Vikulova N.O., Filatov E.A. —
The Paleolithic Location of Ust-Menza-15 (Kedrovaya) (Ust-Menza Geoarchaeological Region, Western Transbaikal)
// History magazine - researches. – 2019. – ¹ 2.
– P. 1 - 10.
DOI: 10.7256/2454-0609.2019.2.28657
URL: https://en.e-notabene.ru/hsmag/article_28657.html
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Abstract: Since 2012, scientists have been actively studying the monuments located on high hypsometric levels on the territory of the Ust-Menza archaeological complex. These studies have allowed the examination of the multi-layered monuments within a unique stratigraphic context. The subject of this article is the multidisciplinary geoarchaeological studies conducted on the basis of the location of Ust-Menza-15 (Kedrovaya) in Western Transbaikal. As the research object, the authors analyze the possibilities of the geoarchaeological approach for the reconstruction of cultural and natural-climate processes in a wide chronological range. The aim of this article is to form an integrated view of the nature of the archaeological objects located on the high river terraces of the Baikal region. The authors by "high terraces" intend Middle Pleistocene elevations from 20 meters onwards. The foundations for the study of high elevations were laid back in the 1980s, but at that time they were not given sufficient attention. In the framework of the latest research, sediment drilling was carried out to a depth of 8 m. and a comprehensive soil analysis was undertaken. Additionally, T. E. Yurieva, a research associate at the Museum of Geology of Central Siberia, conducted an analysis of the petrographic composition of the raw material base and of the stone artifacts from the culture-containing layer 1. The scientific novelty of this work is the presentation of the results of the latest research conducted on the monuments associated with high floodplain terraces of the Ust-Menza archaeological complex. The authors propose a division of the complex into three subdistricts based on the particular differences in the organization of monuments and the characteristics of their location. A detailed analysis of the stratigraphic context and the stone inventory will expand the possibilities of studying multi-layered monuments at high hypsometric levels of river terraces.