The first luminescence chronology of the Initial Upper Paleolithic of Eastern Kazakhstan (case study of the Ushbulak archaeological site)

The paper presents the first results of a detailed geochronological study of the Kazakhstan's Upper Paleolithic reference section from the Ushbulak multilayered site. Seven main cultural layers were identified in the stratigraphic sequence of the site. According to the specific features of obtained artefacts layer 1 corresponds to the Paleo-Metal era; layers 2.1-3.3 to the final Upper Paleolithic; layers 4-5.1 to the developed Upper Paleolithic; and layers 5.2-7.2 to the initial stages of the Upper Paleolithic. Taking into account the complicated structure of the section and inadequate number of fossils in the sediments a comparative dating using OSL and IRSL methods was applied for the exact dating of proluvial-colluvial deposits of the site. The analysis of sedimentation conditions was carried out on the basis of detailed characteristics of all lithological layers, geomorphologic structure of the area and modern exogenous processes. Comparison of three luminescence dating protocols (OSL, pIRIR290, IR50) indicate sufficient signal zeroing during the geological transport, so that the IRSL age reflects the time of sediment deposition. The results of laboratory measurements and standard tests allow considering the obtained ages and the final chronology as reliable. A Bayesian age model was calculated on the basis of IRSL chronology and radiocarbon dating, and the horizons of probably incomplete geological record were identified. The Ushbulak site is characterized by three cultural-chronological stages, corresponding to different periods of the Upper Paleolithic with different industries: the initial Upper Paleolithic (layers 7.2-5.2), recorded in the interval of 47-37 ka; developed Upper Paleolithic (layers 5.1-4) in the interval of 22-19 ka and the final Upper Paleolithic (layers 3.3-2.1) in the interval of 17-15 ka. The research provides the exact time of the main settlement of studied site - about 45-47 thousand years ago, i.e. during the second half of MIS 3.

1. Anoikin А.А., Pavlenok G.D., Kharevich V.M., Taimagambetov Z.K., Shalagina A.V., Gladyshev S.A., Ulyanov V.A., Duvanbekov R.S., Shunkov M.V. Ushbulak -A New Stratified Upper Paleolithic Site in Northeastern Kazakhstan, Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia, 2019, no. 4, p. 16-29.

2. Bronk Ramsey C. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates, Radiocarbon, 2009, no. 51(1), p. 337-360.

3. Buylaert J.P., Jain M., Murray A.S., Thomsen K.J., Thiel C., Sohbati R. A robust feldspar luminescence dating method for Middle and Late Pleistocene sediments, Boreas, 2012, no. 41, p. 435-451.

4. Derevyanko A.P., Petrin V.T., Rybin E.P., Chevalkov L.M. Paleoliticheskie kompleksy stratifitsirovannoi chasti stoyanki Kara-Bom [Paleolithic complexes of the stratified part of the Kara-Bom site], Novosibirsk, IAET SO RAN Publ., 1998, 280 p. (In Russian)

5. Derevyanko A.P., Shun'kov M.V., Agadzhanyan A.K., Baryshnikov G.F., Malaeva E.M., Ul›yanov V.A., Kulik N.A., Postnov A.V., Anoikin A.A. Prirodnaya sreda i chelovek v paleolite Gornogo Altaya [Natural environment and people in the Paleolithic of Gorny Altai], Novosibirsk, IAET SO RAN Publ., 2003, 448 p. (In Russian)

6. Derevianko A.P., Zenin A.N., Rybin E.P., Gladyshev S.A., Tsybankov A.A., Olsen J.W., Tseveendorj D., Gunchinsuren B. The technology of early Upper Paleolithic lithic reduction in Northern Mongolia: The Tolbor-4 site, Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia, 2007, no. 29, p. 16-38.

7. Fitzsimmons K., Iovita R., Sprafke T., Glantz M., Talamo S., Horton K., Beeton T.A., Alipova S., Bekseitov G., Ospanov Y., Deom J.-M., Sala R., Taimagambetov Z. A chronological framework connecting the early Upper Palaeolithic across the Central Asian piedmont, Journal of Human Evolution, 2017, no. 113, p. 197-126.

8. Geologiya SSSR, T. XLI, Vostochnyi Kazakhstan, Chast' I, Geologicheskoe opisanie [Geology of the USSR, vol. XLI, Eastern Kazakhstan, pt. I, Geological Description], Moscow, Nedra Publ., 1967, 467 p. (In Russian)

9. Gidrogeologiya SSSR, T. XXXVII, Vostochnyi Kazakhstan [Hydrogeology of the USSR, vol. XXXVII, Eastern Kazakhstan], Moscow, Nedra Publ., 1971, 308 p. (In Russian)

10. Groucutt H.S., Petraglia M.D., Bailey G., Scerri E.M.L., Parton A., Clark-Balzan L., Jennings R.P., Lewis L., Blinkhorn J., Drake N.A., Breeze P S., Inglis R. H., Deves M.H.,

11. Meredith-Williams M., Boivin N., Thomas M. G., Scally A. Rethinking the dispersal of Homo sapiens out of Africa, Evolutionary Anthropology, 2015, no. 24, p. 149-164. The Early Upper Paleolithic: evidence from Europe and the Near East, J.F. Hoffecker, C.A. Wolf (eds.), BAR International Series, 1988, no. 437, 277 p.

12. Kurbanov R.N., Semikolennykh D.V., Taratunina N.A., Volvakh N.E. Metodologicheskie osnovy opticheski stimulirovannoi lyuminestsentsii [Methodological Bases of Optically Stimulated Luminescence], Actual problems of the Pleistocene paleogeography, Scientific achievements of the School of Academician, K.K. Markov, T.A. Yanina, N.S. Bolihovskaja, E.I. Poljakova, T.S. Kljuvitkina, R.N. Kurbanov (eds.), Moscow, MSU Publ., 2020, p. 556-570. (In Russian)

13. Kurbanov R.N., Yanina T.A., Murray A.S., Semikolennykh D.V., Svistunov M.I., Shtyrkova E.I. Vozrast Karan-gatskoi transgressii (pozdnii pleistotsen) Chernogo moray [The age of the Karangatian (Late Pleistocene) transgression of the Black Sea], Vestn. Mosk. un-ta, Ser. 5, Geogr., 2019, no. 6, p. 29-39. (In Russian)

14. Murray A.S., Thomsen K.J., Masuda N., Buylaert J.P., Jain M. Identifying well-bleached quartz using the different bleaching rates of quartz and feldspar luminescence signals, Radiation Measurements, 2012, no. 47, p. 688-695.

15. Murray A.S., Wintle A.G. The single aliquot regenerative dose protocol: potential for improvements in reliability, Radiation measurements, 2003, no. 37(4-5), p. 377-381.

16. Murray A.S., Marten R., Johnston A., Martin P. Analysis for naturally occurring radionuclides at environmental concentrations by gamma spectrometry, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 1987, vol. 115, no. 2, p. 263-288.

17. Ozherel'ev D.V., Dzhasybaev E.A., Mamirov T.B. Pervye dannye o stratigrafii i kul'turnoi atributsii mnogosloinoi stoyanki verkhnego paleolita Rakhat (Yugo-Vostochnyi Kazakhstan) [First data on the stratigraphy and cultural attribution of the Rakhat multilayer site of the Upper Paleolithic (South-Eastern Kazakhstan)], Brief Communications of the Institute of Archaeology, 2019, iss. 254, p. 57-70, DOI: 10.25681/IARAS.0130-2620.254. (In Russian)

18. Out of Africa: The First Hominin Colonization of Eurasia, J.G. Fleagle, J.J. Shea, F.E. Grine, A.L. Baden, R.E. Leakey (eds.), New York, Springer Science, 2010, 293 p.

19. Reimer P., Austin W., Bard E., Bayliss A., Blackwell P., Bronk Ramsey C., Butzin M., Cheng H., Edwards R., Friedrich M., Grootes P., Guilderson T., Hajdas I., Heaton T., Hogg A., Hughen K., Kromer B., Manning S., Muscheler R., Palmer J., Pearson C., van der Plicht J., Reimer R., Richards D., Scott E., Southon J., Turney C., Wacker L., Adolphi F., Buntgen U., Capano M., Fahrni S., Fogtmann-Schulz A., Friedrich R., Kohler P., Kudsk S., Miyake F., Olsen J., Reinig F., Sakamoto M., Sookdeo A., Talamo S. The IntCal20 Northern Hemisphere radiocarbon age calibration curve (0-55 cal kBP), Radiocarbon, 2020, no. 62, p. 725-757.

20. Rybin E.P. Middle and Upper Paleolithic Interactions and the Emergence of “Modern Behavior” in Southern Siberia and Mongolia, Emergence and Diversity of Modern Human Behavior in Paleolithic Asia, College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2014, p. 470-489.

21. Shunkov M., Anoikin A., Taimagambetov Z., Pavlenok K., Kharevich V., Kozlikin M., Pavlenok G. Ushbulak-1 site: new Initial Upper Paleolithic evidence from Central Asia, Antiquity, 2017, no. 91(360), p. 1-7.

22. Shunkov M.V., Anoikin A.A., Pavlenok G.D., Kharevich V.M., Shalagina A.V., Zotkina L.V., Taimagambetov Zh.K. Nouveau site Paleolithique superieur ancien au nord de l'Asie Centrale, L'Anthropologie, 2019, no. 123, p. 438-451.

23. Taimagambetov Zh.K., Ozherel'ev D.V. Pozdnepaleoliticheskie pamyatniki Kazakhstana [Late Paleolithic monuments of Kazakhstan], Almaty, Kazan universiteti Publ., 2009, 256 p. (In Russian)

24. Thiel C., Buylaert J.P., Murray A., Terhorst B., Hofer I., Tsukamoto S., Frechen M. Luminescence dating of the Stratzing loess profile (Austria) - testing the potential elevated temperature post-IR IRSL protocol, Quaternary International, 2011, no. 234, p. 23-31.

25. Thomsen K.J., Murray A.S., Jai M., B0tter-Jensen L. Laboratory fading rates of various luminescence signals from feldsparrich sediment extracts, Radiation Measurements, 2008, no. 43, p. 1474-1486.

26. Vishnyatskii L.B. Kul'turnaya dinamika v seredine pozdnego pleistotsena i prichiny verkhnepaleoliticheskoi revolyutsii [Cultural Dynamics in the Mid-Late Pleistocene and the Causes of the Upper Paleolithic Revolution], St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg University Publ., 2008, 251 p. (In Russian)