Institute for the History of Material Culture RAS, 18, Dvortsovaya emb., St. Petersburg, 191181, Russia

[shchelinsky@yandex.ru]

Abstract. The paper deals with the results of interdisciplinary studies at the Lower Paleolithic site of Kermek situated on the Taman’ peninsula in the Southern Azov Sea region. Geological, paleomagnetic and biostratigraphic data indicate that it is older than the Olduvai subchron and can be dated to 2,1–2,0 mya. The peopling of the Western Fore-Caucasus in that time became possible due to favorable environmental conditions of the first half of the Early Pleistocene. The environs of the site were rich in raw material (silicified dolomite) suitable for tool manufacture. The site was located on a sea or estuary beach. The human subsistence might partly have depended on collecting fish, mollusks and other sea animals that were cast ashore during storms and floods. The main food resource, however, were terrestrial animals of the Psekups faunal complex, such as elephants (Archidiskodon meridionalis meridionalis), rhinos (Stephanorhinus etruscus), elasmotheres (Elasmotherium sp.), horses (Equus sp.), etc. The stone industry of Kermek technologically belongs to the Early Acheulean. It contains numerous large (more than 10 cm) flakes characteristic of the Early Acheulean technocomplex, as well as a set of large cutting tools, including unifacial and bifacial peaks, cleavers and backed knives. The study of the

Kermek site shows that the makers of the Early Acheulean industries were able to quickly adapt to changes in their environments.

Keywords: Lower Paleolithic, South Azov Sea region, Kermek, Paleoenvironmental conditions, stone industry, cultural adaptation.

 

Received 23.11.2024, accepted 19.12.2024

 

DOI: 10.31600/2658-3925-2025-1-38-60

 

For citation: Shchelinsky V. E. Early Pleistocene site of Kermek in the South Azov Sea region: paleoecological conditions and cultural adaptation (in Russ.). Prehistoric Archaeology. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. 2025 (1), 38–60, DOI: 10.31600/2658-3925-2025-1-38-60

 

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