Chronology and characteristics of the Upper Palaeolithic blade tool industry in Korea

doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2019.0037

Abstract

Abstract:

This article describes the regional characteristics of blade tool assemblages in Korea and presents a general overview of human migrations into the Korean Peninsula based on recent research. Paleolithic sites with blade tool assemblages are rare in East Asia except for the Altai and other regions of Siberia, and Shuidonggou in North China. At the end of 1990, the remains of a typical blade tool industry were found at the Koreri site, Milyang City. For the last ten years, several important sites have been found in South Korea. Around 40 kaBP, blade tool assemblages appeared in the Korean Peninsula while the pebble tool tradition still existed in the early Upper Paleolithic. Most heavy-weight tools disappeared at typical blade tool sites. These consistent characteristics demonstrate that the blade tool industry was probably the result of migration. There is no evidence that a microblade industry(25~10 kaBP) replaced the blade tool industry in Korea. Rather, these two cultures were probably produced by different populations who migrated into the Korean peninsula. When groups using microblades rapidly spread throughout the entire Korean peninsula, the blade tool industry still coexisted from ca. 25 to 15 kaBP.

Key words: Blade, Upper Palaeolithic, Chronology, Characteristics, Korea

CLC Number:

K871.11

LEE Heonjong, LEE Sangseok. Chronology and characteristics of the Upper Palaeolithic blade tool industry in Korea[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2019, 38(03): 373-388.

Figures/Tables 10

References 28

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Site	Layer	Dates	Reference
Kumgul	second geological layer	-	Sohn BK 1984, 1985
Koreri site	lower Cultural layer upper Cultural layer	AT(Aira-Tanzawa) Volcanic	Seo ei al, 1999 Jang 2001a, 2001b
Jungnaeri site	4^th Cultural layer	-	Lee GK et al, 2000
Chongok site	Cultural Layer	-	Lee 2004; Lee et al, 2004
Jeongjangri site	2^nd Cultural layer (sector 1) 2^nd Cultural layer (sector 2)	28700±500(AMS) 25700±150(AMS) 29790±300(AMS) 28600±300(AMS)	Center of history &Culture, Gyeongnam Development Institute, 2004
Jingeunul site	2^ndCultural layer	22850±350(¹⁴C)	Lee 2004
Hwadaeri site	1^st Cultural layer	33190±160(AMS)	Choi et al, 2005
Hopteongdong site	1^st Cultural layer (sector 1 D23)	33200±1900(AMS)	Hong et al, 2008
Yongsandong site	3^rd Cultural layer	24430±870(¹⁴C)	The Paleolithic Site at Yongsandong of Daejeon, 2007
Ojiri site	Cultural layer	-	Lee2007; Lee et al, 2008
Galsanri site	1^st Cultural layer	30600±260(AMS)	Honam Cultural Property Research Center, 2014
Songamri Waesil site	1^st Cultural layer	32300±160(AMS) 33190±160(AMS)	Institute of Korean Prehistory, 2014
Suyanggae Loc 6	3^rd Cultural layer	39930, 38180. P. (IAA) 39689(CAL)	Lee et al, 2014

Site	Layer	Dates	Reference
Kumgul	second geological layer	-	Sohn BK 1984, 1985
Koreri site	lower Cultural layer upper Cultural layer	AT(Aira-Tanzawa) Volcanic	Seo ei al, 1999 Jang 2001a, 2001b
Jungnaeri site	4^th Cultural layer	-	Lee GK et al, 2000
Chongok site	Cultural Layer	-	Lee 2004; Lee et al, 2004
Jeongjangri site	2^nd Cultural layer (sector 1) 2^nd Cultural layer (sector 2)	28700±500(AMS) 25700±150(AMS) 29790±300(AMS) 28600±300(AMS)	Center of history &Culture, Gyeongnam Development Institute, 2004
Jingeunul site	2^ndCultural layer	22850±350(¹⁴C)	Lee 2004
Hwadaeri site	1^st Cultural layer	33190±160(AMS)	Choi et al, 2005
Hopteongdong site	1^st Cultural layer (sector 1 D23)	33200±1900(AMS)	Hong et al, 2008
Yongsandong site	3^rd Cultural layer	24430±870(¹⁴C)	The Paleolithic Site at Yongsandong of Daejeon, 2007
Ojiri site	Cultural layer	-	Lee2007; Lee et al, 2008
Galsanri site	1^st Cultural layer	30600±260(AMS)	Honam Cultural Property Research Center, 2014
Songamri Waesil site	1^st Cultural layer	32300±160(AMS) 33190±160(AMS)	Institute of Korean Prehistory, 2014
Suyanggae Loc 6	3^rd Cultural layer	39930, 38180. P. (IAA) 39689(CAL)	Lee et al, 2014