Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 41 (2) 2013

Annotation:  The Kulbulak Bladelet Tradition in the Upper Paleolithic of Central Asia New Findings on Lithic Industries of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic Boundary in Dagestan Exploitation of Lithic Raw Material in the Northwestern Caucasus Upper Paleolithic Analyzing Fertility and Attraction in the Paleolithic: The Venus Figurines On Neolithic Origins in Western Georgia Environmental Conditions of the Late Paleolithic and Early Neolithic Sites in Southern Sakhalin Paleochannel Studies in Archaeology: The Case of the Vychegda River, Northeastern European Russia Technological Analysis of the Earliest Ceramics from the Amur Region (13–10 Thousand Years BP) Fortifi cations at Idnakar Settlement: The Findings of Interdisciplinary Research The Plamya Sibiri Sanctuary A Hoard Found on the Uibat River, Minusinsk Basin Early Iron Age Burial Practices of the Ancient Khmer People: The Phum Snay Necropolis, Northwestern Distal Phalanx of the Hand of Homo from Denisova Cave Stratum 12: A Tentative Description   

The Kulbulak Bladelet Tradition in the Upper Paleolithic of Central Asia

K.A. Kolobova, D. Flas, A.P. Derevianko, K.K. Pavlenok, U.I. Islamov, and A.I. Krivoshapkin.

The article describes lithic industries of the Upper Paleolithic levels of Kulbulak, Uzbekistan, a key site in southwestern Central Asia based on materials from excavations at several sites in the western and northwestern PamirTien Shan region (Kulbulak, Kyzyl-Alma-2, Dodekatym-2, and Shugnou). A new cultural and technological tradition is introduced, for which the authors suggest the name Kulbulakian. Its distinctive features are the bladelet technique and a microlithic set including backed pieces and triangular microliths. Stages in the evolution of the Kulbulakian tradition are reconstructed: origins, development, peak, and disappearance of the carinated technology. Industries belonging to this tradition have shaped the general appearance of the Upper Paleolithic in the area in question.

Keywords: Upper Paleolithic, bladelet production techniques, carinated technology, western Central Asia.