TY - JOUR
T1 - Long distance transport and use of mica in the Initial Upper Paleolithic of Central Asia
T2 - An example from the Kharganyn Gol 5 site (northern Mongolia)
AU - Khatsenovich, Arina M.
AU - Shelepaev, Roman A.
AU - Rybin, Evgeny P.
AU - Shelepov, Yaroslav Yu
AU - Marchenko, Daria V.
AU - Odsuren, Davakhuu
AU - Gunchinsuren, Byambaa
AU - Olsen, John W.
N1 - Funding Information:
Archaeological and analytical studies were supported by the Russian Scientific Foundation , project number 19-78-10112 , “Human adaptation in arid and high-altitude regions of eastern Central Asia in the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene” Geochemical analysis was undertaken under the auspices of the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk. The Je Tsongkhapa Endowment for Central and Inner Asian Archaeology at the University of Arizona funded our 2015 fieldwork.
Funding Information:
We are grateful to Sergei Gladyshev, Tsedendorj Bolorbat, Maria Shapovalova, Anton Anoikin and Galina Pavlenok for their assistance in the field, and Lidia Zotkina for her microwear analysis and photograph of the mica specimen. We are indebted to two anonymous reviewers and the editor, who helped us greatly improve our manuscript. Archaeological and analytical studies were supported by the Russian Scientific Foundation, project number 19-78-10112, “Human adaptation in arid and high-altitude regions of eastern Central Asia in the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene” Geochemical analysis was undertaken under the auspices of the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk. The Je Tsongkhapa Endowment for Central and Inner Asian Archaeology at the University of Arizona funded our 2015 fieldwork.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2020/6
Y1 - 2020/6
N2 - Little is known about the acquisition and transport of rare or “exotic” raw materials in the Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP). A recently discovered perforated muscovite (mica) flakelet at the Kharganyn Gol 5 site in the middle Selenga Basin of Mongolia raises the question of how far ancient humans ranged to access this material. Here, we present the initial results of an ongoing study, including dating by 40Ar/39Ar and identification of the muscovite source. The age of the Mongolian muscovite correlates with the Oktyabr'skaya outcrop in the Russian Transbaikal region, >500 km from the site. The Buteeliin Nuruu Mountains, near the Kharganyn Gol 5 site, are geologically similar and potentially contain as-yet unknown muscovite outcrops. This evidence suggests that Initial Upper Paleolithic populations had developed social networks or moved over long distances, using the Upper Paleolithic Selenga Corridor in both cases. Alternatively, the area's Pleistocene occupants may have known the geological resources of their home range better than we do now.
AB - Little is known about the acquisition and transport of rare or “exotic” raw materials in the Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP). A recently discovered perforated muscovite (mica) flakelet at the Kharganyn Gol 5 site in the middle Selenga Basin of Mongolia raises the question of how far ancient humans ranged to access this material. Here, we present the initial results of an ongoing study, including dating by 40Ar/39Ar and identification of the muscovite source. The age of the Mongolian muscovite correlates with the Oktyabr'skaya outcrop in the Russian Transbaikal region, >500 km from the site. The Buteeliin Nuruu Mountains, near the Kharganyn Gol 5 site, are geologically similar and potentially contain as-yet unknown muscovite outcrops. This evidence suggests that Initial Upper Paleolithic populations had developed social networks or moved over long distances, using the Upper Paleolithic Selenga Corridor in both cases. Alternatively, the area's Pleistocene occupants may have known the geological resources of their home range better than we do now.
KW - Ar/Ar dating
KW - Initial Upper Paleolithic
KW - Mica
KW - Mongolia
KW - Muscovite
KW - Non-utilitarian object
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102307
DO - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102307
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85082760580
SN - 2352-409X
VL - 31
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
M1 - 102307
ER -