Technological aspects of artifact’s ornamentation in the Mal’ta’s collection (Upper Paleolithic)

Abstract

Mal’ta is one of the most important archeological complexes of the Siberian Upper Paleolithic. The appearance of items with serial-rhythmic decorative elements in the Siberian portable art it is associated with the classical stage of the Upper Paleolithic. Important issues in the study of the Malta complex include stratigraphy, chronology, technological characteristics of the site, and the problem of diversity of the ensemble of the “classical” component obtained during the excavations of M.M. Gerasimov in 1928–1958. In the article we discuss the issues of decorating items made from mammoth tusk using various techniques and technologies with external stability of the elements (motifs) of the ornament. The microscopic analysis of the Mal’ta collection revealed usage of several techniques for manufacturing of different decorative items. These include portable anthropomorphic and zoomorphic images, items of personal adornment, and other artifacts. We categorized artifacts based on the fragments of the artifacts, blanks, and finished products with and without decoration. It has been established that in the classical Mal’ta complex, there were various technological methods for decoration anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures, personal adornments, disks and other objects using a stable set of tools and technological standards. Basing on results of technological and microscopic analysis we argue that chronological or cultural differences likely existed in artifact’s style, ornamentation and manufacturing techniques.