Test Study of Organic and Inorganic Residues on the Stone Tools from the Mesolithic Layer in the Dvoinaya Cave (Northwestern Caucasus)

Test Study of Organic and Inorganic Residues on the Stone Tools from the Mesolithic Layer in the Dvoinaya Cave (Northwestern Caucasus)

O.I. Aleksandrova, V.N. Kireeva, and E.V. Leonova.

This paper presents the data of technical and technological analyses of organic and inorganic residues collected from the surfaces of lithic artifacts recovered from the Early Mesolithic layer in the Dvoinaya Cave (Northwestern Caucasus). The micro-chemical and IR analyses have revealed plant and animal residues, as well as mineral components. Organic residues noted on the tool edges are well correlated with the data of the use-wear analysis that was carried out previously.

Keywords: Mesolithic, Northwestern Caucasus, stone tools, organic residues, micro-chemical analysis,
IR spectroscopy, use-wear analysis.