Fedorchenko E. The Upper Paleolithic period in the region near the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Research history.

The dissertation develops a consistent concept of the history of archaeological thought concerning the study of the Upper Paleolithic of the region near the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The development of the scientific thought is recreated on the theoretical and empiric levels of research. Based on the historical approach of A. Munslow and Th. Kuhn's concept of paradigm shifts three vectors of scientific search are defined on the theoretic level: reconstructionism, constructionism and deconstructionism. Taking into account inner and outer scientific factors the following periodization was developed: 1920 - 1940/1950s is the time of first discoveries and interpretations; reconstructionism period; 1940/1950 - 1980s - this is a period of Great new-construction works, which splits into two periods: "postwar renewal" (end of 1940s - 1960s) and "upsurge of new-constructions" (1970 - 1980s); time of establishment of constructionism in theoretical researches; 1990s - beginning of ХХІ century - modern period; time when constructionism and deconstructionism coexist. Main concepts and theories of each period are examined and the origins of scientific problems and contradictions are discovered along with the prospects of further studies of the Upper Paleolithic of the region. Key words: a history of archaeological thought, the Upper Paleolithic period, the Pleistocene hunters, region near the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.