摘要：This paper is the first comprehensive study of obsidian exploitation in the Middle, Upper, and Epipaleolithic in the Northern Caucasus. The authors analyzed 528 obsidian artifacts from Mezmaiskaya Cave (Northwestern Cau- casus, Russia) and characterized 38 samples by XRF to determine source. This is the first report of all obsidians sampled from Mezmaiskaya Cave, currently representing the largest collection of obsidian artifacts known from a Paleolithic site in the Northern Caucasus. Our study indicates that all sampled obsidian artifacts were produced from obsidians derived from two sources—Zayukovo or Baksan in the North-central Caucasus and Chikiani- Paravani in the Southern Caucasus. Based on these results, we suggest that possible cultural contacts, and social or trade networks existed within the Caucasian Middle and Upper Paleolithic.
