The Emergence of Levallois Blade Industry in the Western Foothills of Tien Shan: Kulbulak Layer 24

A significant archaeological discovery at the Kulbulak site in the Western Tien Shan reveals the emergence of the Levallois blade industry, marking a transitional phase between Late Amudian and Early Middle Paleolithic assemblages. Excavations from layer 24, dating to the second half of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 7, uncovered tools such as side-scrapers, retouched blades, and an elongated point, alongside cores exhibiting both non-Levallois and Levallois flaking techniques. This combination suggests a technological shift, with parallels observed in contemporaneous Near Eastern industries. The study utilized geological context and stratigraphic analysis to correlate the site's layers with paleogeographic stages, providing insights into the evolution of lithic technologies in this region.

Pavlenok, G. D., Kogai, S. A., Kurbanov, R. N., Mukhtarov, G. A., & Pavlenok, K. K. (2023). The Emergence of Levallois Blade Industry in the Western Foothills of Tien Shan: Kulbulak Layer 24. Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia, 51(2), 14–26. https://doi.org/10.17746/1563-0110.2023.51.2.014-026