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The paper presents the first publication of unique ivory micro-artefacts identified in materials of the multilayered Palaeolithic sites Medzhibozh A and Zaskalnaya V. The objects under discussion represent the oldest currently known instances of anthropogenic modification of tusk material using the bipolar-on-anvil knapping and trimming techniques and retouching. Medzhibozh A is located in the Southern Bug valley; layer I—II with a Mammuthus trogontherii tusk artefact is dated to the Middle Pleistocene (MIS 11) and contains archaic core-and-flake lithic industry. Zaskalnaya V is located in Eastern Crimea; layer IV with a worked Mammuthus primigenius tusk fragment is dated to the Late Pleistocene (MIS 5a), and the accompanying industry is referred to as Micoquian. Despite the significant chronological and geographical remotedness, as well as different cultural and technological contexts, the objects in question are fundamentally similar in processing technology, identical in raw material, and have close dimensions and general morphology. In both cases, the likely intention was quite similar and rather unusual: to create useless, from a practical point of view, tiny objects from small fragments of marginally suitable for splitting material. The makers used the technology routinely applied to manufacture stone tools. The similarity of the tasks and solutions can find a reasonable, though speculative, explanation by assuming that in both cases we are dealing with a simulation of the stone-working process by children.

The aim of this paper is to present the evidence for, and to discuss the aspects of the striking similarities that have been identified between backed bladelets recovered in two geographically distant assemblages, one found in Southern Italy (Paglicci, layer 24 horizon A1) and the other in Eastern Europe (Mira, layer II horizon 2). Both assemblages are dated to around 29–28,000 BP and are taxonomically defined as Early Upper Palaeolithic. Detailed comparison of technical and morphological data is impossible because the Eastern European site does not contain an assemblage that lends itself to statistical analysis. The backed bladelets of type PA24A1, found in Paglicci, layer 24 horizon A1-0, and Mira, layer II horizon 2, have no direct analogies in chronologically close Aurignacian and Gravettian sites, in either Southern or Eastern Europe. Taking into account the similar chronological position of the sites, separated by a distance of ca. 2,500 km, it is concluded that the significant similarity of the backed bladelets is most likely explained not by the convergence of development or by trade, but by the direct migration of a group of modern humans who manufactured such specific microliths. The Paglicci (24A 1) and Mira (II/2) industries generally belong to the Early Upper Palaeolithic, being placed chronologically at the transition between the EUP and MUP, being located morphologically and technologically between the Aurignacian and Gravettian. Despite the scarcity of data, the distinctiveness of the backed implements indicates that the sites belong to the same episode of sociocultural development. The issue of the cultural affiliation of the industry with PA24A1 type bladelets remains unanswered, and the search for analogies, either in Eastern or Southern Europe, needs to be continued.

Combined rock magnetic and palaeomagnetic studies of loess-soil sections — Lower Paleolithic sites in the valley of the Southern Bug (Medzhybizh, Holovchintsi) — have been performed for the first time in order to determine the suitability of these objects for palaeomagnetic study and the establishment of magnetostratigraphic markers. Investigated sections by rock magnetic characteristics are closest to the sections of the Volynian Upland, and refer to the intermediate «Chinese» type of formation of magnetic properties, with an admixture of the «Alaskan» mechanism. These sections are characterized by a low concentration of ferrimagnetic material, the destruction of the primary sedimentary magnetic texture, which makes them unsuitable for qualitative magnetostratigraphic studies. According to the data of magnetic-mineralogical analysis, the samples are subdivided into three groups: the first group includes samples with new formation at 300 °C, which is associated with iron hydroxides or the presence of organic matter; in the second group, the thermomagnetic curves are not informative, which makes it difficult to determine the minerals-carriers; in some samples, the magnetization carrier is magnetite (with defects or finely dispersed). A zone of normal polarity, probably the Brunhes chron, has been reliably determined in the upper part (G-S7S1 soil) of the Holovchyntsi section. In the lower part of the M-S4 soil unit (MIS 11) at Medzhybizh, the Unnamed geomagnetic event at 430 ky has been detected. The paleomagnetic veracity of the remaining investigated layers is questioned. The analogies for the archaeological assemblages from the lower layers of Medzhybizh-A and Holovchintsi-1 are seen in archaic industries of mode 1, which in southeastern Europe are dated back from 800 ky and older. However, reliable data on the Matuyama—Brunhes boundary and, correspondingly, data on the >780 ky age of any layers with artifacts in the Medzhybizh and Holovchintsi sections were not obtained by the palaeomagnetic studies.

The purpose of this article is to present data on the surface structure identified in the upper layer of the Mira site in the Dnieper valley. The occupation of layer I, based on a set of consistent data, constitutes the remains of a seasonal winter camp of Pleistocene horse hunters. Ten available radiocarbon dates place the calibrated age of layer I between 31,000 to 28,000 cal BP. The rapid albeit gentle overlapping of the settlement remains with alluvial sediments ensured that the original settlement and dwelling patterns and their elements survived well. Thanks to this, it is possible to reconstruct some significant aspects of the construction process, as well as details of the arrangement of the dwelling’s interior space. A 30,000-year-old, permanent skeleton cylindrical yaranga type surface construction from Mira layer I is currently representing the oldest dwelling known in the Upper Palaeolithic of Ukraine and a broader context of the steppe zone of the East European plain. Keywords: Upper Palaeolithic, surface dwelling, Eastern Europe

The Middle Pleistocene was a period of dynamic changes in Europe. During MIS 11, a number of modern mammal taxa appeared and environmental conditions remained warm and favourable for a relatively long time. The Medzhybizh 1 locality of Ukraine dated to this very period comprises alluvial deposits with rich animal remains, which allow not only to reconstruct the fauna composition, but also to highlight the environmental conditions that dominated at this locality. A revision of the fauna of Medzhybizh 1 locality based on remains of all vertebrate groups revealed a taxonomically diverse fish community (16 species of 11 genera) dominated by cyprinids common for lacustrine or riverine assemblages. Amphibians are represented by 11 species, while the number of reptile and bird remains are less significant. Mammals are the most represented group at the locality, including small mammals (30 species), carnivorans (2 species), and ungulates (5 taxa), the latter dominated by C. elaphus. The taxonomic composition of terrestrial groups indicates temperate climate with boreal-type forests and meadows similar to cold steppe, as well as low wet areas and riparian habitats inhabited by amphibians, reptiles, insectivores, beavers, and various voles. The fish assemblage indicates a partially overgrown but well-aerated water body (lake or slow-flowing river) with sandy-silty bottom. Lithic artefacts found at the Medzhybizh 1 locality contribute to a better understanding of relationships between ancient hominins and faunas during the Middle Pleistocene of Eastern Europe., Archaeological field works at Medzhybizh were supported by the NASU state research projects 0105U001383 (2005–2009), 0109U008921 (2010–2014) and partly funded by the State Fund of Fundamental Research of Ukraine grant 0118U001457 (F77/50–2018). This research was also supported by the grant 0201/2048/18 ‘Life and death of extinct rhino (Stephanorhinus sp.) from Western Poland: a multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental approach’ financed from the funds of the National Science Centre, Poland. JvdM received support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Inovación y Universidades (current grant numbers PGC2018-093925-B-C31 and PGC2018-095489-B-I00).

The main focus of this paper is to present the stone assemblage of one of the Lower Palaeolithic layers of Medzhibozh 1. Detailed typological and technological characteristics of the stone industry of layer III of the locality Medzhibozh 1 are given against the background of geomorphological characteristics and features of the Quaternary structure of the area. Medzhibozh 1 represents one of several multi-layered sites of Lower Palaeolithic age on the Upper Bug, among which are also Medzhibozh A, Golovchintsy 1 and Golovchintsy 2. Two layers containing Lower Palaeolithic evidence are distinguished in the profile of Medzhibozh to date. Medzhibozh 1 layer III is more recent, the age of culture-bearing sediments is currently correlated to MIS 11. This dating is fundamentally consistent with diverse biostratigraphic indications as well as several pilot ESR dates ranging between 373– 399 thousand years. Geomorphological features of the structure of the Medzhibozh area allow for the age estimation of culture-bearing sediments as older and presumably attribute them to MIS 15– 13. Despite its relatively young age, the Medzhibozh 1 layer III industry demonstrates quite archaic technology and typology. The knapping technology is almost totally characterised by the application of the bipolar on anvil technique. The basic range of lithic products includes bipolar cores, segmented supports, choppers, segments, flakes, and debris. Despite the abundance of items with signs of utilisation, pieces with secondary worked edges are isolated and atypical. Well-defined types of flake tools are practically not present. There are no freehand cores. There is no indication of use of bifacial technology. Currently, there is absolutely no formal ground to attribute the industry to the Acheulean. Instead, the Medzhibozh 1 layer III industry can currently be compared to a “ core-and-flake” industry, what is traditionally defined as Oldowan or mode 1. Perhaps the reason for the observed archaism can to some extent be explained by the properties of the available raw materials (granitoides of crystalline shield and mostly small-sized siliceous supports of Upper Cretaceous age) and the economic profile of occupation or recovered area (recurrent butchering site)., Acest articol prezintă ansamblul litic din unul din nivelurile de locuire de Paleolitic Inferior de la Medzhibozh 1. Sunt prezentate în detaliu caracteristicile tipologice și tehnologice ale industriei litice din nivelul III de la Medzhibozh 1, cât și caracteristicile geomorfologice și trăsăturile structurii cuaternare a zonei. Alături de Medzhibozh A, Golovchintsy 1 și Golovchintsy 2, Medzhibozh 1 este unul din siturile pluristratificate de Paleolitic Inferior de pe Bug. În profilul stratigrafic de la Medzhibozh 1 au fost observate două straturi care conțin urme de Paleolitic Inferior. Nivelul III de la Medzhibozh 1 este mai recent, vârsta sedimentelor care conțin urme de cultură fiind corelată cu MIS 11. Putem pune această datare în relație datele biostratigrafice, precum și cu cele câteva date pilot ERS cuprinse între 373.000– 399.000 ani. Caracteristicile geomorfologice ale structurii zonei de la Medzhibozh permit o estimare a vârstei sedimentelor purtătoare de dovezi de ocupație ca fiind mult mai veche, posibil MIS 15– 13. În ciuda vârstei relativ tinere, industria litică din nivelul III de la Medzhibozh 1 prezintă trăsături tehnologice și tipologice arhaice. Debitajul se caracterizează prin aplicarea unei tehnici bipolare pe nicovală. Produsele litice de baza includ nuclee bipolare, fragmente de suporturi, choppere, așchii și resturi de debitaj. În ciuda unei abundențe de artefacte cu urme de folosire, piesele cu margini prelucrate secundar sunt izolate și atipice. Tipuri bine definite de unelte pe așchii nu sunt prezente. Lipsesc nucleele ținute în mână. Nu avem nici o dovadă a folosirii tehnologiei bifaciale. În prezent nu avem nici un argument formal care să permită atribuirea industriei Acheuleanului. În schimb, industria litică din nivelul III de la Medzhibozh 1 poate fi comparată cu industria de tip “ core-and-flake”, tradițional definită ca Oldowan sau mod 1. Este foarte probabil ca trăsăturile arhaice observate să poată fi explicate într-o oarecare măsură prin proprietățile materiilor prime disponibile (granitoide cu structură cristalină sau suporturi silicioase de vârstă Cretacic Superior) și prin profilul economic al zonei ocupate (sit de abataj)., Stepanchuk Vadim, Ryzhov Sergii, Veklych Yurii, Naumenko Oleksandr, Matviishyna Zhanna, Karmazynenko Sergii. The Lower Palaeolithic assemblage of Medzhibozh 1 layer III (Ukraine) and its palaeoenvironmental context. In: Materiale şi cercetãri arheologice (Serie nouã), H-S 2021. pp. 37-69.

The archaeological record of the early Upper Paleolithic on the central plain of Eastern Europe yields evidence for the repeated hunting of horses in small herds. Several major sites contain large bone beds that represent the butchered remains of a mare band. The bone beds are consistently associated with expedient tools, often made on local raw materials, that are typical of mass kill sites and carcass-processing areas in other settings (for example, North American Plains). Many of these sites may have been occupied by people related to the Aurignacian technocomplex, which otherwise is poorly represented on the central East European Plain, their industrial affiliation obscured by the profusion of expedient tools (often classified as Middle Paleolithic types) related to mass-processing of horse carcasses.

In the West of Ukraine, the Medzhibozh site complex includes two multi-layered open-air Lower Paleolithic sites sitting at 49°35′ N 27°42′ E, 270 m amsl. In Medzhibozh I’s lower alluvial cycle, Layer 16a yielded Paleolithic artefacts, mainly choppers, chopping tools, and flakes with little secondary modification, associated with likely fireplaces and bones with cutmarks left by early hominids inhabiting an ancient shoreline. Ursus deningeri, Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis , and other Middle Pleistocene fossils, as well as microtheriofauna, pollen, paleopedology data suggest that Layers 13—16 must predate 200 ka, but only one TL date has been done here. About 500 m away from Medzhibozh I, Medzhibozh A’s six archaeological layers were intercalated with sterile gravels, with analogous stone products, fauna, hearth relics . Since ESR can date mammalian enamel up to 2—4 Ma with 2—5 % precision, three cervid teeth from Layer 16a at Medzhibozh I and one from the Layer 1 in Medzhibozh A were dated by standard and isochron ESR. Sediment samples were analyzed by NAA to measure volumetrically averaged sedimentary dose rates. Using geological criteria, a ramped box model calculated time-averaged cosmic dose rates were determined. From Medzhibozh A, AT29’s standard LU age of 379±27 ka agreed best with ages estimated from the faunal analyses, but the isochron showed diffusional secondary U uptake, suggesting the age could be older. At Medzhibozh I, all teeth had >100 ppm U in their dentine, but enamel U ranged from 2,8 to 11,8 ppm. AT41’s isochron, which did not show secondary U uptake, suggested that the U uptake rate, p ~4 was the best uptake rate, yielding an age of 373±17 ka, which correlates with late Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 11. Meanwhile, AT44’s age likely dates at 399±11 ka with p =4, and AT45’s at 396±13 ka with p =6, both of which correlate with mid MIS 11. Their isochrons suggested secondary diffusional U uptake had affected both teeth. All isochron analyses suggest that one secondary uptake event may have affected the entire site, likely due to immersion in U-rich water. If correct, AT29’s age makes Medzhibozh A’s hearths the oldest in the Ukraine, but more teeth from all the layers must be ESR dated and tested with coupled ESR— 230 Th/ 234 U to confirm the ages and p ’s.

Located in Eastern Crimea, the multilayered site of Zaskalnaya VI (Kolosovskaya) represents an important key Middle Palaeolithic site of the Crimean peninsula. The uppermost unit of cultural layers of the site (layers IIIa, III, II, and I) pertains to the final stage of the Middle Paleolithic development. The richness and good preservation of various evidence of human activity and remains of material culture allow exploration of many important aspects of the period often referred as “the time of the last Neanderthals”. One important aspect of Zaskalnaya VI is the bone remains of Neanderthals, especially numerous in layers IIIa and III. One of two main focuses of this report is the presentation of anthropological data, with particular emphasis on the detailed odontological characterization of mandibles Zsk VI-72 and Zsk VI-78. The examined odontological complex is characterized by a set of morphological features and variations which are common for the line of Transition Neanderthals. Another focus of the paper is aimed at a wider presentation of data provided by layers IIIa and III, including the history of study, general stratigraphy and some peculiar stratigraphic and spatial features of layers IIIa and III, data on numerical chronology, technical and typological features of stone and bone industry, use-wear analysis data, paleontological and archaeozoological characteristics and other related evidence. Layers IIIa and III represent remains of Neanderthal occupations of different duration and intensity of habitation dated between 35 and 40 uncal ka BP. Similarity of lithic industries suggests both belong to the same industry of Ak-Kaya type, a variation of the local Micoquian.

During the Pleistocene, the saiga antelope, a nomadic, non-territorial, herding species, inhabited vast areas of Eurasia and North America; its distribution was at its maximum extent in the last glaciation. Now, it is restricted to a few isolated populations in Central Asia. Two main forms of saiga were recognised: Saiga borealis and S. tatarica. The former became extinct at the beginning of Holocene, the latter has survived since the Pleistocene to the present. They are regarded either as two species or as two subspecies of S. tatarica. Our comparison of skull and horn measurements of many Eurasian specimens, including literature data, revealed significant differences between these taxa. S. borealis was larger than S. tatarica in terms of some cranial measurements, whereas S. tatarica was characterised by a greater diameter of horncore base. However, the distinction involved only a few metric features and the ranges of all the analysed measurements overlapped at least partially, indicating that the two taxa may not be true species. Our analyses also showed that the skull of S. tatarica had become smaller since the Pleistocene in terms of several measurements, which was probably associated with the climate and palaeogeographical changes at the end of the last glaciation and a decrease in the population size. We found significant differences between the various geographical subgroups of S. borealis and S. tatarica only in some measurements. The observed dissimilarities between S. borealis and S. tatarica correspond most probably to subspecies level and may have resulted from a biogeographical differentiation of the saiga populations in the Pleistocene.

The Lower Paleolithic localities near the town of Medzhibozh in the Khmelnitsky region of western Ukraine represent a group of multilayered sites near the Southern Bug River. Medzhibozh 1 locality is the focus of the presented report. The age of its main assemblage is defined at the beginning of the Zavadovka episode, MIS 11, while the underlying sediments are likely dated to Lubny time, MIS 13–15. Both assemblages contain lithic artefacts. The more recent is accompanied with rich fauna remains and presumable traces of hearths. The list of large mammalian fauna from Medzhibozh 1 (NISP = 450) revealed the presence of few carnivores ( Ursus deningeri and Ursus thibetanus ) and the dominance of cervids ( Cervus elaphus , Dama dama clactoniana and Capreolus suessenbornensis ) associated with Sus scrofa , Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis and Castor fiber . This provides evidence for a temperate climate as well confirms the biochronological attribution, as the fauna correspond to those typically associated to middle Pleistocene interglacial periods. It also fits well with the humid and forest environment described from the microfauna and shell analysis. From an archaeological point of view, assemblages of Medzhibozh 1 could be adequately defined as belonging to the industries of technological Mode 1 (Oldowan). The material cultural horizons, despite the relatively late age (about 0.4–0.5 Ma), are characterized by the predominance of choppers, chopping tools, and isolated retouched flakes, as well as few knapped flakes, and broken and fragmented pieces of various raw materials showing minimum secondary working. Available inventories contain no good instances of core knapping, as well as almost no morphologically stable shaping of flake tools and no signs of bifacial technology. Long bones of deer are characterized by systematic intentional breakage with percussion cones and cut-marks. Complementary species like rhinoceros, wild boar, or bears are represented by incomplete skeletons. Rhinoceros and bear bones showed evidence of long and deep cut-marks. Carnivore activity is rare. Burnt bones are well documented and are associated with charcoals and heated sediments. The Medzhibozh studies are directly relevant to the study and reconstruction of ancient migration paths on the territory of North-Western Eurasia, in its East European segment.

New rock magnetic and magnetostratigraphic data were obtained from Quaternary loess-palaesol sections – Lower Paleolithic sites Medzybizh and Holovchyntsi. Rock magnetic properties, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility are described. The Matuyama – Brunhes boundary or any short reversed-polarity episode were not determined in both sections. Therefore, magnetostratigraphic correlation of the sections looks like impossible.

A preliminary geochemical examination of materials from the archaeological sequence at Medzhibozh A reveals evidence of the use of fire. Irregular, dark ochre, ashy circles that look like the remains of hearths were unearthed in 2012 and 2013 in the uppermost artifact-bearing layer associated with episode zv-1 of the Zavadovka stratigraphic layer (Holsteinian MIS 11). We present the methodology, results, and interpretation of a geochemical study of these remains to determine whether they are natural or anthropogenic. The main conclusion is that we are dealing with hearths which, at the moment, are the oldest probable remains of controlled fireplaces in Ukraine.

This paper presents analyses of Late Middle Paleolithic (LMP) and Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) material from the East European Plain and Caucasus. Late Middle Paleolithic industries show a highly variable pattern, although they are formally ascribed to a limited number of technocomplexes. Many of the LMP industries, especially in the Crimea, survived to the time of the transition to the Upper Paleolithic, but data suggesting a local origin of EUP are extremely rare. The transition is generally dated between 32/30,000 and 26/24,000 years, while the most crucial changes coincide with the Stillfried B interstadial. Aurignacian (two variants), Gravettian, and “Transitional” industries are recognized in the EUP. The presence of Middle Paleolithic traits in the Aurignacian may indicate acculturation, while the Transitional industries might reflect either acculturation or independent local development of new technologies, raising the possibility of local transformation of some Middle Paleolithic into non-Aurignacian EUP industries.

The Middle Paleolithic cave site of Gabo, named after the well-known Russian Paleolithic archeologist, Gleb Anatolievich Bonch-Osmolovskij, is located in SW Crimea, on the right bank of the Bodrak river. It contains several archeological horizons, the richest being the upper horizon of stratigraphie unit IV. This level, excavated over a rather small surface (12 sq.m.), has yielded a large lithic assemblage, geologically attributed to the Brorup period. Typologically this assemblage falls within the Staroselye tradition, characteristic of the Crimean Middle Paleolithic, and can be considered as part of the Eastern Charentian rich in bifacial leaf points. This industrial variant shows some analogies to the Micoquian industries of Central Europe and is thus often called "para-Micoquian". Technological analysis and refitting of two cores show clear evidence of the " recurrent centripetal " Levallois technique., Le gisement pluristratifié de GABO, dans le sud-ouest de la péninsule de Crimée, en Ukraine, renferme de riches séries du Paléolithique moyen dans des niveaux attribués au Brôrup. Le niveau archéologique supérieur, Gabo 1 , a livré une industrie de tradition staroselyenne, typique du Paléolithique moyen de Crimée, caractérisée comme un Moustérien charentien oriental riche en pointes foliacées bifaces. Cette tradition industrielle, ayant subi pour partie l'influence du Micoquien d'Europe centrale, peut être également qualifiée de para-micoquienne. L'étude techno-typologique de l'industrie de Gabo 1 établit une tendance nette au débitage Levallois récurrent centripète. L'analyse technologique de deux nucleus remontés permet de préciser cette diagnose., Stepanchuk Vadim. Le Moustérien charentien à pièces foliacées de Gabo, Sud-Ouest de la Crimée, Ukraine. In: Paléo, n°8,1996. pp. 225-241.

The cave site Prolom II situated in the eastern part of the Crimean peninsula has produced evidence of repeated inhabitation during the Middle Palaeolithic. The stone artefacts permit a sure cultural identification and comparison with analogous material belonging to the Ak-Kaya culture. In a broader sense the Ak-Kaya culture of the Crimea may be regarded as one of the variants of the East European Micoquian. Unfortunately we do not at present have the natural science data which would allow us to define exactly the chronological position of Prolom II. The comparative typological and technical data allow us to connect the Middle Palaeolithic layers of the cave with the pre-Brörup period of the Early Würm. This is partly supported by the faunal data. The discovery of a curved arc-like deposit consisting of bones of mammoth, horse, bison and other animals in the second layer of the site, as well as a considerable collection of bone artefacts, both add to the unique character of the site. Some of the bone artefacts cannot reasonably be explained as utilitarian and may constitute evidence of a spiritual culture of Neanderthal Man. In this connection it is possible to enumerate two fragments of diaphyses with parallel and fan-shaped engraved lines, one distal fragment of Saiga tatarica first phalange with fan-shaped engraved lines, and one horse canine with deep subparallel engravings.