Characteristics of Paleolithic industries in Southwestern Korea during MIS 3 and MIS 2

Quaternary International 248 (2012) 12e21

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Quaternary International journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/quaint

Characteristics of Paleolithic industries in Southwestern Korea during MIS 3 and MIS 2 Gikil Lee* Department of History, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, South Korea

a r t i c l e i n f o

a b s t r a c t

Article history: Available online 15 March 2011

In the Honam region of southwestern Korea, archaeological surface surveys and excavations have been carried out vigorously since the middle 1990s. As a result, over 300 Paleolithic localities were reported and 40 sites were excavated. Through the scientific analysis of accumulated data, the characteristics of Paleolithic industries during MIS 3-MIS 2 can be traced. ‘Core tool industry with large flake knapping’, ‘Blade industry with tanged point chiefly’, and ‘Microblade industry with various hunting and processing tools’ prevailed during early MIS 3, late MIS 3, and MIS 2 respectively. Also, the Honam region emerged as a key area in understanding the Paleolithic cultural exchange between Korea and Japan during MIS 2. There are not only the same types of stone tools such as tanged point (Hakuhen-sentoki in Japanese), microbladecore, Moppule-seokgi (Kakusuijyo-sekki in Japanese), and backed knife (Knife gata sekki in Japanese) in Korea and Japan, but also transported obsidians from western Japan and North Korea are present. Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction The Honam region (Jeollanam province and Jeollabuk province) in southwestern Korea is close to western Japan as well as facing eastern China across the Yellow Sea. Its location is a key point between two countries. The region extends over 20,606 km2 and it is geographically divided into the western lowland and eastern highland. Rivers include the Seomjin, Boseong, Yeongsan, Mangyeong, Dongjin and Geum which run to the west and south. In the late 1980s the construction of the Juam Dam served as the turning point for the Paleolithic studies in the Honam region. Since the mid-1990s, surface surveys and excavations have been carried out vigorously. As a result, over 300 localities were reported and 40 sites were excavated. Among them, the sites of Dosan (Lee and Kim, 2009a) and Jungnae-ri (Lee et al., 2000) have four Middle to Upper Paleolithic cultural layers, and the sites of Haga (Lee, 2008; Lee et al., 2008), Sinbuk (Lee, 2004b), Jingeuneul (Lee, 2004a), and Wolpyeong (Lee, 2002a; Lee et al., 2004a; Lee and Kim, 2009b) contain one to five Upper Paleolithic cultural layers which yielded abundant and a wide variety of artifacts (Fig. 1). New materials from these sites and results of scientific analyses including sediments analysis, numerical dating, and PIXE analysis of obsidian have lead to a precise and systematic understanding of Honam Paleolithic culture. * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ82 11 624 6594; fax: þ82 62 232 4704. E-mail address: [email protected]. 1040-6182/$ e see front matter Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2011.02.025

Analyses of stratigraphy, tool types, and numerical dates suggest that this region was occupied ever since the late Middle Paleolithic (Lee, 2006; Lee et al., 2006; Han, 2010). In this article, representative sites, development of lithic industry, and the characteristics of Honam Paleolithic during MIS 3 and MIS 2 will be introduced and discussed. For building a reasonable chronology, stratigraphy, quantity of artifacts, and numerical dates including charcoal derived radiocarbon dates and OSL dates (Aitken, 1998; Kim et al., 2010) were considered. 2. Lithic industry of MIS 3 The sites of Dosan (Lee, 2002b; Lee and Kim, 2009a), Sachang (Choi, 2007; Lee and Lee, 2007), Dangga (Lee et al., 2004b), and Yongdong (Lee et al., 2006) date to MIS 3 (59
24 ka) in the Honam region. The Dosan site yielded numerous artifacts from four Paleolithic layers and has reliable OSL dates in relation to stratigraphy and characteristic lithic industry. However, other sites lack reliable numerical dates or yielded very small quantities of lithic specimens (Table 1). The Dosan site situated on a low slope along the Jiseok stream, a tributary of the Yeongsan River, had been excavated three times in 1999, 2007, and 2009. The site is on the 2nd terrace which had been deposited after the last interglacial, about 15 m higher than the current stream level (Fig. 2(1)). Seven layers are recognizable in the about 5m thick profiles (Fig. 2(2)). The lowermost layer was deposited by fluvial activity. However, the upper six layers had been developed by a succession of slope deposits. Artifacts have been discovered in the 2nd layer,

G. Lee / Quaternary International 248 (2012) 12e21

13

Fig. 1. Map showing the location of Paleolithic sites mentioned in this paper. (1) Jingeuneul; (2) Sageunri; (3) Bonggok; (4) Haga; (5) Juengsan; (6) Wondang; (7) Yongdong; (8) Dangga; (9) Dosan; (10) Sachang (11) Yongdu-ri; (12) Jungnae-ri; (13) Usan-ri oeu; (14) Wolpye-ong; (15) Sinbuk.

the lower 3rd layer, the loweremiddle 4th layer and the 6th layer from the top. The first cultural layer is dated to 61.38 ka by OSL. About 2900 pieces of stone artifacts were found. Refitted core and flakes, and a hammer/anvil were recovered at one spot adjacent to a very heavy quartzite boulder (40 cm long, 38 cm wide, 30 cm thick). Burnt gravels were scattered in an oval shape near the boulder (Fig. 2(3)). The artifacts and their distribution indicate that lithic manufacture, transportation, and usage of fire were carried out by the occupants. Various rock types such as quartzite, vein-quartz, sandstone, andesite, schist, felsite, and tuff gravel have been used as raw material. As these are naturally available on the stream bed,

Paleolithic humans could procure them easily near the site. The assemblage of lithics included cores, flakes, hammer stones, anvils, chopper-chopping tools, picks, polyhedrons, spheroids, bolas, scrapers, and notches. Among the flakes there is an extra large one, 2.8 kg (Fig. 2(4)). The second cultural layer, which is dated as 53 ka by OSL, yielded approximately 2400 pieces of stone artifacts. The used raw materials are almost same as those of the 1st cultural layer but the main raw material is vein-quartz. The artifacts are composed of cores, flakes, hammer stones, anvils, chopper-chopping tools, hand axes, picks, polyhedrons, spheroids, bolas, scrapers, and notches. There is a medium-sized hand axe (159 mm long, 99 mm wide, 40 mm thick, 580 g) and large pick (222 mm long, 141 mm wide,

Table 1 Numerical dates of Middle-Upper Paleolithic sites in southwestern Korea. Site name

Sediments (cultural layer)

Numerical dates

Dating method

Number of lithic materials

References

Dosan (Hwasun County)

Sandy clay containing bedrock fragments (first) Yellowish brown sandy clay (second) Dark brown clay with soil wedges (third) Light brown clay (fourth) Sand (sterile) Yellow and dark brown sandy clay (second)

61.38 53.00 46.08 28.10 54.50 44,710 45,380

      

OSL OSL OSL OSL OSL AMS(charcoal)

approx. approx. approx. approx. None 14

Lee and Kim, 2009a

Sachang (Hwasun County) Dangga (Naju City)

3.04 ka 4.11 ka 1.72 ka 1.95 ka 3.10 ka 1150 BP 1250 BP

2900 2400 60 70

Lee and Lee, 2007 Lee et al., 2004b

14

G. Lee / Quaternary International 248 (2012) 12e21

Fig. 2. The Dosan site, Mosan-ri, Hwasun county.

83 mm thick, 3060 g) (Fig. 2(5)). A very similar shaped and sized hand axe was reported from the lower cultural layer of the Sachang site, 3 km apart from the Dosan site. The pick is a very archaic type. Almost the same type of picks have been excavated at Jangsan-ri, Paju county and Mansu-ri, Cheongwon county in the middle part of Korea (Yi, 2004; Park, 2005).

The third cultural layer is dated as 46.08 ka by OSL. About 60 pieces of lithic artifacts were unearthed. The used raw materials are almost same as those of the 1st and 2nd cultural layer. As tool types such as pick and chopper are included, this cultural layer is estimated to be more closely related to the 2nd cultural layer than to the 4th cultural layer (Fig. 2(6)).

G. Lee / Quaternary International 248 (2012) 12e21

15

Table 2 Numerical dates of Upper Paleolithic sites in southwestern Korea. Site name

Sediments

Numerical dates

Dating method

Number of lithic materials

References

Jingeuneul (Jinan County)

Light brown clay

approx. 12,000

Lee, 2004a

Light brown clay

AMS(charcoal)

approx. 18,000

Lee et al., 2008; Lee and Kim 2008

Sinbuk (Jangheung County)

Light brown clay

          

AMS(charcoal)

Haga (Imsil County)

22,850 17,310 19,700 19,500 25,500 25,420 23,850 21,760 20,960 18,540 18,500

AMS(charcoal)

approx. 31,000

Lee, 2004b

350 BP 80 BP 300 BP 200 BP 1000 BP 190 BP 160 BP 190 BP 80 BP 270 BP 300 BP

The fourth cultural layer is dated as 28.01 ka by OSL. Approximately 70 artifacts have been discovered. Rhyolite was newly adopted for manufacturing blades and microblades (Fig. 2(7)). This assemblage is attributed to late Upper Paleolithic. The second cultural layer of the Dangga site, dated as 45.38e44.71 ka by AMS, yielded only 14 pieces of stone artifacts. The representative tool types are chopper-chopping tools and bolas made of vein-quartz and quartzite. 3. Lithic industry of MIS 2 The numerical dates attributed to MIS 2 (24
12 ka) were obtained from the sites of Jingeuneul (Lee, 2004a), Haga (Lee, 2008; Lee et al., 2008), Sinbuk (Lee, 2004b; Lee and Kim 2008), Yongdong (Lee et al., 2006), Bonggok (Lee and Song, 2008), and Sageunri (Lee and An, 2006) in the Honam region. These dates are measured from charcoal and soil samples by AMS, but the dates from charcoal are estimated to be more reliable (Table 2). Among the mentioned sites, Jingeuneul, Haga and Sinbuk, which yielded typical artifacts and important features, are briefly described below.

3.2. Haga site This site is located on a gentle slope beside the upper Seomjin river, where high quality rhyolite gravels are plentiful. It is an open air site covering an area of approximately 50,000 m2, excavated 2006 to 2010 (Fig. 4(1)). Excavations so far have revealed two cultural layers attributed to the Paleolithic period (Fig. 4(2)), and the upper stratum (773 m2) yielded about 18,000 stone artifacts. As there are many clusters composed of bladecores, blades, tools and hammerstones scattered across the space, it is considered as a large workshop (Fig. 4(3)). Raw material such as rhyolite, vein quartz, quartzite, sandstone, gneiss, shale and hyaline quartz were adopted. Among them, rhyolite is the main raw material (about 85%). Tool types include endscraper, burin, tanged point, bifacial leaf-shaped point, backed knife, moppulseokgi, bec, sidescraper, notch, denticulate, hammerstone, mortar and ground pebbles (Fig. 4(4e7)). The artifact assemblage, including hunting and processing tools, suggests that the site was used as base camp where the large-scale production of stone blades took place. Analyses of charcoal from the site have produced radiocarbon dates of 19,700  300 BP and 19,500  200 BP.

3.1. Jingeuneul site 3.3. Sinbuk site This open air site, situated on a gentle slope beside the upper stream of the Gem River, had been excavated in 2000. There are many high quality rhyolite gravels for knapping on the stream bed in front of the site (Fig. 3(1)). Seven layers have been identified in about 9m thick profiles (Fig. 3(2)). Almost 12,000 stone artifacts have been unearthed in the 2nd layer, and only 4 pieces of pebble tools have been discovered from the 5th layer. Two numerical dates are 22,850  350 BP, and 17,310  80 BP measured on charcoal samples from hearth no. 1 and no. 2 of the 2nd layer respectively. There are 24 clusters of stone artifacts and two hearths from the 2nd layer (Fig. 3(3)). Most clusters were composed of blade manufacturing for making tanged points mainly. As the clusters overlapped and two hearths were situated separately, it is postulated that Upper Paleolithic humans had visited the site at least several times. Rhyolite gravels were used as main raw material. The greater part of stone artifacts is the byproduct of blade manufacturing, such as bladecores, blades, chunks, flakes, rejuvenation flakes of striking platforms, crested blades and plunging blades. Tool types are tanged point, endscraper, sidescraper, burin, notch, denticulate, awl, and bec (Fig. 3(4)). The 99 pieces of tanged point are very impressive, and the large (10e11 cm long) endscrapers are very unique. A full range of blade industry, the greatest quantity of tanged point, two hearths and many workshops from this site shed light on understanding the chaine operatoire of blade manufacturing and space-use-pattern of Upper Paleolithic humans.

This site is situated in a bowl-shaped basin located at the uppermost stream of the Boseong river. The size of this site is estimated to be over 130 000 m2, one of the largest Upper Paleolithic sites in Korea (Fig. 5(1)). It was excavated in 2003 and 2004. Four layers including granitic gneiss bedrock, a sand layer with sub-angular gravels, a brown clay layer, and cultivated topsoil have been identified. The brown clay layer of 1.2m thick is subdivided into yellowish, darkish, pale, and dark brown horizons (Fig. 5(2)). One cultural layer has been unearthed from the middle of the brown clay layer. Many conjoining pieces including not only core and flakes but retouched tools and flakes indicate that the cultural layer had been well preserved. Seven hearths mainly constructed of angular tuff and/or veinquartz 1e2 layers thick have also been discovered. Most are almost round in plan. The diameter of hearth no. 1 is about 40 cm and that of hearth no. 3 is 55 cm (Fig. 5(3)). There are many places where refitted core and flakes or the same kind of tools such as microbladecore and microblade, burin, or endscrapers were scattered. Almost 31,000 stone artifacts have been retrieved. Various kinds of raw material including rhyolite, tuff, hyaline quartz, obsidian, chalcedony, quartzite, and high quality vein-quartz were used. High quality vein-quartz and rhyolite were selected as the main raw materials. The former represents about 70%, and the latter almost 30%. The lithic assemblage is composed of flaked and polished artifacts (Fig. 5(4)). Most are flaked artifacts such as microbladecores, endscrapers, burins, tanged points, awls, and bifacial leaf-shaped

16

G. Lee / Quaternary International 248 (2012) 12e21

Fig. 3. The Jingeuneul site, Mojeong-ri, Jinan county.

point. Unexpectedly, there are a few chopper-chopping tools, hand axes, and cleaver. Ground artifacts include a partial polished axe (105 mm long, 50 mm wide, 14 mm thick, 96 g), flaked and ground slabs, and battered, pecked and ground pebbles. Their provenience was middle to lower among the total specimens in the vertical section. Small pieces of Neolithic or Bronze Age sherds were not present. Over twenty obsidian artifacts including endscrapers, microblades, and debris were unearthed. A very rare ferruginous veinquartz pebble, suggested to be used as red pigment, was also

discovered. The radiocarbon date is 18,500e25,500 BP, from AMS on seven charcoal samples (Lee, 2004b, 2007). 4. Discussion The distribution and stratigraphy of Quaternary deposits in the Honam region are characterized by three typical layers: a lower weathered layer derived from gneiss bedrock, old fluvial gravele sand deposits, and slope deposits intercalated with a number of paleosol layers. The formation age of the red paleosols is assumed

G. Lee / Quaternary International 248 (2012) 12e21

17

Fig. 4. The Haga site, Gadeok-ri, Imsil county.

as the last interglacial period, and that of fluvial deposits or the terrace gravel deposits are thought to be the early last glaciation. The slope deposits are related to the early Pleniglacial period up to the Last Glacial (Kim and Yang, 2001; Han, 2003, 2010). 4.1. Chronological changes of lithic industry During early MIS 3 (59
40 ka), the characteristic knapping technique was the ‘technique of swinging the large hammer stone through the legs’ (Schick and Toth, 1993) which detaches

large flakes easily. Good examples of this method are revealed from the Jungnae-ri (Lee et al., 2000; Lee, 2001) site and the Dosan site. Tool types of this period are chopper-chopping tool, hand axe, pick, cleaver, polyhedron, spheroid, bola, scraper, notch, denticulate and awl. Chopper-chopping tools and spheroids were common. Although the numbers of hand axe, pick and cleaver were very low, they were very representative types of the Lower Paleolithic tradition. This industry is classified as ‘Core tool industry with large flake knapping’.

18

G. Lee / Quaternary International 248 (2012) 12e21

Fig. 5. The Sinbuk site, Bukgyo-ri, Jangheung county.

This industry seems to have prevailed from prior to MIS 3 to about 40
35 ka, as it was reported from many sites such as the cultural layers no. 1e3 of Dosan site, the cultural layer no. 1 of Jungnae-ri site, the lower and middle cultural layer of Sachang site, Wondang site, and the 4th to 17th layers of Jeungsan site. It is not easy to define the lithic industry of late MIS 3 (40
24 ka), as there are insufficient stone artifacts and numerical dates for the period. An AMS dates of layer bearing tanged points from the Bonggok site in Jeonju city was reported as 41,500  1500 BP to 31,000  1500 BP measured on soil samples (Lee and Song, 2008).

The oldest date of tanged points is suggested as older than 38,500  1000 BP from the Yongho-dong site in Daejeon city (Han, 2002). Another reliable date is 30  1.7 ka by OSL dating from the Shimteo, Hwadae-ri site in Pocheon county (Choi and Ryu, 2005) and 30e27.5 ka by AMS method from Hopyeong-dong site in Namyangju city (Hong and Kim, 2008). From these examples, it is presumed that ‘Blade industry with tanged point chiefly’ appeared and prevailed during late MIS 3. From the beginning of MIS 2 (24
12 ka), microblades were introduced and flourished with various burins and endscrapers

G. Lee / Quaternary International 248 (2012) 12e21

19

Table 3 Chronology and evolution of lithic industry of Middle-Upper Paleolithic sites in southwestern Korea. Marine Isotopic Stage

Site name

Layer

Absolute dates

Typical artefacts

References

MIS 2

Sinbuk Wolpyeong

25,500e18,500 BP

Micro-blade industry including endscraper, burin, bifacial leaf point, tanged point, polished artefacts and etc.

Haga Jingeuneul Dangga Dosan Sachang

Cultural layer Cultural layer No.3 and No.4 Upper cultural layer Upper cultural layer Cultural layer No.2 Cultural layer No.3 Middle cultural layer

Lee, 2004b; Lee and Kim 2008 Lee, 2002a; Lee et al., 2004a; Lee and Kim, 2009b Lee et al., 2008 Lee, 2004a; Lee 2007 Lee et al., 2004b Lee and Kim, 2009a Lee and Lee., 2007

Sachang

Lower cultural layer

Dosan

Cultural layer No.2

53.00  4.11 ka

Dosan

Cultural layer No.1

61.38  3.04 ka

MIS 3

MIS 4

19,700e19,500 BP 22,850e17,310 BP 45,380e44,710 BP 46.08  1.72 ka

Blade industry with tanged point chiefly Chopper-chopping tool, spheroid Chopper, pick, and etc. Chopper-chopping tool, spheroid, scraper, and etc. Chopper-chopping tool, spheroid, hand axe, scraper and etc., Large flake, chopper-chopping tool, hand axe, pick, cleaver, spheroid, bola, scraper, and etc. Extra-large flake, chopper-chopping tool, pick, spheroid, bola, scraper, and etc.

Lee and Lee., 2007 Lee and Kim, 2009a

Lee and Kim, 2009a

made on blades. Tool types are tanged point, bifacial leaf-shaped point, moppulseokgi (small trihedral point), backed knife, endscraper, burin, awl, bec, notch, and denticulate. In this industry, the variety and increase of hunting and processing tools are very distinct. The lithic industry during MIS 2 is named as ‘Microblade industry with various hunting and processing tools’ (Table 3). 4.2. Characteristics of lithic industry Abundant Upper Paleolithic specimens containing various lithic artifacts in the Honam region have the potential to investigate the relationships not only between Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic but also between the Korean Peninsula and Japanese Archipelago. The representative tool types of LowereMiddle Paleolithic such as chopper-chopping tool, hand axe, cleaver and spheroid were included in the microblade industry from the Wolpyeong, Sinbuk, and Jungnae-ri sites. Even though they are minor in proportion, their existence implies the importance of continuity from Middle to Upper Paleolithic. This phenomenon is quite different to the Japanese Upper Paleolithic (Lee, 2007). Moppul-seokgi from the Haga site and a pick from the Yongdu-ri site are other good examples (Fig. 6). The former (83 mm long, 33 mm wide, 21 mm thick, 39.2 g) is nearly 28 times smaller than the latter (189 mm long, 101 mm wide, 74 mm thick, 1110 g in weight). The blank of the former is a thick flake and that of the latter is a pebble (Lee, 2010). However, their manufacturing technique of forming a trihedral point and trapezoidal grasp by abrupt retouch on both sides is almost the same. Moppul-seokgi looks like a small miniature of the pick. Even though their size and blank are different, morphological and technical elements of the pick were continued in Moppul-seokgi. From these instances, it is presumed that Middle Paleolithic tradition including raw material procurement, lithic technique, tool type and etc. was accepted selectively by Upper Paleolithic humans. Tanged points and microbladecores are good examples which show the close relationship between the Korean and Japanese Upper Paleolithic (Matsufuji, 2004; Ambiru, 2009). Recently, features which were previously reported only in Japanese Archipelago such as Moppul-seokgi (Kakusuijyo-sekki in Japanese), backed knife on blade (knife gata sekki in Japanese), polished axe, and obsidian, were excavated in the Honam region. Not only refitted Moppule-seokgi and small flake were unearthed only 34 cm apart, but also Moppul-seokgi and a tanged point was discovered only 60 cm apart at the Haga site. This implies that Moppul-seokgi was made in situ, and that Moppul-seokgi and tanged points coexisted, as in Japan.

Fig. 6. Moppul-seokgi from Haga site (1) and pick from Yongdu-ri site (2).

20

G. Lee / Quaternary International 248 (2012) 12e21

A backed knife made on blade was found at the Haga site (Fig. 4(4)). It may be classified as type 3 or type 2B according to the classifications of Ambiru (1979) and Kizaki (1988) respectively. This type of backed knife is the first instance from a Korean Upper Paleolithic site. Another artifact worth mentioning is the partial polished axe (104 mm long, 50 mm wide, 14 mm thick, 95.5 g) discovered at the Sinbuk site. A very similar one was excavated with micrbladecores, endscrapers and burins at Gyphyeon-ri, Jinju city. Seven AMS dates of the site are around 20 ka (Park and Seo, 2004). It is certain that the polished axes of the two sites belong to a microblade industry of almost the same age. Previously, polished axes from the Upper Paleolithic was only reported in the Japanese Archipelago. They were unearthed from early Upper Paleolithic sites attributed to 32
28 ka. Their usage was suggested as butchery for animals, woodworking or ship building (Otake, 2004; Yamada, 2010). Even though the date is later than that of Japan, this is another case which supports a cultural relationship between Korea and Japan. Lastly, obsidian artifacts were unearthed from the Sinbuk site. The sources of the obsidians were assumed to be Koshidake in Kyushu and Mt. Baekdu in North Korea by PIXE analysis (Kim et al., 2007). This result is very surprising and important evidence for suggesting long distance exchange or transportation, and it supports Ambiru’s argument of ‘Paleolithic Cultural Corridor around the Sea of Japan (East Sea)’, based on the distribution analysis of tanged point and Yubetsu type microbladecore, and chemical analysis of obsidian tools (Ambiru, 2009, 2010). 5. Conclusion During MIS 3eMIS 2, the lithic industry of the Honam region, southwestern Korea, developed as follows: ‘Core tool industry with large flake knapping’ prevailed during early MIS 3 (59
40 ka). This industry was almost same with that of MIS 4. ‘Blade industry with tanged point chiefly’, which is substantially different, replaced the previous industry during late MIS 3 (40
24 ka). It was followed by ‘Microblade industry with various hunting and processing tools’ during MIS 2 (24
12 ka). In short, major changes happened in tool kit from the beginning of late MIS 3. That is, the blade technique was newly introduced and the proportion of retouched tool made of blade increased. Meanwhile, core tools never disappeared, merely their abundance declined. And modified types of traditional tools, like Moppul-seokgi, were invented newly. This phenomenon implies that the Upper Paleolithic inhabitants in the Honam region not only developed a new survival system based on blade technique but inherited a traditional legacy selectively. However, Bae (2010) explained the origin of the Upper Paleolithic industry in the Korean Peninsula as the result of continuing influx of modern human populations from Siberia (blade industry) and southern China (non-blade industry). Against this, it is mere conjecture that two groups who had different lithic techniques coexisted in the Korean Peninsula (Seong, 2006). Basically, the non-blade industry sites require further examination on raw material environment, site function, quantity and composition of stone artifacts to classify them as representing a real nonblade industry. It is quite reasonable that the Upper Paleolithic people in the Honam region were involved in a transportation network including western Japan and the Mt. Baekdu area, as there are not only the same types of stone tools such as tanged point, microbladecore, Moppule-seokgi, and backed knife in Korea and Japan, but there are transported obsidians from western Japan and North Korea. In the future, more fieldwork to supplement archaeological data of the

late MIS 3 and intensified research to reveal detailed cultural exchanges in Upper Paleolithic will be necessary. Acknowledgements This study was supported by research funds from Chosun University, 2009. I am grateful to researcher Sua Kim (Chosun University Museum) for assistance in preparing the illustrations. I would like to thank Professor Akira Ono (Director of the Center for Obsidian and Lithic Studies, Meiji University), Professor Changgyun Han (Hannam University), Professor Chuntaek Seong (Kyung Hee University), and Dr. Miyoung Hong who provided invaluable commentary in the writing of this paper. References Aitken, M.J., 1998. An Introduction to Optical Dating. Oxford University Press. Ambiru, M., 1979. Morphology and functions of stone tools. In: Oochuka, H., Tozawa, M., Sahara, M. (Eds.), Learning Japanese Archaeology 2. Yuhikaku, Tokyo, pp. 17e39. Ambiru, M., 2009. The Paleolithic cultural corridor around the sea of Japan and Obsidian road. Sundai Shigaku 135, 147e167. Ambiru, M., 2010. Paleolithic Culture of Honam Region from the Viewpoint of Japanese Archipelago. In: Lee, G.K. (Ed.), Splendid Relics of Honam Region from 100,000 years Ago. Chosun University Museum, Gwangju, pp. 128e141. Bae, K., 2010. Origin and patterns of the upper Paleolithic industries in the Korean Peninsula and movement of modern humans in east asia. Quaternary International 211, 103e112. Choi, B.K., Ryu, H.J., 2005. The Hwadae-ri Shimteo Palaeolithic Site, Pocheon City. Institute of Gangwon Archaeology, Chuncheon. Choi, M.N., 2007. Preliminary report of Sachang palaeolithic site, Hwasun, Korea. Journal of the Korean Palaeolithic Society 15, 43e56. Han, C.G., 2002. Yonghodong Paleolithic Site at Daejeon, Korea. In: Bae, K.D., Lee, J.C. (Eds.), Paleolithic Archaeology in Northeast Asia. Yeoncheon County and the Institute of Cultural Properties, Hanyang University, pp. 163e172. Han, C.G., 2003. Chronological problems of the Korean palaeolithic sites. Journal of the Korean Palaeolithic Society 7, 1e40. Han, C.G., 2010. Excavation of the palaeolithic sites in Honam area for 20 years. In: Lee, G.K. (Ed.), Splendid Relics of Honam Region from 100,000 years Ago. Chosun University Museum, Gwangju, pp. 108e127. Hong, M.Y., Kim, J.H., 2008. Hopyeong-dong Paleolithic Site. Korea Land Corporation, Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation and Gijeon Institute of Cultural Properties, Suwon. Kim, J.C., Kim, D.G., Yoon, M.Y., Yun, C.C., Park, K.J., Woo, H.J., Hong, M.Y., Lee, G.K., 2007. PIXE Provenancing of obsidian artefacts from Paleolithic sites in Korea. Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association Bulletin 27, 122e128. Kim, J.C., Duller, G.A.T., Roberts, H.M., Wintle, A.G., Lee, Y.I., Yi, S.B., 2010. Re-evaluation of the chronology of the palaeolithic site at Jeongokri, Korea, using OSL and TT-OSL signals from quartz. Quaternary Geochronology 5, 365e370. Kim, J.Y., Yang, D.Y., 2001. Aspects and features of the quaternary deposits in Honam region. Journal of Honam Archaeological Society 14, 5e25. Kizaki, Y., 1988. A study of the industries with backed-tools in Kyushu. Palaeolithic Archaeology 37, 25e44. Lee, G.K., 2001. Paleolithic culture of Jungnae-ri site, Suncheon city in Korea. Paleaeolthic Archaeology 62, 11e21. Lee, G.K., 2002a. Suncheon Wolpyeong Site 1. Chosun University Museum, Gwangju. Lee, G.K., 2002b. Hwasun Dosan Site. Chosun University Museum, Gwangju. Lee, G.K., 2004a. The Jingeuneul upper palaeolithic site in Jinan county of submerged area around the Yongdam dam and its significance. Journal of Honam Archaeological Society 19, 5e23. Lee, G.K., 2004b. Sinbuk upper Paleolithic site in Jangheung county, Jeollanam province, Korea. In: Lee, G.K. (Ed.), Evaluating the Cultural Features of the Sinbuk Upper Palaeolithic Site in the Northeastern Asia. Jangheung County and Chosun University Museum, Gwangju, pp. 31e38. Lee, G.K., 2006. Lithic technology and the transition from the middle to upper Paleolithic in Korea. Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia 4 (28), 31e37. Lee, G.K., 2007. A comparative study on the upper palaeolithic between southwestern Korea and Kyushu of Japan. Journal of Honam Archaeological Society 25, 5e43. Lee, G.K., 2008. Preliminary Report on the Excavation of Haga Site in Imsil County. Archaeological Style. The 32nd Conference of Korean Archaeological Society, Busan, pp. 137e154. Lee, G.K., 2010. Review of Paleolithic Culture on the Seomjin River Basin. Baekje and Gaya in Eastern Honam Rigion. The 18th Conference of Honam Archaeological Society, Gwangju, pp. 9e30. Lee, G.K., Choi, M.N., Kim, E.J., 2000. Suncheon Jungnae-ri Site. Chosun University Museum, Gwangju. Lee, G.K., Kim, E.J., Kim, S.J., Yoon, J.G., Kim, S.A., 2004a. Suncheon Wolpyeong Site 2. Chosun University Museum, Gwangju.

G. Lee / Quaternary International 248 (2012) 12e21 Lee, G.K., Kim, M.J., 2008. Absolute Chronology of Sinbuk Upper Palaeolithic Site in Southwestern Korea by calibrating Radiocarbon Dates with CalPal 2007 Hulu curve. Journal of Honam Archaeological Society 29, 5e24. Lee, G.K., Cha, M.A., Kim, S.A., 2008. Imsil Haga Site. Chosun University Museum, Gwangju. Lee, G.K., Kim, E.J., 2009a. Preliminary report on the third excavation of Dosan site in Hwasun county. The 10th Conference of Korean Paleolithic Society, Mokpo. pp. 119e130. Lee, G.K., Kim, S.A., 2009b. Suncheon Wolpyeong Site 3. Chosun University Museum, Gwangju. Lee, H.J., No, S.H., Lee, H.Y., 2004b. Report on the Excavation of Dangga Site and Chongok-ri Site in Naju. Mokpo National University Museum, Mokpo. Lee, H.J., Kim, J.B., Jung, C.W., Im, H.S., Lee, H.Y., Derevianko, A.P., Deregacheva, M.I., Bolihovskya, N.S., 2006. The Paleolithic Archaeology and Quaternary Geology in Youngsan River Region. Hakyon Press, Seoul. Lee, H.W., An, H.S., 2006. Report on the Excavation of Sageun-ri in Jeonju, Jeollabukdo. Jeonbuk Cultural Property Research Institute, Imsil. Lee, H.W., Song, E.Y., 2008. Report on the Excavation of the Site at Bonggok, Jeonju. Honam Cultural Property Research Center, Damyang. Lee, Y.C., Lee, H.Y., 2007. Report on the Excavation of the Site at Sachang, Hwasoon. Honam Cultural Property Research Center, Gwangju. Matsufuji, K., 2004. Hakuhen-sentoki and the neighbors epeople sith Stemmed points crossed over the Tsushima channel. In: Lee, Y.J., Ambiru, M. (Eds.),

21

Suyanggae and Her Neighbours. Proceeding of the 9th International Symposium. Meiju University Museum, Tokyo, pp. 203e208. Otake, N., 2004. Polished Stone Axes of the Paleolithic in the Japanese Archipelago. In: Lee, G.K. (Ed.), Evaluating the Cultural Features of the Sinbuk Upper Palaeolithic Site in the Northeastern Asia. Jangheung County and Chosun University Museum, Gwangju, pp. 125e135. Park, Y.C., 2005. On the chronological context of ‘Pic’ from Jangsan-ri, Kyounggi province, Korea. In: Lee, Y.J., Kim, J.H., Woo, J.Y. (Eds.), Suyanggae and Her Neighbours. Proceeding of the 10th International Symposium. Institute of Korean Prehistory and Danyang County, pp. 115e125. Hakyeon express. Park, Y.C., Seo, Y.N., 2004. Miryang Gorye-ri and Jinju Jiphyeon Jangheung-ri Site. Trace of Youngnam Archaeology for 20 Years. Youngnam Archaeological Society, pp. 15e29. Schick, K.D., Toth, N., 1993. Making Silent Stones Speak. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London. Seong, C.T., 2006. A comparative and evolutionary approach to the Korean Paleolithic ASSEMBLAGES. Journal of Korean Ancient Historical Society Hanguk Sanggosa Hakbo 51, 5e41. Yamada, S., 2010. Recent developments in radiocarbon dating and the origin of the Japanese upper Paleolithic. In: Lee, Y.J., Woo, J.Y. (Eds.), Suyanggae and Her Neighbours. Abstract of the 15th International Symposium. Institute of Korean Prehistory, Cheongju, pp. 63e64. Yi, S.B., 2004. Excavation Report on Jansan-ri Site in Paju County. Seoul National University Museum, Seoul.