Article
Middle and late Pleistocene investigations of Myshtulagty Lagat (Weasel Cave) North Ossetia, Russia
Antiquity
(2003)
Abstract
Myshtulagty Lagat (Weasel Cave) was discovered in 1981 by Hidjrati (1987,1990,1991,1995,1998) and has been investigated every year since. Myshtulagty Lagat is the first stratified Paleolithic cave from north-central Caucasus. It is a west-facing, cascade-type formation in Jurassic dolomite, at 1125m, and immediately west of Terek Gorge. Excavations reveal an intact stratigraphy of 22 vertical metres containing 36 layers from Lower Paleolithic through to Medieval. Some 23 strata are Middle Paleolithic and those below Layer 21 are Acheulean. The cave complex consists of a number of collapsed and intact karstic features. It is composed of two upper chambers; Dormouse Hall - a large chamber beneath the upper chambers; and a large collapsed Main Unit. Known Paleolithic deposits can be divided into three ensembles: upper (Layers 5-11); middle (12-21); and lower (22-36).
Keywords
- Myshtulagty Lagat,
- Weasel Cave,
- Lower Paleolithic,
- Pleistocene investigations
Disciplines
Publication Date
December, 2003
Citation Information
Nazim I. Hidjrati, Larry R. Kimball & Todd Koetje. 2003. Middle and late Pleistocene investigations of Myshtulagty Lagat (Weasel Cave), North Ossetia, Russia. Antiquity Project Gallery 77(298): http://www.antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/hidjrati298/