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The article presents the results of a typological and functional analysis of flint assemblage from the Late Mesolithic layer (II half of the 7th – early 6th millennium cal BC) at the site Zamostje 2 (Volga-Oka region). The studied series of flint implements is limited to a material from the excavations of 1996–97 and has 11892 artefacts. A typological analysis of the Late Mesolithic flint industry at Zamostje 2 showed the absence of standard blanks and the instability of tool morphology. The shaping of tools was due to the needs of production operations for hard materials. In order to reconstruct the features of bone production in the Late Mesolithic on the East European Plain, the collection was evaluated and 193 items were selected for use-wear analysis. The results of the experimental and traceological analysis revealed 24 tools with microtraces of bone processing, among which scrapers predominate. In a small number there are tools for sawing-cutting and burin cutting (grooves and engravings). A flint polished adze was used to chop a bone or elk antler. The identified implements for working bone (antler), on the one hand, showed a certain homogeneity of morphological characteristics and modes of shaping the working blades of the tools, on the other hand, gave a clear idea of the methods of processing solid organic raw materials in the Late Mesolithic period.

This study is aimed to discover evolution peculiarities of bone processing techniques in the Late Mesolithic period (2nd half of VII mill. BC – beginning of VI mill. BC) based on the wetland multilayer site Zamostje 2, a reference settlement for Eastern Europe. The wellpreserved surface of organic artefacts enables authors to run an experimental traceological analysis with focus on traces of processing and use at various observation levels, which made it possible to reconstruct technical methods, general production features and specific types of work performed with ancient tools. The advantage of this study is that the results of the analysis and theoretical conclusions can be validated and verified using the same site’s materials. As a foundation for the interpretation of traces observed on the surface of bone artefacts and stone tools used in bone processing, the authors used reference traces obtained during specially conducted experiments. In the methodological context, the authors attempted to distinguish diagnostic features at the micro- and macroscopic levels of traces of bone processing in its various states (freshly frozen, freshly boiled, dry) confirmed by the description and visual data. Following the analysis, the authors succeeded in identifying parallels in the archaeological material as well as reconstructing some characteristic types of work and the context of their execution.

Mesolithic geometric ornamentation is a part of the complex worldview of the latest hunter-gatherer societies. Questions about the functional role of the ornament in utilitarian objects – knives, daggers, arrowheads, etc. – do not have an unambiguous answer. Despite a variability of ornamental motives used, there are some stable connections between certain types of ornaments with some categories of bone tools. On the materials of the Late and Final Mesolithic layers of the wetland site Zamostje 2 (Volga-Oka region), we will consider some examples with the zigzag motif, the most numerous and heterogeneous type of ornament, as well as rarely presented motives of “ladders” and “lines with dots or eyelashes.” The number of samples (120) is sufficient to draw some preliminary conclusions about the context of their application. So, the zigzag is observed on different types of tools, but its connection with sharp-piercing objects is most clearly manifested. The type of relief zigzag is inextricably related to slotted sickle-shaped tools. Zigzag is often the only decorative element on an item and is expressed by a simple or double line; less often it is included in complex compositions. Both types of zigzags and methods of application (fine engraving, scraping, relief carving, etc.) were not regulated and obviously performed different functions depending on the compositional characteristics and the raw material’s type. Compositions of “ladders” located at an angle to each other are also associated with projectile weapons. Lines “with eyelashes” appear to have been a part of the standard dagger decoration.

The site Zamostje 2, located in Sergiev-Posad district of Moscow (Russia) on the west bank of the Dubna River, has provided two Mesolithic and one Early Neolithic occupations dated from 7000 to 5400 cal BC. Thanks to the waterlogged environment, the site has an exceptional preservation. The site has yielded fishing screens, fishing fences, wooden fishing traps, and several small cordage remains elaborated with plant fibres, pine bark floats, fragments of paddles, and other wooden objects. In this work, we present the study of the fragments of cordage and fishing nets with the objective of providing new insights into the production and use of implements made of plant fibres. We have characterized the production process by analysing the morphological and technical characteristics by carrying out experimentation with plant fibres in order to obtain reference material to recognize them at an archaeological level. The analysis of 82 knots and 23 fragments of strings has allowed to determine that they were elaborated with single threads from 0.5 to 1.5 mm thick, which is noticeably smaller than most examples from other sites. All of them were elaborated with woody bast fibres.