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5. Mineralogical study Kursk region flints (archaeological aspects)

Mineralogical study Kursk region flints (archaeological aspects)

Kandinov M.N.

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Moscow

Kandinov M.N.: e-mail: kmn_49@mail.ru.

Abstract

Introduction. Hunter-gatherers choice of a place to settle was determined by several factors including availability of water, hunting objects, stone raw materials for the production of tools. Upper Paleolithic sites of are widely distributed across Kursk region because it is a natural watershed between the Dnieper basin and the Don basin. Within the Kursk region sites are mostly found close to 2 main river basins of the region: directly to the basin of the river Seim and its tributaries. Until recently, it was believed that in Kursk region there are no outcrops of flint material. Materials and methods. The study of flint tools from the collections of the Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology MSU of the Avdeevo Late Paleolithic Site showed their considerable diversity in the type of flint. Almost all previous researchers believed that these flints are cretaceous. Results. As a result of the geological study of rocks of different ages from the territory of Kursk region, it was established that siliceous formations in this region are associated with the Lower and Middle Eocene terrigenous formations of quartz-glauconite composition, widely developed on the right bank of the Seim and, to a much lesser extent, on its left bank. All flint occurrencest are associated with Kiev layers rocks, and the outcrops of quartzites are associated with deposits of Kanev and Buchag layers of the Paleogene age. The petrographic analysis of several types of Avdeevo site flints show their similarity to flints from the indigenous occurrences of Paleogene age flints in the region. The mineralogical similarity of the flint tools of the Avdeevo and Byki sites with flints from the Krepna site was also established. Conclusion. Thus, the Paleolithic man could have used local flint material, which can be found in sufficient quantity within 15–30 km from the sites. This fact makes it possible to confirm the possibility of a migration from the Dnipro Basin to the Don valley not by a detour, but directly through the main watershed of the Central Russian Upland.

Keywords

Upper Paleolithic; Avdeevo site; Byki site; mineralogical and petrographic studies; flint occurrence; quartz-glauconite formation; Paleogene deposits

DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2018.1.139-149

Цит.: Kandinov M.N. Mineralogical study Kursk region flints (archaeological aspects) // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2018; 1/2018; с. 139-149