Excavations at Darvagchay-Zaliv-4: An Early Paleolithic Site in Dagestan

This article outlines the results of multidisciplinary research at Darvagchay-Zaliv-4—an Early Paleolithic site in northeastern Caucasus. We focus on lithics, which we compare with those from key Early Paleolithic sites in Dagestan and other regions of Caucasus. Based on the totality of typological and technological criteria, we identify the assemblage as Acheulean, characterized by a scarcity of distinct core-like forms and tools. The few functional types identified include side-scraper forms, spurs, notched, and combination tools. The most salient specimens are pebble tools (choppers) and bifacial tools such as handaxes and picks. Technologically, all specimens are very uniform and may be viewed as representing several camps, whose inhabitants shared a single lithic tradition. This might have been a workshop that was visited many times. The analysis of malacofauna and paleomagnetic analysis suggest that the site dates to 0.4–0.3 Ma BP (MIS 11–9).