Mal'ta decoded

[Jacques Cinq-Mars]

All,

There is not much information in the following lines, but it appears that the Oxford Lab, using materilal obtained, I suppose, from recently reexcavated portions of the site can be used to demonstrate that the deposit is characterized by three separate occupation units or episodes. No indication as to the actual age (or range) of the most recent episode, but the middle one is the one that has yielded the statuettes and othe pieces of mobiliary art. More exciting however, for people interested in the cultural dynamics of the Baikal area and surrounding regions is that the oldest episode has apparently been dated at 43 kBP -- with all that implies in terms the timing of human dispersal in such region, and in terms of its significance in the larger Siberian and Eurasin MP/UP transition.

I am trying to track down a more precise reference.

Jacques Cinq-Mars

[lagarvelho]

Jacques:

I look forward to this, if you can track it down.
Anne G

[Jacques Cinq-Mars]

The  refence to the Mal'ta dates I mentioned earlier is:

Archaeometry 40, 1 (1998): 227-239. It is not in the article section of the Journal and the dates are likely to be hidden in the Oxford list presented in this particular issue. I don't understand how I could have missed that !!!

Jacques Cinq-Mars