On Origin and Development of North Azov Late Palaeolithic Culture Cover Image
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О происхождении и развитии Северо-Приазовской позднепалеолитической культуры
On Origin and Development of North Azov Late Palaeolithic Culture

Author(s): Nikolai P. Olenkovsky
Subject(s): History, Archaeology
Published by: Издательский дом Stratum, Университет «Высшая антропологическая школа»

Summary/Abstract: North Black Sea steppes in the Ukraine are characterised by a complicated historical and cultural situation in the Late Palaeolithic. A number of new archaeological cultures have been distinguished recently: the North Azov culture of late Glacial epoch, distinguished and studied by the author in the middle 90s, is one of them. Basic sites of North Azov culture are Fedorovka (layers 1, 2), Cashtaeva balka, Solone ozero IX, Capustyana balka, Somova balka and Caystrova balka VI (fig. I). They are represented by expressive assemblages with numerous archaeological material. The assemblages on these sites are characterised by: equal number of scrapers and burins in the early assemblages and predominance of the scrapers in the late ones; presence of dihedral, retouched truncation and angle burins, with retouched truncation burins somewhat predominating; high ratio of double burins and scrapers; compulsory presence of curved backed points and the ones of federmesser type; high ratio of backed blades and bladelets with truncated base; presence of splintered pieces and chisels. North Azov archaeological culture is a further development of the early Low Don Kamennaya balka culture. Comparative analysis of the industries of both cultures tells about their big proximity. At the same time, the difference in knapping techniques and ratios of the tools, some typological differences do not allow including the North Azov culture sites within Kamennaya balka culture. The chronology of North Azov culture can be determined within Camennaya balka dates (15,500 – 13,500 B.P.), on one hand, and the sites of the second stage of North Azov culture, on the other hand. This conclusion is backed by the recent radiocarbon dating for the two sites of the second stage of North Azov culture: Solone ozero IX (bottom layer) – 13,460 ± 80 (Ki – 5,825) and Solone ozero I «a» (bottom layer) – 12,700 ± 60 (Ki – 6,357). The date for another site of this culture – Solone ozero IX «a» (bottom layer) is 14,800 ± 80 (Ki – 6,360).

  • Issue Year: 2002
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 383-392
  • Page Count: 10
  • Language: Russian