Sample name: Zaraa Uul (Locus 3)

Reference: L. Janz, A. M. Rosen, D. Bukhchuluun, and D. Odsuren. 2021. Zaraa Uul: An archaeological record of Pleistocene-Holocene palaeoecology in the Gobi Desert. PloS One 16:e0249848 [ER 3794]

Lithology: sandstone

Taphonomic context: human accumulation

Archaeology: ceramics,stone tools,other artifacts

Habitat comments: "The site sits at the edge of an extensive in-filled basin, bounded by uplifted, folded terrestrial conglomerates and extrusive basalt flows, composed of incised Pleistocene marl from the remains of a vast saline paleolake".
"Within the main area of occupation there are several overlapping scatters of lithic assemblages spanning the lower edge of the hillslope. The artifact assemblage is consistent with Oasis 2 (8000–5000 cal, BP); it is dominated by microblade core reduction strategies, complimented by the use of flake cores, while unifacial and bifacial chipped projectile points, pottery, groundstone milling tools, and chipped adzes were all present. The majority of fauna were certainly deposited as a result of human activity".

Life forms: carnivores,primates,rodents,ungulates,other small mammals,birds

Sampling methods: quarry,screenwash

Sample size: 76 specimens

Sampling comments: "A 2 x 3 m unit was excavated in Zaraa Uul Locus 3. All sediment was sieved using a 3 mm mesh. Each grid was laid out on a north-east to south-west axis, set parallel to the orientation of the local basin-range landforms. Small bone and seemingly undiagnostic fragments were collected, along with bone from the sieve. Artifacts and diagnostic or larger bone fragments were mapped in three dimensions within the grid using a string, line level and datum (10 cm above ground surface)".

Sample number: 4127

Contributor: Benjamin Carter

Enterer: Benjamin Carter

Created: 2023-02-25 13:27:37

Modified: 2023-05-30 05:43:17