The Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition shows numerous indications for a manifestation of abstract thinking and symbolic behavior. In northern Central Asia this process is illustrated by the appearance and distribution of personal ornaments (pendants, beads, patterned items), as well as by evidence for the use of natural pigments and ritual activities. However, not only articles with distinctive functional features, but also finds of unknown purpose have been identified, such as small tablets and pebbles showing evidence of polish and/or irregular cut marks, as well as the fragmentary pigment remnants, and manuports. This publication discusses the results of traceological analysis carried out for two such objects recovered from occupation layer 6 at the Ushbulak site, dating back to 45–40 ka BP (the Shilikty Valley in Eastern Kazakhstan), namely a tabular piece of talc, with a worked surface, and a small jasperoid pebble. Both artifacts show signs of intense treatment, but their functional purpose is still unclear; these objects may be interpreted as non-utilitarian articles. Similar typologically indistinct artifacts were recovered from many IUP sites in the region (Denisova Cave, Kara-Bom, Podzvonkaya, Khotyk, Tolbor-4, 2). Their presence indicates that such a phenomenon should be regarded as a characteristic manifestation for the non-utilitarian human activity in the development of the Upper Paleolithic tradition.

中石器时代到上石器时代的过渡为抽象思维和象征行为的表现提供了许多迹象。在中亚北部，个人装饰品（吊坠，珠子，有图案的物品）的出现和分布以及使用天然色素和进行仪式活动的证据说明了这一过程。但是，不仅鉴定了具有独特功能特征的物品，而且发现了目的不明的物品，例如显示出抛光和/或不规则切割痕迹迹象的小片和小卵石，以及碎片状的颜料残留物和手法。该出版物讨论了对从Ushbulak站点第6占领层中回收的两个此类物体进行的病理分析结果，其历史可追溯至45–40 ka BP（哈萨克斯坦东部的Shilikty山谷），即滑石板状滑石粉，表面经过加工，还有一个小的碧玉卵石。两种文物均显示出强烈处理的迹象，但其功能目的仍不清楚。这些物品可能会被解释为非功利性物品。从该地区的许多IUP站点（Denisova洞穴，Kara-Bom，Podzvonkaya，Khotyk，Tolbor-4、2）中发现了相似的类型学上不清楚的人工产物。它们的存在表明，这种现象应被视为上旧石器时代传统发展过程中非功利性人类活动的特征性表现。从该地区的许多IUP站点（Denisova洞穴，Kara-Bom，Podzvonkaya，Khotyk，Tolbor-4、2）中发现了相似的类型学上不清楚的人工产物。它们的存在表明，这种现象应被视为上旧石器时代传统发展过程中非功利性人类活动的特征性表现。从该地区的许多IUP站点（Denisova洞穴，Kara-Bom，Podzvonkaya，Khotyk，Tolbor-4、2）中发现了相似的类型学上不清楚的人工产物。它们的存在表明，这种现象应被视为上旧石器时代传统发展过程中非功利性人类活动的特征性表现。