Functional Variability of Tools at Epipaleolithic Sites of the Elbrus Region

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to report results of research of the influence that economic specifics of the Epipalaeolithic sites in the Elbrus region had on the composition of lithic industry. The traceological analysis made it possible to determine a functional variability of tools in sites dated from different age. Based on the correlation of the habitation activity index and technical, typological and traceological analyses, the sites dating after the Last Glacial maximum and to the beginning of the Holocene were preliminarily divided into three groups. At these sites, not only the percentage of retouched tools differs, but also their functional use is different. The determination of functional specificity of assemblages and economic specialization of the site is an important component of inter-assemblage comparison, especially those assemblages that existed simultaneously within a chronological cycle and were located on the same territory.

Keywords

• archaeology
• north caucasus
• elbrus region
• epipalaeolithic
• traceology
• technical and typological analysis
• habitation activity index
• microstratigraphy