The middle paleolithic of the Caucasus

This paper presents a short review of the data and new approaches to Middle Paleolithic chronology and variability in the Caucasus. A climatostratigraphic scheme of the Caucasian Middle Paleolithic is proposed on the basis of the oxygen isotope stages. The authors attempt to identify tool types characteristic of the Caucasian Middle Paleolithic industries, as well as to reveal its development during more than 100,000 years. A new approach to treating Middle Paleolithic variability in the Caucasus recognizes three general cultural areas: (1) North Caucasian Micoquian in the Northwestern Caucasus; (2) Khostinian and several cultural entities possibly rooted in Levantine D (Djruchulian), Levantine B (Tskhinvali group), and Karain (?) Mousterian (Tskhaltsitela-Tsutskhvati group) in the South-central Great Caucasus; (3) Zagros Mousterian in the southernmost part of the Caucasus.