A Newly Dated Late Pleistocene and Holocene Archaeological Assemblage from Bukhtarma Cave in the Southern Altai Piedmont, East Kazakhstan
2024

New Findings from Bukhtarma Cave in Kazakhstan

Sample size: 12 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Iovita Radu, Rendu William, Lindauer Susanne, Taimagambetov Zhaken, Kushch Galina A., Baryshnikov Gennady F.

Primary Institution: Department of Geosciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

Hypothesis

What can the archaeological assemblage from Bukhtarma Cave tell us about human evolution in Central Asia?

Conclusion

The study reconstructs multiple archaeological horizons at Bukhtarma Cave, indicating significant human activity from the Paleolithic to the Bronze Age.

Supporting Evidence

  • The cave contained evidence of human occupation dating back to approximately 47,000 years ago.
  • Multiple archaeological horizons were identified, indicating a long history of use.
  • Faunal remains showed a diverse range of species, suggesting varied human subsistence strategies.
  • Radiocarbon dating confirmed the presence of both Paleolithic and Holocene occupations.

Takeaway

Researchers found old tools and animal bones in a cave in Kazakhstan, showing that people lived there a long time ago.

Methodology

The study involved reanalyzing zooarchaeological collections and obtaining radiocarbon dates from bone remains.

Potential Biases

Potential biases may arise from the selective sampling of faunal remains.

Limitations

The lack of precise coordinates for the artifacts limits the reconstruction of human behavior.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.04942

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1007/s41982-024-00187-x

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