Comparing Lithic Assemblages from Layers 1–3 in Okladnikov Cave

The article reviews the updated data on the lithic collection from layers 1–3 of Okladnikov Cave. Due to the source base expansion, the previously formulated conclusion about the lithic industry homogeneity of layers 1–3 is verified. As a result, some technological differences were revealed. The radial core debordant flakes are dominant among all technical debitage in layer 1, while the lateral debordant flakes are predominant in layers 2 and 3. The flaking axis coincides with the blank length axis in layers 1 and 2, while the flaking axis does not coincide with the blank length axis in layer 3. Most of the tools reused after breaking were recorded in layer 3. The technological differences do not allow to speculate about system changes in the lithic industry to raise the question about its development. The lithic technology in layers 1–3 does not change fundamentally. The primary knapping was aimed to obtain trapezoidal blanks from radial, orthogonal, and parallel cores. Each layer has a high proportion of tools among all lithic collection (up to 30 % omitting waste products). In each layer, convergent and simple scrapers as well as retouched points form the basis for the toolkit. Plano-convex bifacial tools are also recorded. The Kruskal – Wallis statistical test does not reveal any significant differences in metric parameters between tools from layers 1–3 of Okladnikov Cave. This indicates that they belong to one industrial variant. Its complexes were produced by the same Neanderthal population, which enjoyed one raw material base at the time of the site occupation

Archaeology · Cave · Geography · Lithic technology · Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Geology · Paleontology