Chronology of Archaeological Complexes with Geometric Microliths in Northern Mongolia

Abstract

Upper Palaeolithic microlithic complexes in Northeast Asia are usually included in the spectrum of non-geometric industries. Mongolia, which is considered a possible crossroads of Middle and Upper Paleolithic migration routes due to its environmental and geographic conditions, is the only exception in this vast region. The Tolbor cluster of sites in the Middle Selenga Basin contains lithic complexes with trapezes and segments. We define the chronology of geometric microliths in northern Mongolia based on a series on new radiocarbon dates obtained for the Kharganyn Gol 5 site. The available evidrnce seems to indicate the autochthonous appearance of geometric microliths in northern Mongolia and a lack of connections with Mesolithic microlithic types found in the Gobi Altai region to the south.