Monuments Of The Paleolithic, Mesolithic And Neolithic Periods In The Territories Of Central Asia

The oldest period in the history of mankind is the Paleolithic period, which chronologically lasts from 3 million to 12 thousand years and is divided into three periods – early, middle and late. For thousands of years, mankind has been improving and developing stone processing techniques, trying to improve its lifestyle and living conditions. The great merits of paleontologists in studying the monuments of the Paleolithic period in Uzbekistan (A.P. Okladnikov, O. Islamov, M.R. Qosimov, R.H. Sulaymonov, E.B. Bizhanov and others.). In Uzbekistan, Paleolithic monuments have been discovered and studied in the following places: Selungur site (Fergana), Kolbulok (Tashkent), Teshiktash cave site (Surkhandarya), Obirakhmat cave site (Tashkent), Khojakent settlement (Tashkent), Jarkurgan (Fergana), Amonkotan (Samarkand).

The next stage of development of the Stone Age is the Mesolithic (Middle Stone) period, which is defined by the 12th-7th millennia BC. The Mesolithic is the period of widespread human settlement on the Earth, along the seas, lakes and rivers, as well as in mountainous areas. More than 50 monuments of the Mesolithic period have been discovered in Central Asia. These are: Machay (Surkhandarya), Obishir (Fergana Valley), Bozsuv, Koshilish (Tashkent), Aydabol, Jayronkuduk (Ustyurt), Sultan Uvays (right bank of the Lower Amu Darya), etc.

The Neolithic era in the south of Central Asia began in the 6th millennium BC. The Neolithic is considered the last stage of the Stone Age. People living in the southern regions of Central Asia with a warm climate were engaged in farming, animal husbandry and forms of household crafts. The population living in the northeastern regions (mountains, foothills and steppes), due to their natural conditions, continued to be mainly engaged in subsistence farming and lagged behind in terms of material culture. This was due to the uneven development of farms and material culture. In Central Asia, the Neolithic monuments are divided into several major territorial-economic forms: for example, the Joytun culture, the Kaltaminor culture, and the Sazaghan culture.

Charos Babajanova – 4th-year student at Urganch State University.