History of archaeological reseach on the Paleolithic sites of the Slovechansko-Ovruch ridge

Abstract

This article examines the history of archaeological research on Paleolithic sites located in a unique region in the north of Zhytomyr Oblast, namely the Slovechansko-Ovruch Ridge. The purpose of the article is to systematize and analyze information regarding the archaeological study of Epipaleolithic sites within this unique micro-region of Ukraine. The article proposes a periodization and characterization of each stage of the more than century-long period of archaeological study of Paleolithic sites discovered on the ridge, and presents views on the peculiarities of the formation of Epigravettian material culture and flint-working technologies among the population of the periglacial territory, which was in a state of relative isolation.  The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity, and systematicity; problem-chronological and retrospective methods were applied.  Notable researchers include I. Levytsky, D. Telegin, M. Gladkykh, D. Nuzhny, L. Zaliznyak, A. Tomashevsky, and others. The results of the study consist in identifying the stages of discovery and archaeological investigation of Paleolithic sites on the ridge, as well as determining the main characteristics and achievements of researchers across various historical periods. Large-scale studies from the late 20th to the first quarter of the 21st century are examined separately, as they have allowed for the development of certain insights into the characteristics of the Ovruch Epigravettian. Conclusions. The archaeological study of the Slovechansko-Ovruch Ridge over more than a century has not been a gradual process; it has evolved from the haphazard collection of antiquities to professional and systematic research in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The archaeological data accumulated over decades has enabled researchers to form a picture of life in the periglacial zone, to study and classify flint artifacts, and to refine the cultural affiliation and chronological framework of these sites. Research Prospects. The genesis of the Epigravettian and the historical fate of the bearers of this culture, particularly in the Slovechansko-Ovruch Ridge region, remain unresolved issues. Perhaps future research in this micro-region will allow us to trace and understand the settlement patterns of Upper Paleolithic hunters in the periglacial zone of northern Ukraine.