The open-air site of Tolbor 16 (Northern Mongolia): Preliminary results and perspectives.

Numerous questions remain regarding the timing and the context of Upper Paleolithic emergence in Northeast Asia. Available data allow the recognition of a form of Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) documented in the Altai circa 45e40 ka 14C BP, and in the Cis- and Transbaikal around �37 ka 14C BP. In Northern Mongolia, a series of assemblages show intriguing similarities with IUP laminar assemblages from South Siberia and suggest long distance contact/movements of population during the first half of MIS3. These contacts are potentially enabled by the main river that drains into Lake Baikal, the Selenga. By cutting through the Sayan and the Yablonovy mountain ranges, the Selenga drainage system provides a potential corridor connecting South Siberia with the plains of Mongolia. The Tolbor 16 site (Ikh Tulberiin Gol, Northern Mongolia) is located circa 13 km from the confluence with the Selenga. The first results presented here suggest that the lithic assemblage and the ornaments discovered at Tolbor 16 document the early appearance of Upper Paleolithic in the region. This newly discovered site offers the possibility to generate high-resolution contextual data on the first appearance of the blade assemblages in Mongolia and to test the ‘Selenga corridor hypothesis’

The Northern Route for Human dispersal in Central and Northeast Asia: New evidence from the site of Tolbor-16, Mongolia.

The fossil record suggests that at least two major human dispersals occurred across the Eurasian steppe during the Late Pleistocene. Neanderthals and Modern Humans moved eastward into Central Asia, a region intermittently occupied by the enigmatic Denisovans. Genetic data indicates that the Denisovans interbred with Neanderthals near the Altai Mountains (South Siberia) but where and when they met H. sapiens is yet to be determined. Here we present archaeological evidence that document the timing and environmental context of a third long-distance population movement in Central Asia, during a temperate climatic event around 45,000 years ago. The early occurrence of the Initial Upper Palaeolithic, a techno-complex whose sudden appearance coincides with the first occurrence of H. sapiens in the Eurasian steppes, establishes an essential archaeological link between the Siberian Altai and Northwestern China . Such connection between regions provides empirical ground to discuss contacts between local and exogenous populations in Central and Northeast Asia during the Late Pleistocene

The site of Trou Al'Wesse (commune of Modave): 2004 field season

Nous présentons le contexte de découverte des céramiques néolithiques de la couche 4 (attribuée au Mésolithique récent) du Trou Al'Wesse. La répartition spatiale du matériel archéologique, ainsi que des données stratigraphiques, montrent que ces tessons n'appartiennent pas à l'ensemble mésolithique. La stratigraphique montre également que, contre les parois rocheuses, il n'y a pas de mélange entre les deux occupations.We present the discovery context of Neolithic ceramic sherds from stratum 4 (attributed to the Late Mesolithic) at Trou Al'Wesse. The spatial distribution of the archaeological materials, as well as stratigraphic data, demonstrate that these sherds are not associated with the Mesolithic assemblage. Thestratigraphy also shows that, near the cliff face, there is no mixing between the two occupations.Fouilles archéologiques préhistoriques en Walloni

The site of Trou Al'Wesse (comm. of Modave) : 2004 excavations

Nous présentons le contexte de découverte céramiques néolithiques de la couche 4 (attribuée au Mésolithique récent) du Trou Al'Wesse. La répartition spatiale du matériel archéologique, ainsi que des données stratigraphiques, montrent que ces tessons n'appartiennent pas à l'ensemble mésolithique. Des processus post-dépositionnels devant l'entrée ont mélangé ces tessons avec du matériel lithique mésolithique. La stratigraphie montre également que, contre les parois rocheuses, il n'y a pas de mélange entre les deux occupations.This article present the discovery context of Neolithic ceramic sherds in stratum 4 (formerly attributed to the Late Mesolithic) at Trou Al'Wesse. The vertical distribution of the archaeological material and stratigraphic data demonstrate that these sherds do not belong to the Mesolithic assemblage. Post-depositional processes in front of the cave entrance have reworked these sherds and Mesolithic lithic artifacts. The stratigraphy also shows that, against the walls, there is no mixture between the two occupations