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 phenomenon of lithic miniaturization during the Late Pleistocene at times coincided with increased artifact standardization and cutting edge efficiency–likely reflecting the use of small, sharp artifacts as interchangeable inserts for composite cutting tools and hunting weapons. During Marine Isotope Stage 2, Upper Paleolithic toolmakers in northern East Asia specifically used pressure techniques to make small, highly standardized lithic artifacts called microblades. However, little is currently known about how microblades affected the cutting edge efficiency of the toolkits they were a part of. We applied three methods of analyzing cutting edge efficiency to two Upper Paleolithic assemblages recently excavated from Tolbor-17, Mongolia, that document the periods before and after the introduction of microblade technology to the Tolbor Valley. A model incorporating allometric relationships between blank cutting edge length and mass suggests no difference in efficiency between the two periods, while two more conventional approaches both indicate a significant increase. The potential for improved cutting edge efficiency is only observed when the microblade sample is artificially inflated via simulation. Our results highlight challenges related to detecting and interpreting archaeological differences in cutting edge efficiency at the assemblage level.

The open-air site of Tolbor-17 (T17), located in northern Mongolia, contains one of few faunal assemblages in the region from early Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3, ~57-29 ka cal BP). During this period, humans migrated into northern Asia as part of the Initial and Early Upper Paleolithic (IUP and EUP). Much is still unknown about these populations, including the adaptive strategies that facilitated their success at the geographic margins of hominin dispersal. This paper presents the preliminary analysis of the T17 faunal assemblage, a valuable source of data on early human subsistence and paleoecology. Although small (n = 836) and fragmentary, the assemblage illuminates several aspects of early human behavior, namely the butchery of large and extra-large ungulates as well as the use of osseous tools and personal ornaments. In addition to ungulates, humans also exploited marmot, ostrich (eggshell) and at least one large carnivore, attesting to the wide range of human-animal interactions at the site. In addition to humans, carnivores also modified the assemblage, likely as scavengers of human butchery waste. These results provide a basis for future analyses at the site, focusing on the agents of accumulation, taphonomic processes, and implications for early human adaptations in Central Asia.

In this article, we report artefacts found at the valley of Tsagaan Turuut River in the Khangai Mountain ranges in Central Mongolia. The artefacts were identified based upon core morphology, tool types and retouch. Regarding the core reduction techniques, single striking platform and single reduction platform cores are dominant. Although the tools on flake blanks predominant, tools such as points and knives with massive blades also occur. Side scraper, point, borer, combination tool, and borers are types that are less represented within the collection. This tool collection is highly similar to several IUP and EUP sites (Chikhen-2; Tolbor-4, 15 and 16) in Mongolia in terms of its reduction techniques and tool morphology. On a larger scale, it is similar to those of Early Upper Paleolithic sites in Trans-Baikal and Altai Mountains in Russia and North China.

The article discusses the excavation of two memorial complex in the basin of Kherlen River, Bayan-Ovoo, Khentii province. The article also includes an illustration of the engraved stone slabs and related chronology issues. Both complexs belong to the category of Turkic noble memorial complex and are sacrificial structures.The complex of Suvargan Degt was built with an engraved stone slab, a human statue, a balbal, a sacrificial temple or pavilion, and a trench. However, only the engraved stone slab and the trench remain from the complex of Choichin’s Lake. These two complexs extend eastward the limits of the memorial complex of the Turkic nobles in the territory of Mongolia today. Chronologically, it is related to the end of the Turkic Late Khaganate, according to laboratory research. Хэрлэн голын сав газраас шинээр илрүүлсэн Түрэгийн язгууртны тахилын онгоны тухай Товчлол. Тус өгүүлэлд Хэнтий аймгийн Баян-Овоо сумын нутаг Хэрлэн голын сав газраас шинээр илрүүлсэн хоёр тахилын онгоны малтлага, хавтан чулуун дээрх хээ дүрслэл болон холбогдох он цагийн асуудлыг хөндсөн судалгааны үр дүнг танилцуулж байна. Энэ хоёр дурсгал нь Түрэгийн язгууртны тахилын онгон хэмээх ангилалд хамаарах бөгөөд тахил тайлгын зориулалттай байгууламж юм.Суварган дэгт*-ийн тахилын онгоныг хээтэй хавтант хашлага, хүн чулуу, зэл чулуу, тахилын сүм буюу асар, сувагтай байгуулжээ. Харин Чойчингийн нуур**-ын тахилын онгоноос зөвхөн онцлог хээ дүрслэлтэй хавтант хашлага, суваг л үлджээ. Энэхүү хоёр дурсгал нь өнөөгийн байдлаар Монгол улсын нутаг дахь Түрэгийн язгууртны тахилын онгоны тархцын хязгаарыг зүүн тийш өргөтгөж байна. Он цагийн хувьд Түрэгийн хожуу хаант улсын төгсгөл үед холбогдохыг лабораторийн судалгаагаар тогтоолгов. Түлхүүр үг. Хүн чулуу, тахилын онгон, хээтэй хавтан чулуу, зэл чулуу, тамга, хээ чимэглэл, Түрэгийн хожуу хаант улс

Among the diverse manifestations of Mongolia’s stone heritage are tamga engravings found on both natural rock surfaces and intentionally shaped stone monuments. These tamga inscriptions occur either independently or in conjunction with petroglyphs and written scripts. Such monuments belong to different chronological periods and preserve invaluable information regarding the clan and tribal systems, sociopolitical organization, territorial demarcation, linguistic and cultural development, ethnic identity, and symbolic beliefs of the respective eras. The “Dongoin Shiree” complex, located within the territory of Tüvshinshiree soum, Sükhbaatar province, represents one such significant site that contains an assemblage of stone monuments bearing engraved tamgas. The variety, composition, proportional relationships, and semantic content of these tamgas constitute important material for historical and archaeological inquiry. This article aims to conduct a detailed analysis of the tamga motifs found at the “Dongoin Shiree” monument, focusing on their placement, proportions, forms, meanings, and compositional characteristics. Furthermore, it seeks to interpret these features from archaeological, historical-comparative, and iconographic perspectives. By comparatively examining the traditions, meanings, and symbolism of ancient tamga signs, the study also aims to identify their cultural characteristics and semantic functions. “Донгойн Ширээ”-ний дурсгал дахь тамганы бүтэц ба дүрслэлийн судалгаа Хураангуй: Монгол орны нутаг дэвсгэр дэх чулуун өв соёлын нэг нь байгалийн хад чулуу болон зориуд засаж бэлдсэн хөшөө чулуунд сийлж үлдээсэн тамга тэмдгийн дурсгал юм. Тамга тэмдгийн дурсгал нь дангаар байхаас гадна элдэв сүг зураг болон бичиг үсгийн хамт дүрслэгдсэн байх нь олонтоо ажээ. Энэ төрлийн дурсгалууд нь харилцан адилгүй он цагт хамаарах бөгөөд тухайн үеийн овог аймаг, нийгмийн бүтэц зохион байгуулалт, газар нутаг, хэл соёл, угсаатан хийгээд бэлгэдэл зүйн талаарх үнэт мэдээллийг хадгалсан байдаг. Ийм дурсгалын нэг бол Сүхбаатар аймгийн Түвшинширээ сумын нутаг “Донгойн Ширээ” хэмээх газраас илэрсэн олон хөшөөт цогцолбор дурсгал дахь тамганы дүрслэл юм. Энэ дурсгалын хөшөө чулуунд сийлсэн тамга, түүний төрөл, дүрслэл, хоорондын харьцаа болон агуулга зэрэг нь судалгааны чухал ач холбогдолтой хэсэг юм. Тус өгүүлэлд “Донгойн Ширээ”-ний дурсгал дахь тамганы дүрс, тэдгээрийн байрлал, харьцаа, хэлбэр болон агуулга, зохиомжийн онцлогийг нарийвчлан шинжилж, археологийн болон түүхэн-харьцуулалт, дүрслэл зүйн үүднээс тайлбарлахыг зорьсон болно. Мөн эртний тамга тэмдгийн уламжлал, утга агуулга, бэлгэдлийг харьцуулан үзэх замаар соёлын онцлог, утга зүйн үүргийг тодорхойлохыг зорив. Түлхүүр үг: хөшөө чулуу, дүрс, сийлмэл, овог аймаг, тамга, янгир, онги