Technology of working with "exotic" mineral resources in the upper palaeolithic of South Siberia (based on the materials of Malaya Syia)

Malaya Syia is a unique Early Upper Palaeolithic site in the south of Middle Siberia which has no direct analogies in this region. The analysis of the raw material base demonstrates the character of various resource strategies aimed at the use of both local and imported raw materials for the production of tools, pigments, and objects with special cultural status. The results of traceological and petrographic analyses coupled with X-ray phase analysis and 3D modeling lead to the conclusion that the artefacts made of exotic materials belonged to the group of prestigeous objects.