NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD AT CHIKHEN AGUI ROCKSHELTER (MONGOLIA)

The paper continues a series of publications dedicated to the analysis of the archaeological fi ndings from Chikhen Agui Rockshelter. Chikhen Agui is among the few stratifi ed archaeological sites that have been located in Mongolia. In the previous papers, Chikhen Agui has been defi ned as a seasonal camp of the Early Holocene hunters. In the present publication, the authors employ the multifunctional approach to the analysis of the whole complex of archaeological fi ndings. Abundant beads made of the ostrich egg shell were recovered from the entry terrace of the rockshelter; remains of a wooden pole were located in the central portion of the grotto, handles of composite tool were found in association with fi re places. A biface blank and a pendant fragment made of the raw material unusual for this area were discovered. All these fi nds feature the nonutilitarian technologies. Hence, the authors hypothesize a more complex archaeological context of the site that it was believed before. This hypothesis is supported by the occurrence of a set of objects that can be explained by utilitarian purposes in the living zone. Extensive exploration of natural resources and adaptation to the environmental conditions gave rise to the relevant processes in the spiritual sphere, i.e., attached sacred signifi cance to specifi c landscape features. In the authors' point of view, the ritual episode at Chikhen Agui Rockshelter can be linked with this cultural background.