THE FIRST LUMINESCENCE CHRONOLOGY OF THE INITIAL UPPER PALEOLITHIC OF EASTERN KAZAKHSTAN (CASE STUDY OF THE USHBULAK ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE)

Первая люминесцентная хронология начального верхнего палеолита Восточного Казахстана (по материалам стоянки Ушбулак)
Kurbanov R.N. Ulyanov V.A. Anoykin A.A. Pavlenok G.D. Semikolennykh D.V. Kharevich V.M. Taymagambetov Zh.K. Murray A.S.
2021 Lomonosov Moscow State University

Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, Seriya Geografiya
2021 #5 Issue 5 131 - 148 pp.

The paper presents the first results of a detailed geochronological study of the Kazakhstans Upper Paleolithic reference section from the Ushbulak multilayered site. Seven main cultural layers were identified in the stratigraphic sequence of the site. According to the specific features of obtained artefacts layer 1 corresponds to the Paleo-Metal era; layers 2.1-3.3 to the final Upper Paleolithic; layers 4-5.1 to the developed Upper Paleolithic; and layers 5.2-7.2 to the initial stages of the Upper Paleolithic. Taking into account the complicated structure of the section and inadequate number of fossils in the sediments a comparative dating using OSL and IRSL methods was applied for the exact dating of proluvial-colluvial deposits of the site. The analysis of sedimentation conditions was carried out on the basis of detailed characteristics of all lithological layers, geomorphologic structure of the area and modern exogenous processes. Comparison of three luminescence dating protocols (OSL, pIRIR290, IR50) indicate sufficient signal zeroing during the geological transport, so that the IRSL age reflects the time of sediment deposition. The results of laboratory measurements and standard tests allow considering the obtained ages and the final chronology as reliable. A Bayesian age model was calculated on the basis of IRSL chronology and radiocarbon dating, and the horizons of probably incomplete geological record were identified. The Ushbulak site is characterized by three cultural-chronological stages, corresponding to different periods of the Upper Paleolithic with different industries: the initial Upper Paleolithic (layers 7.2-5.2), recorded in the interval of 47-37 ka; developed Upper Paleolithic (layers 5.1-4) in the interval of 22-19 ka and the final Upper Paleolithic (layers 3.3-2.1) in the interval of 17-15 ka. The research provides the exact time of the main settlement of studied site - about 45-47 thousand years ago, i.e. during the second half of MIS 3.

geoarcheology , OSL , palaeogeography , Paleolithic of Central Asia , stone industries

Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography, Research Laboratory of Recent Sediments and Pleistocene Palaeogeography, Russian Federation
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography, Department of Geomorphology and Palaeogeography, Russian Federation
Institute of Geography RAS, Department of Quaternary Research
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, RAS, Department of Stone Age Archeology, Laboratory of Archeology and Paleogeography of Central Siberia
Altai State University, Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Study of Archaeology of Western Siberia and Altai, Russian Federation
National Museum of Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan
Aarhus University, Nordic Luminescence Laboratory, Denmark

Lomonosov Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University
Institute of Geography RAS
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography
Altai State University
National Museum of Republic of Kazakhstan
Aarhus University

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026