Problems of chronology of the “upper complex” of the Sukhotino-4 Paleolithic site (Eastern Transbaikalia): geological, geomorphological, and paleontological aspects

Currently, the most debated issues concerning the Sukhotino-4 site pertain to the integrity of its archaeologi-cal complexes and the conflicting radiocarbon dates obtained for cultural layers 1–3, which are grouped into the so-called “upper complex”. These layers were excavated in 1972 and 1974 and yielded radiocarbon ages of 26269±300 BP and 25950±300 BP. These dates are inconsistent with the radiocarbon chronology of the underly-ing sediments attributed to the “lower complex”, which range from 20,000 to 13,000 cal BP. The spatial distribu-tion of the 1970s excavation areas, along with the geological and geomorphological characteristics of the deposits of the site and adjacent outcrops, suggests that the excavation work may have sampled not only the deposits of the second overflowing terrace, but also those of the adjacent slope to the north and west. Consequently, it is plausible that the “upper complex” of the site represents a pack of sediments containing multiple occupation epi-sodes during the Late Pleistocene, approximately 16,000–11,000 cal BP (associated with deposits of the II NPT), and an earlier occupation episode during the terminal MIS 3, dated to 29,000–28,000 cal BP and linked to the deluvial deposits of the foothill zone.