Traces of Upper Paleolithic activities in Kapova cave (the Southern Urals, Russia)

Abstract

Kapova cave is one of three Upper Paleolithic parietal caves in the Southern Urals. As a result of research during 2009–2022, a new stratum of different cultural remains of human activities in a decorated underground cavity was discovered, dating back to 19.6–16 ky cal BP. Analysis of traces of prehistoric practices in Kapova cave reveals various structural concentrations of human activity (wall paintings, archaeological objects) and sequences of motions inside the cave, which were largely related to the morphology of the underground cavity. This archaeological context sheds light on some of the prehistoric aggregations of human groups, whose activity was not only related to the decoration of the walls.