Savchenko S.N.

Key words: Mesolithic in the Middle Trans-Urals, types of bone arrowheads with slots for microblade inserts, manufacturing technology of composite arrowheads in the Trans-Urals
The bone arrowheads from the Middle Trans-Urals include arrowheads with slots for microblade inserts. There are about 140 specimens of such arrowheads. Items with slots are encountered in the following typological groups of bone arrowheads: bodkin-shaped, narrow and flat, one-winged and two-winged. Technical and traceological analysis allowed reconstructing the manufacturing technology. Composite arrowheads had appeared in the Middle Trans-Urals during the Early Mesolithic and continued to be in use until the Early Neolithic, undergoing changes and forming new types, including specifically Urals ones. Composite arrowheads have a wide range of analogies among the Mesolithic and Neolithic materials from the Eurasian forest zone. The nearest is tools from Mesolithic and Early Neolithic sites in Eastern Europe. The similarity in the types of composite arrowheads appears to reflect the contacts between the populations of the Urals and the forest zone of Eastern Europe during the Mesolithic and the Early Neolithic. Further study shall refine on the herein suggested scheme for the evolution of types of composite arrowheads in the South Urals, however, it is already clear that this category of weapons was evolving from the Early Mesolithic till the Early Neolithic, and reflecting local traditions as well as relations with neighboring regions.