Functional characterization of Mousterian tools from the Caucasus using comprehensive use-wear and residue analysis

E V Doronicheva; L V Golovanova; J V Kostina; S A Legkov; G N Poplevko; E I Revina; O Y Rusakova; V B Doronichev

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-20612-x

Functional characterization of Mousterian tools from the Caucasus using comprehensive use-wear and residue analysis

Sci Rep. 2022 Oct 19;12(1):17421. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-20612-x.

Authors

E V Doronicheva¹, L V Golovanova², J V Kostina³, S A Legkov³, G N Poplevko⁴, E I Revina⁵, O Y Rusakova³, V B Doronichev²

Affiliations

¹ ANO Laboratory of Prehistory, Liflyandskaya street 6M, St. Petersburg, Russia, 190020. edoronicheva87@yandex.ru.
² ANO Laboratory of Prehistory, Liflyandskaya street 6M, St. Petersburg, Russia, 190020.
³ A.V. Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskiy prospekt 29-2, Moscow, Russia, 119991.
⁴ Laboratory for Experimental-Traceological Studies, Institute for the History of Material Culture, Russian Academy of Sciences, Dvortsovaya embankment 18, St. Petersburg, Russia, 191186.
⁵ Rostov Regional Museum of Local Lore, Bolshaya Sadovaya street 79, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, 344006.

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.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Archaeology
Artifacts
Caves*
Fossils
Technology*