Fig 1.
Distribution of MIS3 CFAs and IUP assemblages and the chrono-cultural sequence at Shuidonggou site and in the Tolbor Valley of North Mongolia.
IUP blade sites: 1. Kara-Tenesh, 2. Denisova Cave, 3. Ust’Karakol, 4. Ushbulak, 5. Kara-Bom, 6. Malo Yaloman Cave, 7. Kurtak 4, 8. Chikhen 2, 9. Tsatsyn Ereg, 10. Tsagaan Agui, 11. Tolbor 21, 12. Tolbor 16 and 4, 13. Egiin-Gol (Dorolj 1–2), 14. Moyl’tynam, 15. Arembovski, 16. Makarovo 4, 17. Podzvonkaya, 18. Vavarina Gora, 19. Kamenka A, 20. Kandabaevo, 21. Tolbaga, 22. Khotyk, 23. Khanzat-1, 24. Rashaan Khad, 25. Barun-Alan, 26. Khavsgayt (and Salkhit), 27. Otson Tsokhio16–18; Core and flake sites dated to 50–30 ka: 28. Laoya Cave, 29. TX08&03, 30. Changweigou, 31. Xujiacheng, 32. Ma’anshan, 33. Liujiacha, 34. Salawusu, 35. Bailiandong Cave, 36. Wulanmulun, 37. Dingcun (7701), 38. Longquandong, 39. Fuyihe (Xiachuan), 40. Shiyu, 41. Zhiji Cave. 42. Zhaozhuang, 43. Dangcheng (Shidie), 44. Xiaonanhai, 45. Xibamaying, 46. Upper cave, 47. Xianrendong Cave, 48. Wanshouyan (Chuanfan Cave), 49. Zhuacun, 50. Huangniliang, 51. Dazhushan, 52. Xiaogushan, 53. Miaohoushan, 54. Yanjiagang, 55. Zhoujiayoufang, 56. Xianrendong, 57. Shimenshan. Modern human fossils: 58. Tianyuan Cave, 59. Salkhit, 60. Ust’-Ishim. Map: https://www.naturalearthdata.com.
Fig 2.
Location of Shuidonggou Locality 2 and cultural layers (adapted from [30, 50]).
Table 1.
The studied lithic sample of SDG2.
Fig 3.
Frequencies of core, flake, and tool across layers.
Table 2.
The frequency of blanks and tools.
Fig 4.
The length and width of flakes and tools.
Table 3.
Measurements of blanks (mm).
Table 4.
Measurements of tools (mm).
Table 5.
The frequency of platform.
Table 6.
The frequency of abrasion and battering on the exterior platform margin.
Fig 5.
Cortex and dorsal pattern of flakes and tools.
Fig 6.
A few examples of cores and tools at SDG2.
Single-platform cores (anvil-assisted cores?) (1–2); Discoid-like/alternating flaking cores (3–4); Multi-platform cores (5–6); Side scrapers (7–8); Denticulate (9); Notch (10); Splintered piece (11); End scrapers (12–15); Refits (16–18).
Table 7.
Core types over layers.
Table 8.
Core categories by platform over layers.
Fig 7.
The core cortex by core platforms and raw material.
Fig 8.
The comparison of core length, width, and potential scar length.
Fig 9.
Variations in core shape and reduction method at CL3.
A few known examples of atypical blank forms and core types in low frequency. 1, 2; 4–6, cores; 3, 7, flakes. Small flake core (1); Unidirectional asymmetrical core (2); Pseudo-burin on core-edge transverse flake (3); Bidirectional core (4); Discoid-like core (5); Discoid-like core (b) with a refitted accidental bladelet removal (a) (6); Elongated flake (7) (drawings by N. Zwyns).
Fig 10.
Size of flakes and tools of three raw materials.
The length, width, and thickness of blanks (grey), tools (light blue), and cores (dark blue); In CL1b and CL1b, due to small sample size, all tools were grouped together regardless of raw material.
Fig 11.
The illustration of variability in technological markers at CL1b.
A few technological variations accrued low frequency at site. 1–4, 6–8: retouched/used flakes; 5, 10, 12: flakes; 9, 11, 13: cores. Retouched cortical flake (1); Perforator (2); Flakes with used edge (?) (3, 4, 8, 7); Multiple platform core (9); Levallois Flake (10); Type 1—Core on flake (11); Pseudo-Levallois point (12); Anvil-assisted core (?) (13) (drawings by N. Zwyns).
Table 9.
Ratios of flakes per core and tools per flake.