FLINT RAW MATERIALS ON THE UPPER PALEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT ANETIVKA 2 IN THE GRANITE-STEPPE AREA OF THE SOUTHERN BUG REGION

Abstract

In modern research of the habitats of people of the late Paleolithic, mainly mineral raw materials and products were removed from the cultural layer, as they are the least susceptible to destruction over time. Archaeological site Anetivka 2, is located in the granite-steppe area of the Southern Bug, allows to present the width and intensity of use of mineral row matireals. During the excavations, about 2000 m2 of the site area was studied and a huge collection of stone and bone products, faunal finds was collected. The age of the site according to radiocarbon dating is 18—19 thousand years, which corresponds to the maximum of the last glaciation. The production complex of Anetivka 2 is characterized by the presence of a complete cycle of flint splitting: from split pebbles and nucleus to ready-made tools and hunting weapons. The flint industry of the site represents a spectacular feature of Epigravettian. The industry of stone knapping and production of tools and hunting weapons at the site Anetivka 2 is based on the flint raw materials. The flint has a different quality and different degrees of patination. The flint raw materials that had been brought to the settlement of Anetivka 2 for use were of different sizes, primary and secondary occurrence, in the form of nodules, pebbles, tiles. The flint has different geological origin: from the layers of both the Upper Cretaceous and Sarmatian age. Widespread local flint (the so-called «Bakshalsky», such as Anetivka 13) is mainly in the form of nodule. To the recent, the outcrops of such flint can be observed near the confluence of the river Bakshala in the river Southern Bug. Flints, like other minerals from Anetivka 2, provides an example of the use of both local, nearby, easily accessible raw materials and stone raw materials that were delivered from afar. The mineral raw materials of Anetivka 2 (including flint) have been studied for many years by a geologist and petrographer Victor F. Petrun (both in the field and laboratory — macroscopic and microscopic studies using a polarizing microscope). In 1991—1994, Victor F. Petrun, was a direct participant in the Anetian Paleolithic expedition, which explored the site of the Anetian region.