AN EARLY HOLOCENE SITE IN THE SIBERIAN HIGH ARCTIC

The results of excavations at an early Holocene site on Zhokov Island in the DeLong Archipelago of the Siberian High Arctic are reported. Th e site's terrain and paleogeographic characteristics are discussed. Th irteen semisubterranean house pits were identified and excavations wer e carried out in two of them. The artifact assemblage reflects a Mesol ithic association, with microblades, bone and antler inset tools, and groundstone adzes. Radiocarbon analyses indicate a date for the cultur al layer of about 7900 B.P. Faunal remains indicate a hunting economy relying mainly on reindeer and polar bear. The significance of the sit e in terms of the early penetration of the High Arctic by a continenta l hunting culture is discussed, with a commentary on the state of know ledge about early Holocene cultural complexes in Northeast Siberia.