This article focuses on the Upper Paleolithic lithic industries from layers 5.1—4 of the Ushbulak site in Eastern Kazakhstan. These assemblages, dated approximately to ~24—21 kyr BP, show the appearance of pressure flaking technique, being thus chronologically consistent with the earliest manifestations of this knapping technique known in South Korea and Northeast China. The primary reduction and toolset composition of the Late Upper Paleolithic assemblages at Ushbulak show fundamental differences from both the preceding Initial Upper Paleolithic of layers 7—6 and the subsequent Final Upper Paleolithic assemblages of layers 3—2. Moreover, no direct analogies with the synchronous industries in Kazakhstan and its immediate neighboring regions (Russian Altai) can be identified for the time being. The available data suggest that the materials from layers 5.1—4 mark an episode of population replacement in this part of Kazakhstan, possibly associated with a migration from the Northern China.

South Siberia and the Northern Central Asia is one of the centers of Upper Paleolithic appearance and expansion. One of the northern areas of UP expansion is Central Siberia and the Yenisei River valley. The appearance of modern anatomical type humans in this area is presumed in the final MIS3 and is associated with the Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP). Currently, the key problem of EUP studies in Central Siberia is that archaeological artifacts come from redeposited or unstratified complexes. This article discusses the preliminary results of the Sabanikha 3 study, a new EUP site in the Yenisei River valley. In situ characteristics of the cultural layer from Sabanikha 3 site are unique for the region. New archaeological, paleontological, and spatial data from the stratified complex allow to fill the existing lacuna in the reconstruction of Central Siberia occupation by anatomically modern humans at the MIS3/MIS2 boundary.

The article is devoted to the reassessment of the Diring-Yuryakh assemblage in Central Yakutia. It is argued that the assemblage has no analogues among the Middle and Upper Paleolithic of Northeast Asia. Archaeological materials from Diring-Yuryakh indicate the existence of an Early Paleolithic workshop with an original stone industry in the middle reaches of the Lena River, which in all likelihood should be dated to Marine-Isotope Stage 11 and is therefore considerably older than 300 kyr BP.

Статья посвящена изучению генезиса кареноидной технологии верхнепалеолитической кульбулакской культуры запада Центральной Азии. Ранние проявления карено-идной технологии в Центральной Азии фиксируются в среднепалеолитических комплексах обирахматского варианта. Ранее предполагалось формирование кульбулакской культуры на основе постепенного развития среднепалеолитических обирахматских индустрий Проведенные в последние годы исследования продемонстрировали, что в куль-булакской культуре кареноидная технология фиксируется в сформированном устойчивом виде, и это заставило пересмотреть вопрос ее происхождения. Было проведено детальное сопоставление кареноидной технологии из кульбулакских и обирахматских комплексов. Для реконструкции технологии утилизации кареноидных нуклеусов использовался анализ последовательности сколов. Для оценки взаимосвязи в коллекциях пластинок разных типов и кареноидных нуклеусов были применены корреляционные тесты Пирсона и Спирмена. Сопоставление кульбулакских и обирахматских комплексов производилось посредством анализа главных координат. Проведенный анализ кареноидных нуклеусов из среднепалеолитических и верхнепалеолитических комплексов западной части Центральной Азии показал, что кульбу-лакская верхнепалеолитическая технология утилизации кареноидных нуклеусов появляется в регионе в сформированном высоко стандартизированном виде. Выделяется две основных схемы получения пластинок с изогнутым профилем, обусловленные морфологией используемых заготовок. Обе реконструированные схемы соответствуют общей концепции, при которой создавалась или выбиралась площадка на заготовке, оформлялась характерная кареноидная выпуклость фронта, а с этого фронта реализовывались целевые пластинки с изогнутым или закрученным профилем. В зависимости от заготовки некоторые нуклеусы требовали более интенсивного оформления фронта и площадки. В соответствии с этим выделяются длинная и короткая последовательности утилизации нуклеусов. Кареноидные нуклеусы из хронологически и стратиграфически более ранних комплексов обирахматской культурной традиции демонстрируют широкую вариабельность и были одним из способов получения заготовок в рамках становления мелкопластинчатого расщепления.

Autopolyploidy is quite common in most clades of eukaryotes. The emergence of sequence-based genotyping methods with individual and marker tags now enables confident allele dosage, overcoming the main obstacle to the democratization of the population genetic approaches when studying ecology and evolution of autopolyploid populations and species. Reproductive modes, including clonality, selfing and allogamy, have deep consequences on the ecology and evolution of population and species. Analysing genetic diversity and its dynamics over generations is one efficient way to infer the relative importance of clonality, selfing and allogamy in populations. GenAPoPop is a user-friendly solution to compute the specific corpus of population genetic indices, including indices about genotypic diversity, needed to analyse partially clonal, selfed and allogamous polysomic populations genotyped with confident allele dosage. It also easily provides the posterior probabilities of quantitative reproductive modes in autopolyploid populations genotyped at two-time steps and a graphical representation of the minimum spanning trees of the genetic distances between polyploid individuals, facilitating the interpretation of the genetic coancestry between individuals in hierarchically structured populations. GenAPoPop complements the previously existing solutions, including SPAGEDI and POLYGENE, to use genotypings to study the ecology and evolution of autopolyploid populations. It was specially developed with a simple graphical interface and workflow, and comes with a simulator to facilitate practical courses and teaching of population genetics for autopolyploid populations.

B cтатьe прeдcтавлeны рeзультаты архeологичecких иccлeдований cтоянки Kараcай в Шиликтинcкой долине, проводившихcя в 2023 г. Основной целью работ в 2023 году cтало уточнeниe cтратиграфии и границ раcпроcтранeния культурных cлоeв на cтоянкe. Подъeмный комплeкc артeфактов по cвоим характeриcтикам был раздeлeн на двe группы. Пeрвая cоотвeтcтвуeт индуcтрии, выявлeнной ранee на памятникe в cтратифицированном залeгании (cлой 2 раcкопа 2019 г.) и можeт быть отнeceна к мeзолитичecкому врeмeни. Bторая группа по морфологичecким характeриcтикам выглядит болee дрeвнeй и прeдваритeльно можeт быть датирована развитым вeрхним палeолитом, поcкольку имeeт опрeдeлeнноe cходcтво c комплeкcом артeфактов из шурфа No 2 (2022 г.), а такжe подошвы cлоя 5 и кровли cлоя 6 cтоянки Ушбулак. Kромe того, в 2023 году была выполнeна ceрия датировок мeтодом оптико-люминecцeнтного cтимулирования образцов из шурфа 2022 г., архeологичecкая коллeкция которого дeмонcтрируeт болee архаичныe чeрты. Peзультаты датирования, показавшиe возраcт около 35 тыc. л.н., подтвeрждают вeрхнeпалeолитичecкую атрибуцию этого комплeкcа. The article presents the results of archaeological studies of the Karasai site in the Shylikty Valley conducted in 2023. The main goal of the work in 2023 was to clarify the stratigraphy and boundaries of the distribution of cultural layers in the site. The lifting complex of artifacts was divided into two groups according to its characteristics. The first group corresponds to the industry identified earlier on the monument in a stratified occurrence (layer 2 of the excavation in 2019) and can be attributed to the Mesolithic period. The second group looks more ancient in morphological characteristics and can be tentatively dated to the developed Upper Paleolithic, since it has certain similarities with the complex of artifacts from pit No. 2 (2022), as well as the soles of layer 5 and the roof of layer 6 of the Ushbulak site. In addition, in 2023, a series of dating was performed using optical-luminescent stimulation of samples from the 2022 pit, the archaeological collection of which shows more archaic features. The dating results, which showed an age of about 35 thousand years old, confirm the Upper Paleolithic attribution of this complex. Мақалада 2023 жылы Шілікті алқабындағы Қарасай аумағында жүргізілген археологиялық зерттеулердің нәтижелері ұсынылған. 2023 жылы жүргізілген зерттеу жұмысының негізгі мақсаты – аймақтағы мәдени қабаттардың стратиграфиясы мен таралу шекарасын нақтылау болып табылады. Артефактілер кешені белгілеріне қарай екі топқа бөлінді. Біріншісі, аймақтағы бұрын анықталған стратификацияланған салаға сәйкес келеді (2019 жылғы қазбаның 2 қабаты) және оны мезолит дәуіріне жатқызуға болады. Екінші топ, морфологиялық белгілері жағынан салыстырмалы түрде ерте кезең деген болжам жасалды және жоғарғы палеолитке жатқызуға болады, себебі Үшбұлақ тұрағының 6-қабатының төбесі және 5-қабатының ең төменгі бөлігі No2 қазбадан (2022 ж.) алынған артефактілер кешенімен белгілі бір ұқсастығы бар екені анықталды.Сонымен қатар, 2023 жылы 2022 жылғы қазбасынан алынған үлгілер үшін оптикалық-люминесцентті стимуляция әдісін қолдану арқылы бірқатар мерзімдеме жұмыстары жүргізілді, олардың археологиялық жинағы архаикалық ерекшеліктерге ие екенін көрсетті. Мерзімдеме нәтижелері бұл кешеннің жоғарғы палеолиттік атрибуциясы екендігін және шамамен 35 мыңжылдыққа жататынын дәлелдеп отыр.

Until recently, only two sites yielding Micoquian/Keilmessergruppen (KGM) lithic assemblages were known in the Russian Altai Region, which are the result of Late European Neanderthal migrations from Eastern Europe. European Micoquian/KMG sites, often located in close proximity to one another, vary functionally, reflecting complex behavioral patterns of Neanderthal populations. Conversely, two sites in the Altai Region are identified as base camps only, suggesting that sites with other functions either have yet been undiscovered or destroyed by post-depositional processes. Here, we present new data from Verkhnyaya Sibiryachikha Cave, located close to Okladnikov Cave in southern Siberia. A stone tool typical of the Micoquian/KMG was recovered from Verkhnyaya Sibiryachikha Layers 3, chronologically overlapping Neanderthal cultural strata uncovered in Okladnikov Cave. The tool's typology and chronology suggest that it belonged to a Neanderthal from Okladnikov Cave. Verkhnyaya Sibiryachikha Cave may have been used as a game observation point for hunters pursuing prey in the river valley below. Like their European cousins, late Neanderthals in the Altai Region explored areas near their habitations, which suggests no significant changes in the behavior of the Neanderthal population that migrated eastward into Siberia.

We reconstruct environmental conditions at various stages of the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene of East Kazakhstan. The reconstructions are based on materials from the stratified Ushbulak site in the Shilikta Valley, spanning a period from the Early Upper Paleolithic to the Bronze Age. Climatic changes were evaluated using natural science methods-mineralogical, ZooArchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS), OSL- and AMS-dating, etc. Sevaral stages, relating to environmental changes, are evaluated. The fi rst period (~52–37 ka BP) was period of moderately warm and relatively humid climate, with predominantly forest-steppe, meadow-steppe, and semidesert landscapes. The second period (~25–21 ka BP) coincided with a transition from a moderately warm to a very cold and more arid climate dominated by steppes. The third period (~18–16 ka BP) was transitional from the glacial maximum to the postglacial interstadial, with a relatively cool and arid climate and mostly steppe and forest-steppe landscapes. The fourth period (~15–14 ka BP) was characterized by the warmest climate in the Late Pleistocene; steppe and forest-steppe vegetation dominated. During the latest, Early Holocene period, the climate was warm and humid, with savanna-like landscapes. The analysis of natural-climatic conditions allows us to conclude that the early stage of the site’s functioning, characterized by the highest intensity of settlement, was optimal for ancient man.

Late European Neanderthals, associated with the Micoquian techno-complex, spread over vast area from Western Europe to the Altai. There were no sites found in the territories to the east of the Volga region. The key site of the Eastern Micoquian, Sukhaya Mechetka, which was discovered in 1951 in the Volgograd region, was for a long time the eastern outpost of Neanderthals in Eurasia. In the last five years, the results of paleogenetic analysis have confirmed the archaeological hypothesis of the migration of late European Neanderthals, the producers of the Micoquian, from Central and Eastern Europe to Altai. Until then, the genesis of Altai industries was associated with a wide range of European and Near Eastern techno-complexes, and anthropological remains were interpreted more in a Near Eastern context. In this regard, the industry of the Sukhaya Mechetka site, located on the route of the supposed migration of the Micoquians, acquires additional relevance in the research of the variability of the easternmost complexes of this cultural tradition. The attributive and technological analysis of tool kit from Sukhaya Mechetka was carried out and, using mathematical statistics methods, their results were compared with the available data on the Altai sites: Chagyrskaya and Okladnikov Caves. The new data were supplemented by the published materials from the Sukhaya Mechetka site. As a result, high level of technical-typological similarity of the compared industries in the context of primary flaking, bifacial tool production, tool typology and morphology was revealed. The structure of the Sukhaya Mechetka tool kit is closest to the Chagirskaya Сave, which is characterized by a large number of simple side-scrapers. At the same time, the site lacks of high-quality raw materials used to make bifacial items and intensively worked unifacial tools. In the Okladnikov Cave complexes this deficit is less. In composition and morphology of unifacial and bifacial tools, Sukhaya Mechetka is closest to the assemblages of the Antonovka I site and Chagyrkaya Cave. They share similarity with Okladnikov Cave in terms of a significant number of leaf-shaped and crescent-shaped tools. Some new characteristics were additionally determined for the assemblage of Sukhaya Mechetka. It was established that the primary decortications of cores was carried out outside the site. We also reconstructed the stages of production, rejuvenating and reshaping of bifaces on the site.

Purpose. The aim of this study is detailed reconstruction of the reduction sequences of the layer 5.1 lithic industry. Results. Through a comprehensive analysis of the material complex from the layer 5.1 we reconstructed three knapping strategies characterizing the industry. The first strategy is based on the usage of the narrow core working surface to obtain blades and lamellar flakes. The second strategy is the alternating usage of the working surface and striking platform aimed at blank production. The reduction sequence is characterized by the usage of narrow surfaces bounded by natural sides. The third strategy is the bladelets and microblades production using one narrow or two adjacent (narrow and wide) working surfaces. The comparison of the material complex of the layer 5.1 with the complexes of layers 7–6 indicates principal differences in the raw material preferences, primary knapping methods and toolkits. Conclusion. Based on the lack of continuity of the primary knapping and the principles of spatial exploitation of Ushbulak site area, we suggest a complete change in the population of the Shilikta valley at the boundary of MIS 3 and MIS 2.

The three most common ways of visualizing artefacts that are currently available are: a technical drawing, a photograph and three-dimensional modeling. In addition to documenting archaeological artefacts, the illustrations produced by each method can provide specific scientific data. The article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the mentioned types of visualisation of archaeological material in the context of archaeological research. The 3D model obtained by scanning with a structured light scanner; the high-quality photograph (stacking by focus) and the technical drawing made by a professional artist were subjected to a comparative analysis. The study is based on illustrations of Middle Paleolithic bifacial tools from Chagyrskaya Cave (Altai) and Middle Paleolithic cores from Kulbulak site (Tien Shan), bone tools with slots from Kazachka site (Kansk-Rybinsk Basin). We made a comparison according to the following parameters: the time it takes to create one image, the use of additional software and its cost, the cost of the necessary equipment, the skills required to perform the different methods. Additional comparisons were also made with the drawing, photograph and 3D model as a basis for further technological and morphological research (scar pattern analysis, geometric-morphometric analysis, technical details) and the quality of the provided information (possibility of measurement or high-precision metric studies). As a result, we were able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of each type of image for different scientific research. We expect that because of the gradual cheapening of the method, the rapidity of learning and the great possibilities for extracting scientific data, illustrations obtained by 3D structural light scanning will be widespread in scientific research in the near future.

В статье представлены данные, полученные на новом этапе исследований верхнепалеолитической стоянки Актас, первые работы на которой были проведены в 1982-1983 гг. Памятник расположен в Северном Казахстане, где палеолитические объекты очень редки. В работе приводятся материалы по стратиграфии, палеонтологии, археологии и хронологии стоянки. На памятнике выделены шесть литологических слоев, два из которых (3 и 4) содержат многочисленные фаунистические остатки. Хронология объекта построена на серии ОСЛ-дат. Установлено, что накопление слоя 2 происходило в интервале ~20-12 тыс. л.н., слои 3 и 4 формировались ~50-30 тыс. л.н. На памятнике найдено изделие из камня — скребло из «импортного» кремня. Основу ископаемого фаунистического комплекса составляют копытные — плейстоценовая лошадь Equus ferus, шерстистый носорог Coelodonta antiquitatis и горный баран Ovis ammon. Часть костных остатков несет следы преднамеренной фрагментации и разделки с помощью каменных орудий. С учетом этого, а также особенностей тафоценоза (видовой состав, отсутствие следов деятельности хищников и др.), расположения и стратиграфии стоянки сделан вывод о том, что данное скопление палеофауны могло сформироваться только в результате антропогенной деятельности. Единичные свидетельства пребывания человека позволяют рассматривать Актас только как «эфемерную» стоянку, фиксирующую заселение данной территории в позднеплейстоценовое время, без каких-либо культурных определений. Материалы памятника соответствуют стоянкам типа kill-site — местам разделки и потребления охотничьей добычи. На данный момент это единственная стоянка подобного типа в исследуемом регионе. Малочисленность каменных артефактов не позволяет определить культурную принадлежность ее материалов. Однако возраст памятника свидетельствует о том, что северные районы Казахстана были заселены уже в начале МИС3, что соответствует начальным этапам верхнего палеолита.

Purpose. For the Central Asian territories, only the discovery of a burial from Teshik-Tash has an indisputable connection with the Neanderthal population confirmed by genetic studies. In this situation, it is important to fully characterize the technological repertoire of this hominin species through a detailed study of the lithic industry of TeshikTash. One of the parts of the Teshik-Tash collection, kept in the collections of the Kunstkamera (St. Petersburg, Russia), was previously analyzed. Observations regarding the operation of radial and disc-shaped cores at the late stages of utilization, as well as the identified features in the morphology of points, again identified the problem of the presence / absence of the Levallois component in the Teshik-Tash industry.Materials and Methods. Attributive analysis was chosen as a research tool, which was previously applied to the collection from the Kunstkamera. It allows reconstructing the entire “operational chain” of knapping lithic raw materials at the site and identifying the technological features of the production of different types of blanks.Results. The performed analysis allows identifying some features of the knapping technology in the Teshik-Tash industry, such as: the dominant knapping system is centripetal; the using of Levallois technology is recorded in the one core; a method of shaping the core front by creating a rib at the base and using lateral spalls; a case of the volumetric concept of knapping has been identified; the strategies used in the industry resulted in a low standardized product; the rare design of percussion platforms and their reduction. The tool kit is characterized by the using of cores as the tools; the presence of two groups of “special purpose” tools; the irregularly retouched flakes as a background tool category; the presence of truncated and truncated-faceted pieces.Discussion. The knapping approach was quite flexible, and this implies the possibility of switching from one model to another at different stages of core utilization. For this reason, some cores fall into the “grey zone” between radial, discoid, and Levallois types. At the same time, the Levallois technique occupies a clearly subordinate position in the industry, was extremely rarely used in the early stages of core utilization, and had almost no effect on the overall appearance of blanks. For this reason, we believe that Levallois technique should be considered as a one of the significant characteristics of the Teshik-Tash industry with great caution, as well as direct analogies with the new Middle Paleolithic complexes of the Tien Shan low mountains.Conclusion. The processing of the Teshik-Tash collection made it possible to fix the dominance of the centripetal model of lithic knapping, the use of which is imprinted in the morphology of products of all main categories. At the same time, a number of artifacts point to the existence of technological variability in lithic production in the industry, both at the stage of making blanks (the use of sub-wedge-shaped and volumetric cores) and at the stage of designing tools (truncated-faceted products). These circumstances expand our understanding of the behavioral characteristics of the Neanderthals who lived in the west of Central Asia.

The appearance of Upper Paleolithic techniques of blade production is the key signal of Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) industries throughout Eurasia and, particularly, in Central Asia. Here, we present the results of a detailed reconstruction of the principal knapping method targeting blade production at the Ushbulak site in eastern Kazakhstan that currently marks the southwestern extent of the distribution of Asian IUP industries. Based on the typology of IUP cores at Ushbulak, we carried out experimental blade production using three main knapping methods that have been described in IUP complexes across northern Eurasia. Each technique was applied to the production of blades and core management elements morphologically similar to artifacts from the Ushbulak assemblage. Experimental approaches and attribute analysis established the dominance of the sub-prismatic bidirectional laminar method, based on well-prepared pre-core knapping. The reconstructed bidirectional method for blade production reflects traits in common with Moravian Bohunician IUP complexes, but the closest analogies can be found in IUP complexes of the Russian Altai Region (Kara Bom) and Mongolia (Tolbor 4). The most pronounced traits distinguishing the Ushbulak IUP industries from those of neighboring regions are the dominance of only one method of bidirectional blade production and the absence of Levallois technology. No changes in primary knapping methods and tool assemblages were revealed in Ushbulak IUP complexes over a period of roughly 10,000 years. This industry first appeared in its complete form in eastern Kazakhstan ca. 49–47 ka and existed without detectable changes until its disappearance ca. 37–35 ka.

Studies of a new Middle Paleolithic site in Altai, the Kozya Cave, had been conducted by the team of researchers from IAET SB RAS in 2021. The site was discovered in the course of archaeological survey in 2020. The cave is located in the northwestern Altai, in the Charyshski District of Altai Region. The excavation trench of 3 m2 revealed four stratigraphic units, three of which were attributed to the Pleistocene. Archaeological material was found in layers 2-3.2. Layer 2 contained a truncated-faceted tool. The assemblage of layer 3 consists of 8 artifacts, half of which have been defined as tools. The cultural marker is a fragment of the Levallois point from layer 3.1 with convergent scars on the dorsal surface and a convex faceted striking platform. The zooarchaeological analysis of the paleofaunal collection from layers 3.1 and 3.2 showed that the accumulation of faunal remains in the cave resulted mainly from activity of predators periodically using it as a den. At the same time, finds of bones with traces of premeditated splitting indicate that ancient people also visited the Kozya (Goat) Cave and participated in the accumulation of bone remains. Analysis of the faunal collection of small mammals showed that the deposition took place in open spaces. The inhabitants of taiga and shrub biotopes are few in the fossil fauna. The data of 2021 field season allowed us to clarify the age of the cave deposits formation. The morphology of lithic artifacts and the faunal material as well as the infinite date of layer 3.2 (>55000 (GV3067)) suggest attribution of the archaeological complex of Kozya layer 3 to the Middle Paleolithic. The culture marking artifacts tentatively indicates that this complex belongs to the Denisova trend of the Altai Middle Paleolithic.

In Paleolithic archaeology, there are two dichotomous perspectives on so-called splintered pieces, or pieces esquillées, in which, depending upon archaeological context and the availability and quality of lithic of raw material, such pieces are considered bipolar cores or tools for processing organic materials. Here, we discuss for the first time functionality, reduction models, and modes of using Upper Paleolithic pièces esquillées from two Central Asian regions: the Tian Shan Mountains of eastern Uzbekistan and the Yenisey Valley of Siberian Russia. By applying attributive, experimental, scar-pattern, and use-wear analyses, we determined that these artifacts derived from two widely separated regions are tools for processing hard organic materials, which were rotated often during use. Reconstructed reduction sequences indicate that the morphological appearance of the implements was affected by the working processes associated with contact between the hammer and the organic material being processed. Our results demonstrate that the formation of the chisel or wedge is not significantly affected by the raw material of the blank, the type of hammer utilized, or the nature of the material being processed. To the contrary, chisel tools from the two regions demonstrated the same reduction processes affecting their lengths and widths due to having been employed in similar physical operations. On the other hand, pièces esquillées from the two study regions demonstrated the same reduction processes in length and width due to the application of similar work operations, which seems applicable to all splintered pieces used as tools.

In 2019, a joint Russian-Kazakh expedition discovered the first stratified Mesolithic locality in eastern Kazakhstan. Excavations at the Karasai site revealed a rich Early Holocene cultural layer (Layer 2). The lithic industry includes elements of all stages of lithic production. Cores include low-backed prismatic and narrow faced varieties and the tool assemblage is dominated by non-geometric microblade inset, fragmentary points, borers, micro-burins and microlithic scrapers. The Mesolithic age of the finds is confirmed by two AMS radio-carbon dates between 10,000-8,500 cal years BP. The Karasai industry most closely resembles lithic assemblages dating to the beginning of the Early Holocene in northern Kazakhstan.

This article provides a detailed account of the process of scanning, post-processing and further manipulation of three-dimensional models obtained with structured light scanners. Purpose. The purpose of the study is determined by the need for national archaeologists to learn the methods of three-dimensional modeling for the implementation of scientific research corresponding to international standards. Unfortunately, this direction in national archaeology began to develop in a relatively recent time and there is a lag in the application of three-dimensional modeling of national archaeology compared to the world level. Results. Any archaeological, experimental or ethnographic artifact can be used for three-dimensional scanning. To perform post-processing of three-dimensional models it is necessary to carry out primary scanning of an artifact by one of the existing algorithms. The algorithm for creating models, their positioning, simplification, saving in various formats and export is described. The main sequence of 3D models post-processing includes: processing of groups of scanned projections (their cleaning and alignment), creation of artifact model and processing/rectification of the resulting model using special software. Conclusion. As a result of correct implementation of the algorithm, the researcher receives a scaled model completely corresponding to the original artifact. Obtaining a scalable, texture-free three-dimensional model of the artifact, which fully corresponds to the original and exceeds a photograph in the quality of detail transfer, allows a scientist to conduct precise metric measurements and any procedures of non-invasive manipulation of the models. The ability to access a database of three-dimensional models of archaeological collections greatly simplifies the work of archaeologists, especially in situations when country borders are closed.

A survey was carried out by a team from IAET SB RAS in the area of Urochiche Balchikova V( Balchikov locality V) situated in northwestern Altai in 2021. This article presents the preliminary results of studies at this site. The the site is located is in the vicinity of the Sentelek village in the Charyshskiy District of Altai Krai. In geomorphological terms, this area is a cirque formed by an extension of the Sentelek River valley framed by mountains. The exposed artifacts are confined to a promontory on the left bank of the Sentelek River representing the diluvium train of Voskudarnaya Teplukha Mountain. P.I. Shulga found the first stone tools at this site in 1991. The 2021 collection counts 8 artifacts. The most representative part of the exposed complex consists of artifacts associated with primary reduction: a sub-prismatic double platform blade core of the bidirectional reduction pattern with one flaking surface; a preform of the double platform core and technical spalls. The tool kit is represented by a scraper-shaped tool made on a silicite tablet. The few artifacts collected from the surface are technologically-diagnostic. Their morphology and characteristic technological features suggest attribution of the assemblage to the early stages of the Upper Paleolithic. The flaking technique aimed at production of large thin blades under the bidirectional prismatic flaking strategy is characteristic of the industries of the Initial and Early Upper Paleolithic of North and Central Asia. The closest parallels to these materials are in lithic assemblages of the Early Upper Paleolithic of Altai (Kara-Bom, UP complexes 1 and 2, Ust-Karakol-1, layers 8-11), Mongolia (Tolbor-4, horizons 5 and 6) and Eastern Kazakhstan (Ushbulak, layers 6 and 7).

The article demonstrates the potential applications of 3D scanning of composite slotted tools and the use of models as a basis for further scientific research. The scanning was carried out with high-precision equipment (Solutionix D700 scanner). The scanner provides high precision data acquisition of the geometry and surface of an artefact. As examples of archaeological artefacts we used composite slotted tools from the site of Kazachka-I. There were two bone tools from cultural layers 19 and 11. As a result of three-dimensional scanning application, a series of high-resolution scaled models was created. The series of cross-sections and metric measurements were made on the obtained models with the use of special software. Through analysis of cross-sectional shapes and comparison with experimental modelling data, conclusions on the basic process steps in slotted tools manufacture have been drawn. V-, U- and W-shaped cross-sections have been identified. Slots of bone tool from layer 19 has V- and U-shaped cross-sections. Slots of bone tool from layer 11 have U- and W-shaped cross-sections. The variety of cross-sectional shapes may indicate different techniques in the manufacture of the slots. The U-shaped cross-section may have been created by cutting the slot with a stone tool, the edge of which has been broken in the process. The W-shape may indicate that the direction of motion of the tool in this section was changed during operation. The V-shape was obtained by using a sharp tool throughout the slotting process. These conclusions are preliminary and need to be verified by a series of experiments and use-wear analysis.