Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin
Anthropology
Bulletin
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia
Escova D.K., e-mail: bdims@mail.ru
The paper focuses on the problem of blank types used for mi-crolithic armatures (backed bladelets and backed points (mostly pointes de Gravette)) and their production at Eastern gravettian site Khotylevo (24-21 kyr BP). Technological analysis was used in this research as the main approach. The study is based on sample analysis of all main categories of lithic assemblage rep-resented at Khotylevo 2 site (settlement unit A). In contrary to hypothesis that microlithic armatures were made mainly on bladeletes which production was associated with nucleiform bu-rins, current study shows that thin and relatively narrow blades (their width rarely surpassed 15 mm and thickness – 4 mm) were the most typical blanks for this purpose. Their production is as-sociated with the second stage of big cores reduction as well as with reduction of cores made on extremely thin blocks of tabular flint selected intentionally. Metric standardization of Khotylevo 2 armatures is a result of intensive retouching. This category of blades is of great importance, though it is very rarely used for fabrication of all other categories of tools. Bladelets and even burin spalls were also occasionally used for microlithic arma-tures fabrication. Single method of bladelet production at Kho-tylevo 2 site seems non-existent, we would rather assume that there were some specific options of it. The set of these options differ from those known for Pavlovien industries and are only partly similar to those of Gagarino. The use of three different blank types for armatures production approaches Khotylevo 2 tradition to that of Gagarino, but at Gagarino site the role of small blades for armatures fabrication was by far smaller than at Khotylevo 2. In this point Khotylevo 2 tradition is more similar to that of Kostenki-Avdeevo culture sites. Author makes an as-sumption that switching over to the use of small blades as the main type of blanks for armatures fabrication may be a stage tendency for late eastern gravettian, tough Gagarino is an excep-tion.
Eastern gravettian, lithic technology, blanks, backed bladelets, pointes de Gravette, bladelet production, Khotylevo 2
Цит.: Escova D.K. Technological analysis of microlithic industry of Khotylevo 2 site // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2013; 4/2013; с. 121-127
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