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A Levalloisian jasper cache from the Arts Bogdyn Nuruu massif in the Gobi Altai Mountains, southern Mongolia

Mirosław MASOJĆ, Józef SZYKULSKI, Byambaa GUNCHINSUREN, Davaakhuu ODSUREN, Małgorzata WINIARSKA-KABACIŃSKA & Marcin SZMIT

en Comptes Rendus Palevol 18 (4) - Pages 479-491

Published on 30 June 2019

A Pleistocene deposit of jasper cores was discovered in the Gobi Altai Mountains, within the Arts Bogdyn Nuruu massif in southern Mongolia. It was situated on a mountain ridge above the Khutul Usny valley at a height of ca. 1500 m a.s.l., away from human settlement (N44°16′09.3″, E102°53′41.5″). Examination of traces of the artefacts’ use proved that at least some of them display evidence of working. Technological analysis of the artefacts revealed that the find should be related to the Levallois-Mousterian population of the central Asian Middle Palaeolithic. The cache from Arts Bogdyn Nuruu is the first discovery of this type recorded within the Gobi Desert. It is a potential source of information contributing to the discussion of the specific nature of raw material exploitation, the dynamics of settlement and hunting strategies in the Altai region.


Keywords:

Mongolia, Altai Mountains, Arts Bogdyn Nuruu massif, Palaeolithic, survey, cache, jasper

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