Preliminary results of studies of the Valea Morilor Upper Palaeolithic site (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova): A new camp of mammoth hunters

Preliminary results are presented from the studies of a newly found Paleolithic site – Valea Morilor (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova). The excavations produced unquestionable evidence of mammoth hunting (Mammuthus primigenius Blumenbach, 1799). Excavations of 2009–2010 opened an area of 1264 m2. Three radiocarbon datings (14C) of the fragments of fossil bones of mammots performed in the Gröningen University gave very similar results: in the excavation sector Nr.1 - 20770 ± 90 BP (GrA-46004;Obadă and van der Plicht, 2010); the sector Nr.2 - 20570 ± 80 BP (GrA-52424); and the sector Nr.3 - 20560 ± 80 BP (GrA-52425). Faunal remains are represented by more than 550 mammoth bones (belonging to at least 6 animals), as well as bones of bison (Bison priscus Bojanus, 1827), small mammals [Ochotona pusilla?; Spalax zemni Erxleben, 1777; Lagurus lagurus (Pallas, 1773)] and terrestrial molluscs Helicopsis striata (Mull.), Pupilla muscorum (L.), Vallonia pulchella (Mull.), and Succinea oblonga (Drap.).The assemblage of lithic tools includes 72 objects made of flint, 7 sandstone pebbles, and one made of white quartz. It seems likely that at least one wind-break (shelter) was constructed by the site dwellers. Numerous bones bear traces of cutting, splinting, grinding, and scraping. Darts and spear points found in the vicinity of large bones suggest the weapons deeply penetrated into the animals' soft tissues, and indicate that the Paleolithic inhabitants of the site actively hunted mammoths. A mammoth's elbow bone (ulna) was pierced with some weapon.