THE NEOLITHIC COMPLEX OF THE TEPAKUL-4 SITE (ZERAVSHAN RANGE, UZBEKISTAN)
НЕОЛИТИЧЕСКИЙ КОМПЛЕКС СТОЯНКИ ТЕПАКУЛЬ-4 (ЗЕРАВШАНСКИЙ ХРЕБЕТ, УЗБЕКИСТАН)
Shnaider S.V. Kholmatov N.U. Rakhimzhanova S.Z. Fedorchenko A.Y. Rendu W. Markovskii G.I.
20 December 2025Altai State University
Nations and Religions of Eurasia
2025#30Issue 4114 - 136 pp.
This study presents a comprehensive analysis of Neolithic materials from the Tepakul-4 site, located in the middle reaches of the Zeravshan River (Uzbekistan). An archaeological expedition from Samarkand State University, led by N. U. Kholmatov, studied the site between 1995 and 2004. Excavations covering a total area of 156 square meters revealed five lithological layers. Materials from the Neolithic period primarily originate from horizons 3-4. In 2025, we revisited the preserved Neolithic collection from Tepekul-4 site. This re-examination refined our understanding of the sites lithic assemblage, ceramic complex, and paleofaunal materials. The analysis enabled comparison with synchronous complexes in the region. Unlike Kelteminar culture sites, such as Ayakagitma-2, the Tepekul-4 stone industry shows a more limited technological repertoire in bladelet production and lacks tools typical of the Kelteminar culture. However, the sites ceramic assemblage displays technological features similar to the Kelteminar culture. This similarity may indicate cultural contacts or shared developmental trajectories in the regions Neolithic traditions. Additionally, the Tepekul-4 Neolithic complex differs from materials of the Obishir and Hissar complexes. Overall, this complex provides a unique and informative source for reconstructing the adaptive strategies of Neolithic populations in the middle Zeravshan Valley. Future work includes plans for an absolute dating program at Tepekul-4. Further study of Sazagan culture sites, especially in neighboring valleys, is also a promising direction. This research aims to identify local variations and regional trends in cultural development.
archaeozoological analysis , Central Asia , ceramics , lithic industry , Neolithic , Sazagan culture
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Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
International Research Laboratory ZooStan — Archaeozoological Center for Central Asian Studies — CNRS — Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, IRL 2033, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Department of Archaeology, Sh. Rashidov Samarkand State University, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Institute of Archaeology named after A. H. Margulan, Almaty, Kazakhstan
A. H. Margulan Institute of Archaeology, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography
International Research Laboratory ZooStan — Archaeozoological Center for Central Asian Studies — CNRS — Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Department of Archaeology
Institute of Archaeology named after A. H. Margulan
A. H. Margulan Institute of Archaeology
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026