The northern dispersal route: New evidence of Upper Paleolithic human behavior from the Tsagaan Turuut River Valley, central Mongolia

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2022.0007

Abstract

Abstract:

Mongolia’s unique geographical location between northern China and the Siberian Plateau of Russia has facilitated its role as a corridor of regional cultural connection since the Pleistocene. It is evident that the Early Upper Paleolithic of Mongolia dates to 33-27 kaBP from the archaeological studies of those Upper Paleolithic sites at Tsagaan Agui and Chikhen Agui in Bayankhongor Province (Southwest Mongolia). Here, we present the results of archaeological analysis of Paleolithic remains from the six sites in the Tsagaan Turuut River Valley located in Galuut district, northern Bayankhongor Province. These newly discovered sites significantly expand our knowledge of the prehistory of central Mongolia and most of Central Asian region. The knapping technology at these sites is based on radial cores and unidirectional prismatic cores. By analyzing the lithic artifacts from these six sites, we believe that these cultures have continuity from early to late stages of the Early Upper Paleolithic. Special tools such as points and large bifaces were recovered. The ¹⁴C dating results of a bone sample from the lower layer of a test pit indicate that the Tsagaan Baast Valley sites are no later than 43500 BP cal (β-TSTC1).

Key words: Mongolia, Upper Paleolithic, Lithic industry, Blade core

Tsedendorj BOLORBAT, Dashzeveg BAZARGUR, Guunii LKHUNDEV, Batsuuri ANKHBAYAR, Adyasuren ALTANBAGANA, Tsend AMGALANTUGS, Gonchig BATBOLD, CAO Jian’en, SONG Guodong, CAO Peng, CAI Xi. The northern dispersal route: New evidence of Upper Paleolithic human behavior from the Tsagaan Turuut River Valley, central Mongolia[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2023, 42(04): 488-502.

Figures/Tables 8

References 36

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Category	Barchin	Olon Tsohiot	Ontsyn Uzuur	Beliin Ulaan Khad	Emeel Tolgoi	Tsagaan Baast	Total	Percentage
Core-like form Blank Tool Bone	2 10 5 -	3 33 9 -	6 18 6 -	3 43 14 -	27 120 134 -	19 36 30 1	60 260 198 1	11.6% 50.1% 38.2% 0.1%
Total	17	45	30	60	281	86	519	100%

Category	Barchin	Olon Tsohiot	Ontsyn Uzuur	Beliin Ulaan Khad	Emeel Tolgoi	Tsagaan Baast	Total	Percentage
Core-like form Blank Tool Bone	2 10 5 -	3 33 9 -	6 18 6 -	3 43 14 -	27 120 134 -	19 36 30 1	60 260 198 1	11.6% 50.1% 38.2% 0.1%
Total	17	45	30	60	281	86	519	100%

No.	Category	Barchin	Olon Tsokhiot	Ontsyn Uzuur	Beliin Ulaan Khad	Emeel Tolgoi	Tsagaan Baast
1	Preform	-	-	-	-	4	5
2	Preform of wedge-shaped core	-	-	-	-	4	2
3	Single platform, single flaking surface core preform	1	-	-	-	-	2
4	Radial core	-	-	1	-	1	2
5	Single platform, single flaking surface core	1	1	3	2	4	5
6	Single platform, multiple flaking surface core	-	-	1	1	-	1
7	Double platform, single flaking surface core	-	-	-	-	-	1
8	Double platform, double flaking surface core	-	-	1	-	-	-
9	Conical core	-	-	-	-	3	-
10	Wedge-shaped core		1			14	1
11	Narrow-faced core	-	-	-	-	1	-
12	Fragment with negative flake scar	-	1	-	-	-	-
Total		2	3	6	3	27	19

No.	Category	Barchin	Olon Tsokhiot	Ontsyn Uzuur	Beliin Ulaan Khad	Emeel Tolgoi	Tsagaan Baast
1	Preform	-	-	-	-	4	5
2	Preform of wedge-shaped core	-	-	-	-	4	2
3	Single platform, single flaking surface core preform	1	-	-	-	-	2
4	Radial core	-	-	1	-	1	2
5	Single platform, single flaking surface core	1	1	3	2	4	5
6	Single platform, multiple flaking surface core	-	-	1	1	-	1
7	Double platform, single flaking surface core	-	-	-	-	-	1
8	Double platform, double flaking surface core	-	-	1	-	-	-
9	Conical core	-	-	-	-	3	-
10	Wedge-shaped core		1			14	1
11	Narrow-faced core	-	-	-	-	1	-
12	Fragment with negative flake scar	-	1	-	-	-	-
Total		2	3	6	3	27	19

No.	Category	BarchinUul	Olon Tsokhiot	Ontsyn Uzuur	Beliin Ulaan Khad	Emeel Tolgoi	Tsagaan Baast
1	Side-scraper	-	-	1	2	78	6
2	Scraper	-	1	1	1	7	1
3	Point	1	-	-	1	5	-
4	Denticulated tool	1	-	-	-	-	4
5	Notched-denticulated tool	-	-	-	1	4	-
6	Knife	-	-	-	1	2	-
7	Borer	-	2	-	1	4	-
8	Grooved tool	-	-	-	3	-	3
9	Burin	-	-	-	-	2	-
10	Spur	-	2	-	-	-	4
11	Indeterminate tool	-	-	-	-	1	1
12	Combination tool	1	1	-	1	-	-
13	Large biface	-	1	-	-	-	1
14	Push-plane	1	-	2	-	4	-
15	Truncated tool	-	1	-	1	-	1
16	Backed tool	-	-	-	-	-	1
17	Cutting tool	-	-	-	-	-	1
18	Retouched blank	1	-	-	2	-	4
19	Tool fragment	-	1	-	-	27	4
20	Hammer-stone fragment	-	-	2	-	-	-
	Total	5	9	6	14	134	30