Doronicheva EV, Golovanova LV, Kostina JV, Legkov SA, Poplevko GN, Revina EI, Rusakova OY, Doronichev VB. Functional characterization of Mousterian tools from the Caucasus using comprehensive use-wear and residue analysis.
Sci Rep 2022;
12:17421. [PMID:
36261487 PMCID:
PMC9581955 DOI:
10.1038/s41598-022-20612-x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The authors discuss functional characterization of Mousterian tools on the basis of their use-wear and residue analysis of five lithic tools from Mezmaiskaya cave and Saradj-Chuko grotto in the North Caucasus. The results represent the first comprehensive use-wear and residue analysis carried out on Mousterian stone artefacts in the Caucasus. This study unequivocally confirms the use of bitumen for hafting stone tools in two different Middle Paleolithic cultural contexts defined in the Caucasus, Eastern Micoquian and Zagros Mousterian.
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