HUGE 40,000-Year-Old Paleolithic Site of Kostenki | Ancient Architects

Like the incredible site of Mal’ta in Siberia, which was the subject of my last video, the Kostenki-Borshchevo archaeological complex in Russia is another incredible prehistoric site that deserves our attention.

Situated on the western bank of the Don River in the Khokholsky District of Russia, the area consists of 26 Paleolithic sites, Kostenki 1 to 21 and Borshchevo 1-5 and finds go back more than 40,000 years ago.

Pre-Pottery Neolithic Anatolia, including sites like Göbekli Tepe, is a difficult subject to understand by itself, and when presented without a Paleolithic backstory it seems almost miraculous. But this backstory is critical in our understanding of the development of human civilisations.

That's why I've been researching key Paleolithic sites, whose decendents could well have influenced the origins of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic and being situated around 1,000 miles to the north of Göbekli Tepe, in modern-day Russia, Kostenki is an important site of interest.

It's arguably the most incredible Paleolithic site in the world, with large mammoth houses, many intricately-carved Venus figurines, scores of decorative objects, stone and bone tools, human burials and more.

There is evidence of occupation at Kostenki from before 40,000 years ago to around 20,000 years ago and the finds are truly breathtaking, especially because of their age. Watch this video to learn more!

All images are taken from Google Images, form the incredible Don's Maps website (linked below) and other sources linked below for educational purposes only. Special thanks to Vladimir Gorodnjanski who supplied many of the images to the Don's Map website.

Please subscribe to Ancient Architects, Like the video and please leave a comment below. Thank you.

#AncientArchitects #Paleolithic #Kostenki

Sources:
Polyikonic Sculpture from the Upper Paleolithic Site of Kostenki I, E. E. Fradkin and Richard G. Klein, Arctic Anthropology, Vol. 7, No. 2 (1970), pp. 129-136
The Early Upper Palaeolithic of Kostenki: Chronology, Taxonomy, and Cultural Affiliation, A. A. Sinitsyn, (2010) pp. 27-48
Palaeolithic Art in the U.S.S.R., Abramova, Z. A. et al, Arctic Anthropology , 1967, Vol. 4, No. 2 (1967), pp. 1-179

Background Music:

Title Music:

[Eyes_Open]

40000 years is even older than me. I appreciate these kinds of details with context. Thanks.

[AncientArchitects]

This video follows on from my video on Mal’ta. Because I re-released that a few days ago after a few changes to the content, I thought I should also re-release this one as well. Thank you for being here and new content is coming very soon! 👍

[rtk]

Great video, I love your common sense approach to ancient history, We owe you so much for developing a 'user friendly' channel that informs and educates, well done.

[StephiSensei]

Thanks Matt! I always learn something of value when I watch your videos. Glad you're here.

[antibrevity]

7:47. Thank you! This is possibly the most important thing that people need to learn or relearn about human and evolutionary history. Things are *rarely* simple, especially when we talk about large number of generations of creatures or humans. Yes, we can intuitively understand a few hundred years of cultural evolution, but even some professionals fail to properly account for tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or millions of years of change.

Even without modern transportation and communication, the Past is usually more complicated than we imagine.

[xxxxxxxxxx]

I had to pause to write that what you are doing is a public service, and i thank you.
Without this channel i would eather believe some extreme unconfermed stuff or what was tought to me in school 20 years ago.
Thank you. I feel like i learn something from everyone of your videos.

Kind regards from the Balkans

[JMMRanMA]

Another fascinating video. Our distant ancestors did amazing things without the necessity of intervention by mythical Atlantians or Aliens.
Thanks, Matt, for all of your work in bringing these finds to the attention of your viewers.

[prestonpeet]

Such a fantastic video. I'd not heard of Kostenki until today. Thank you. Fascinating finds, and very cool ancient art all over this episode.

[sergiorodriguezballestero]

With every New video I can't help but to feel more and more amazed...!!!! Woaaaa

[pplusbthrust]

Every site where human development happened was dependent on a reliable source of water. To not observe that is to ignore an essential reason for human evolution in any location.

[derbdep]

always is amazing to learn more about the lives of people so far back. to think these people laughed and cried, had fun, worries and stresses, hopes, things which angered them, that they loved each other, tried their best to put up with things, and had small talk and deeper conversations about topics we'll never know about but could chime in to if we spoke their language and knew more of their culture makes me appreciate how amazing our species are in adapting to circumstances and making the best from them.

[SamWelbourneGuitar]

Great vid, thanks 🙏
You mentioned the idea of ‘precursor’ and I don’t subscribe. A free standing shelter tends to be round with props in the middle - especially if snow is expected. A ceremonial space? Certainly, every time the group manages to bring a beast like that home we can expect celebration and so on.

[lawrence]

I've never heard of these sites before. Thanks

[debbralehrman]

Thanks for the video. I find that the building with bones of Wooly mammoth amazing. It is wonderful that they where able to find them. Thanks again for the information you bring us. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🌺

[LeoniFermer-vidc]

This is so interesting and very down to earth! Evolution of thought and culture rather than some mystical "Atlantian” cop out. Thank you.

[izotopestudio]

I been in Moscow historical museum several times. First floor there is for prehistoric times. As much you went deeper in museum, as closer you to now adays. And you cant belive, thats more older things, you see, thats more complicated items you see. Stone hammers that is thousands years old, are just incredible. Its unspeakable. Just must see that.

[thisoldsaw]

Excellent work.

Do you think the carvings at Gobekli are Astronomical?

[sarahspencer]

I absolutely LOVE that the Venus figurines have flat butt syndrome. It makes my day. 😂 That is my highly intellectual addition to the conversation.

[CheapSkateGrower]

Thank you for covering these amazing sites of the Paleolithic. I’ve been a subscriber for years and learned so much from your channel! Thank you for covering all of these amazing sites and the march backwards through time. Your videos have given me a better understanding of our ancestors and the world in which they lived in.

[dougalexander]

The three periods of history reminds me of my modern ancestors. Released from prisons in Scotland and going to Nova Scotia. Working through the Great Lakes area and the forest of northeastern North America. Settling in the Tennessee Appalachian mountains and joining with First Nation people of the Cherokee as subsistence farmers. Eventually becoming tenant farmers in south central Indiana, with their children, like myself moving across the nation for education and employment. If artifacts had been collected and saved of this journey they would have told a story of gradual transition and cultural change.