Gazma Cave—A Final Middle Paleolithic Site in Azerbaijan
Paleogeography, Chronology, Archaeology
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6037577 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Azad Zeynalov (0000-0002-2944-7127, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, corresponding author), A A Zeynalov (Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences), A А Anoikin (0000-0003-2383-2259, Altai State University), Serghei Kulakov (0000-0001-7156-1591, Russian Academy of Sciences), A Kulakov, Alexander Otcherednoy (0000-0001-7616-5686, Russian Academy of Sciences), A K Otcherednoy, R Kurbanov (0000-0001-6727-6202, Lomonosov Moscow State University) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 40-49 |
| Publication date | 2023-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Archaeology Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1563-0110 • E-ISSN: 1531-832X |
| Publisher | Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.17746/1563-0110.2023.51.3.040-049 |
| OpenAlex | W4387231474 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 8 |
This article describes the Middle Paleolithic industry of Gazma Cave in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. We present data on the stratigraphy, paleontology, chronology, and archaeology of the site. Six lithological layers were identifi ed, three of which (IV–VI) contain abundant archaeological material. The chronology of the site is based on a series of luminescence ages. The deposition of layers IV–VI formed ~55–40 ka BP. Paleontological, pollen, and grain size analysis offer the possibility of reconstructing Late Pleistocene environments around the cave. Faunal analysis indicates steppe, semi-steppe, and wooded mountains, with riparian forests and reeded areas in the fl oodlands. The analysis of 896 artifacts attests to the predominance of Levallois and parallel reduction. The share of Levallois blanks is high. The most common artifacts are Levallois and Mousterian points and side-scrapers; there are also limaces, knives, and a few indistinct Upper Paleolithic types such as end-scrapers and borers. Ventral basal trimming of points and ventral or dorsal thinning of side-scrapers were widely used. All the main indicators show the Gazma industry corresponds to the fi nal Middle Paleolithic assemblages currently known in the Southeastern Caucasus.Gazma is an expressive MIS 3 example of the Taglar industry
Archaeology · Cave · Chronology · Geography · Middle Paleolithic · Mousterian · Pleistocene · Tectonics · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Marine and environmental studies · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Geology · Paleontology · Stratigraphy
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Angeghakot 1 (Armenia) and the identification of the Mousterian cultural facies of « Yerevan points » type in the Southern Caucasus
Human Environment in the Nakhichevan Region During the Mousterian (Based on the Gazma Cave Site, Azerbaijan)
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New chronology for the Middle Palaeolithic of the southern Caucasus suggests early demise of Neanderthals in this region
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |