Obsidian Spearhead in the Middle Paleolithic of the Elbrus Region. Preliminary Data on the Hunting Strategies

Abstract

The paper presents the first results of comprehensive studies of the hunting and hunting weapons of the Neanderthals during the Middle Paleolithic in the Elbrus region in the Northern Caucasus. The research is based not only on the analysis of the fauna and tool typology, but also on the use-wear analysis of hunting weapons. The work is based on the materials of layer 6B from the Saradj-Chuko grotto, the only stratified Middle Paleolithic site in this region. For the first time, for the Middle Paleolithic of the Caucasus, traces were found on the obsidian tools, indicating their use as spearheads. On the surface the areas indicating the fixing of the tips into a wooden base with the help of organic resin are preserved. Traces of the second use the spearpoins under study were also found. The authors discuss the hunting strategies of the Neanderthals of the Caucasus, analyze the available data on the species composition of game animals, and provide data on chronology and paleogeography.

Keywords

• archaeology
• middle paleolithic
• northern caucasus
• saradj-chuko grotto
• spearheads
• obsidian
• use-wear analysis
• hunting strategies