PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF SALVATION WORKS AT THE SITE OF KOSTENKI 21 (GMELIN SITE) IN 2013-2016
The work presents preliminary results of rescue excavations of Kostenki 21 (Gmelin site) carried out by the Kostenki Archaeological Expedition of IHMC RAS in 2013-2016. As a result of visual examination of the bank escarpment, three accumulations of archaeological material associated with the main (III) cultural layer were found and studied. Each of them differs in its structure and composition of finds, which makes it possible to interpret them as functionally different areas: 1) remains of a «dwelling complex» (?); 2) area devoted to the production and re-shaping of burins (including detachment of burin spalls); peripheral (intermediate) part of the site. Despite the fact that the areas in question vary in both the composition of stone inventory and the assortment of raw materials, the available evidence remains insufficient to decide whether the III cultural layer should be subdivided into two independent complexes.