TY - JOUR

T1 - Technological features of decorated ivory artifacts in the “classic” collection from the mal’ta site (Siberia, upper paleolithic)

AU - Lbova, Lyudmila

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Mal’ta is one of the most important archeological complexes of the Siberian Upper Paleolithic. M. M. Gerasimov discovered the site in 1928 and excavated there until 1958 collections widely considered "classic" for the middle Upper Paleolithic with cultural layers dating to the Last Glacial Maximum (19 to 23 kyr). New data, based on the modern methods of the archaeological expertize, found the problem to identification of "classical" collection as the compound of the micro stratigraphy levels and propose the opportunity coexisting of different chronological or cultural complexes. The article aims to prove the coexistence in Malta's collection of various techniques of manufacturing stable forms of ornament, as a consequence of different technological or cultural processes, and chronology. Microscopic examination of the site’s ivory artifact collection revealed several methods to produce variously functioning ornamental objects. These include portable sculptures, items of personal adornment, and a few other artifacts. Microscopic analysis revealed a variety of the manufacturing techniques and functions of the mobile art. From technological position, we categorized artifacts based on the fragments of the artifacts, blanks, and finished products with and without decoration. In general, there were distinct technological approaches to produce anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures with specific sets of tools and technological standards. In addition, we identified four categories of ivory ornaments and six different technology-processing methods. We argue that there are temporal or cultural differences in artifact’s style and manufacturing techniques based on technological analysis, that may be useful in general reconstruction of the cultural process in the Upper Paleolithic (LGM-period) in the Nord-Eastern Eurasia.

AB - Mal’ta is one of the most important archeological complexes of the Siberian Upper Paleolithic. M. M. Gerasimov discovered the site in 1928 and excavated there until 1958 collections widely considered "classic" for the middle Upper Paleolithic with cultural layers dating to the Last Glacial Maximum (19 to 23 kyr). New data, based on the modern methods of the archaeological expertize, found the problem to identification of "classical" collection as the compound of the micro stratigraphy levels and propose the opportunity coexisting of different chronological or cultural complexes. The article aims to prove the coexistence in Malta's collection of various techniques of manufacturing stable forms of ornament, as a consequence of different technological or cultural processes, and chronology. Microscopic examination of the site’s ivory artifact collection revealed several methods to produce variously functioning ornamental objects. These include portable sculptures, items of personal adornment, and a few other artifacts. Microscopic analysis revealed a variety of the manufacturing techniques and functions of the mobile art. From technological position, we categorized artifacts based on the fragments of the artifacts, blanks, and finished products with and without decoration. In general, there were distinct technological approaches to produce anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures with specific sets of tools and technological standards. In addition, we identified four categories of ivory ornaments and six different technology-processing methods. We argue that there are temporal or cultural differences in artifact’s style and manufacturing techniques based on technological analysis, that may be useful in general reconstruction of the cultural process in the Upper Paleolithic (LGM-period) in the Nord-Eastern Eurasia.

KW - Decoration

KW - Ivory

KW - LGM

KW - Mobile art

KW - Siberia

KW - Technology

KW - Upper Paleolithic

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041920179&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85041920179

VL - 19

SP - 7

EP - 17

JO - Annales d'Universite 'Valahia' Targoviste, Section d'Archeologie et d'Histoire

JF - Annales d'Universite 'Valahia' Targoviste, Section d'Archeologie et d'Histoire

SN - 1584-1855

IS - 1

ER -