Ushki Lake

Five sites in Kamchatka, Siberia, with Neolithic levels overlying Upper Palaeolithic. Wedge-shaped cores and sidescrapers have been dated to the early Holocene c 8790 bp. A Dyuktai culture assemblage is dated to c 10,760-10360 bp. The lowest layer is c 14,300-13,600 bp with stemmed bifacial points and perforated stone ornaments. Hearths and a burial were excavated in this level, with red ochre surviving. This is the only Palaeolithic site in Siberia to represent a tundra rather than a forest adaptation.

Palaeolithic site in Kamchatka, northeast Siberia. The lowest horizon (VII) has radiocarbon dates of cl 1,650 and 12,350 be, associated with a small-tool technology including tanged arrowheads. 12 hearths and a burial were excavated in this level the bones were missing, but red ochre survived, as well as tools, pendants and numerous stone beads. Higher levels yielded a different industry, including bifacial foliate arrowheads, bifacial knives and micro-blades. Level V has a radiocarbon date of c8140 be. The remains of seven dwellings, rectangular, round or oval in plan, are assigned to level VI by the excavator. This is the only Palaeolithic site in Siberia to represent a tundra rather than a forest adaptation.