Excavations at Kovrizhka IV site and its bearing on research of the Late Upper Paleolithic and human adaptation to the environment of last glacial maximum in Baikal-Patom Highlands, Siberia

The archaeological assemblages of the Kovrizhka IV site, 19–18 ka BP, allows for the reconstruction of a set of cultural traditions of the inhabitants of the early phase of the Late Upper Paleolithic – the end of the Last Glacial Maximum detailed in such aspects as lithic processing, food supply, construction of dwellings and hearths, mobility, and symbolic activity. Kovrizhka IV has been identified as a series of seasonal residential camps on the beach line near a cliff of a rocky cape protruding into the Vitim River. Remains of dwellings were excavated in cultural horizons 6, 3 B, 3/2, 2G and remains of a hearth feature in cultural horizon 2 B. In two cases, the living area colored or sprinkled with ochre pieces. In summary, the existing data characterize a stable, reproductively successful lifestyle in terms of adaptation and survival to the conditions of the LGM lasting approximately 500 years. The lithic processing techniques documented in the contexts of the production of microblades, macroblades, coarse prismatic blades, flakes, facial finishing of bifaces and unifaces, and judging by the graphite pendant, grinding and drilling techniques. The Yubetsu technique of microblade pressure knapping was known to the people at Kovrizhka IV, but another technique, called the Kovrizhka method, much more opportunistic in terms of blank choice and core rotation, was dominant. The rest of the lithic production at Kovrizhka IV demonstrates the cumulative nature of the preservation of traditions dating back to the Early Upper Paleolithic (macroblades), and the Middle Upper Paleolithic (coarse prismatic blades) of Siberia. The main corresponding cultures are identified as the Studenoye culture of the LUP in southern Transbaikalia and the Dyuktai culture of Yakutia. In general, the lithic industry, and especially the technique of pressure knapping microblades, is characterized as a demonstrable continuity from Kovrizhka IV to sites of the Final MIS-2 of the Baikal-Patom Highlands such as Bolshoi Yakor I, Avdeikha, and Kovrizhka III. This culture is portrayed as a local adaptive set, contributing to the general ideas about the culture of the early LUP of Northeast Asia. In terms of dwelling features, toolkits, microblade production, and anthropomorphic figurines, Kovrizhka IV is unique for the whole of North Baikal Siberia, and makes a significant contribution to the general panorama of late Upper Paleolithic Northeast Asia.