reduction and tool manufacturing techniques, with minimal differences reflecting the intensity of repeated stone processing cycles at the site, and occasionally the morphological features of the raw material.
The model of stone production at the sites is identical and consists of four stages: beginning of the knapping of nodules, active reduction of cores, reduction of flake-cores, formation / resharpening / of tools and their use as cores. The production process is characterized by the reduction of unprepared cores with a hard-hammer along the entire perimeter, mostly using centripetal direction. The main goal of production is a massive flake of lateral proportions with naturally back, often with a cortex. The leading types of tools — scrapers — were made on such flakes using stepped Quina and semi-Quina retouch. Among them, single-edged convex samples prevail — simple, transverse, and diagonal.
These industries reflect a unique tradition of stone production, which distinguishes them from the variability of the Middle Paleolithic complexes of Transcarpathia. The technical and typological characteristics of these industries have the basic criteria for defining industries as Charente of Quina tape. Accordingly, they are identified as the most eastern manifestation of this tradition in Central Europe.
Thus, the analyzed assemblies can be identified as a sign of the migration of Neanderthals, the bearers of the Quina-Type industry, from the West to the territory of Transcarpathia.
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