Autochthonous Development Of Lithic Industries In Central Asia During The Lower And Middle Paleolithic: Technological Continuity And The Raw Material Factor

The article examines the problem of autochthonous development of lithic industries in Central Asia during the Lower and Middle Paleolithic. On the basis of a techno-typological analysis of materials from Maly Karatau, Kyzyltau, Obi-Rakhmat, Ugam, Vakhsh, Koshkurgan, and Shoktas, the study considers core structures, methods of flaking, secondary modification, and the influence of raw material resources on the morphology of stone artefacts. Particular attention is paid to the long-standing discussion concerning the distinction between pebble tools and pebble cores, since this issue directly affects the cultural and chronological attribution of the early Paleolithic complexes of Karatau. The analysis demonstrates that the predominance of discoidal and fan-shaped cores, the stable development of flake-based technology, and the gradual increase of prismatic and Levallois elements do not indicate an abrupt replacement of cultural traditions. Rather, they reflect a long-term local technological evolution. The article argues that the Paleolithic industries of Central Asia represent an autochthonous line of development adapted to regional paleoecological conditions and raw material resources, while at the same time being involved in broader interregional contacts across Eurasia.

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