Abstract:In order to better understand modern human behavioral variability in Hokkaido, Japan, we consider the geoarchaeology of the Kamihoronai-Moi site in terms of its geochronology, stratigraphy, depositional environments, and post-depositional disturbances. A Paleolithic component is stratigraphically situated between the Eniwa-a (15,000-17,000 14 C yr B.P.) and the Tarumae-d (8000-9000 14 C yr B.P.) tephras. Moreover, six AMS 14 C ages on charcoal from a Pleistocene-aged hearth feature are between 14,400 and 14,80… Show more
“…Hearth levels are within 5 cm of the vertical median of the artifacts. According to the criteria in Izuho et al (), the relationship between vertical distribution of artifact and hearth levels at Kawanishi‐C implies that site integrity is relatively high, and the artifact‐bearing layer remains in a primary context.…”
As debates about the late Pleistocene human occupation of northeast Asia continue, the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) prehistory of Hokkaido becomes more relevant. A geoarchaeological evaluation of key sites on the island will provide important evidence to understand human adaptive responses to LGM environments. Kawanishi‐C is located on the middle terrace of the Satsunai River, eastern Hokkaido. Previous salvage excavations totaling 5756 m2 revealed three archaeological layers in eolian sediments: (1) an early Jomon component above the Ta‐d tephra (∼7000 cal. yr B.P.), (2) a microblade component between the Ta‐d and En‐a tephras (∼15,000 cal. yr B.P.), and (3) a blade/flake‐based assemblage between the En‐a and Spfa‐1 tephras (27,000–25,000 cal. yr B.P.). Integration of geoarchaeological investigations and statistical analysis of the artifacts’ spatial distribution indicates that the relatively low energy eolian matrix preserved the site's behavioral context, though some post‐depositional agent, such as frost heaving, may have slightly displaced the artifacts vertically.
“…Hearth levels are within 5 cm of the vertical median of the artifacts. According to the criteria in Izuho et al (), the relationship between vertical distribution of artifact and hearth levels at Kawanishi‐C implies that site integrity is relatively high, and the artifact‐bearing layer remains in a primary context.…”
As debates about the late Pleistocene human occupation of northeast Asia continue, the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) prehistory of Hokkaido becomes more relevant. A geoarchaeological evaluation of key sites on the island will provide important evidence to understand human adaptive responses to LGM environments. Kawanishi‐C is located on the middle terrace of the Satsunai River, eastern Hokkaido. Previous salvage excavations totaling 5756 m2 revealed three archaeological layers in eolian sediments: (1) an early Jomon component above the Ta‐d tephra (∼7000 cal. yr B.P.), (2) a microblade component between the Ta‐d and En‐a tephras (∼15,000 cal. yr B.P.), and (3) a blade/flake‐based assemblage between the En‐a and Spfa‐1 tephras (27,000–25,000 cal. yr B.P.). Integration of geoarchaeological investigations and statistical analysis of the artifacts’ spatial distribution indicates that the relatively low energy eolian matrix preserved the site's behavioral context, though some post‐depositional agent, such as frost heaving, may have slightly displaced the artifacts vertically.
“…Since Palaeolithic human remains are rarely preserved in this archipelago, stone tools (e.g., Tsutsumi, 2012 ;Yamaoka, 2012Yamaoka, , 2014 for some recent works in English) and spatial traces such as lithic scatters (Izuho et al, 2009) and trap-pits (Sato, 2012) have been treated as the major sources for the study of UP human behaviours and societies. The spatio-temporal correlation between the development in lithic technologies and the environmental change was also discussed (Sato et al, 2011 ;Morisaki, 2012 ;Morisaki and Sato, 2014).…”
Ecological niche modelling (ENM) is a computer-based method to extrapolate the niche probability of a species through machine learning using (1) known location of a species' occurrence and (2) environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation and elevation. ENM is applicable to prehistoric archaeology based on the assumption that human behaviour and niche constructions were largely constrained by environmental factors. This paper applies ENM to a large-scale data of Upper Palaeolithic (UP) occupations in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region of eastern Japan in order to quantitatively assess and visualise ecological niche of UP populations to understand their behavioural strategies. Spatial niche probability was calculated with reconstructed palaeoclimatic data and landform indices for the Last Glacial Maximum (21 ka), taking into consideration four major lithic groups (trapezoids, kakusuijo-sekki, backed blades and microliths), which may reflect different strategies in resource procurement. Results indicated that niche probability was generally high in Musashino, Sagamino and Shimousa uplands in the southern Kanto region, although the observed site distribution was probably biased by intensive rescue excavations due to urban developments. The distance to the obsidian outcrops in the central highland remarkably contributed to the model. A closer look revealed two patches of high niche probability area in the Hakone mountains for the kakusuijo-sekki, backed blades and microliths. These patches were probably parts of a 'niche corridor' in association with the transportation of obsidian raw materials between the central highland and Hakone area via the Fujikawa valley.
“…yr B.P.) at Kashiwadai 1 (Hokkaido Center for Buried Cultural Property, ), through the LGM, to near the Pleistocene–Holocene boundary when mixed forests expanded at the expense of grassland, a fully developed microblade industry flourished at Akatsuki (Obihiro Board of Education, , ; Tokachi Research Institute of Archaeology, ), Kamioronai‐Moi (Atsuma Board of Education, ; Izuho et al., ), and Ozora (Figure ; Obihiro Board of Education, ). Izuho et al (:124) argue the industries were tied to environmental shifts: The temporal correspondences between lithic industries and floral/faunal groups imply that hunter‐gatherer lifeway changed from small‐scale hunting in cold/temperate forests to a hunting strategy that targeted group mammals that inhabited cold grassland and open forests during the LGM.…”
Here, we assess geochronological, sedimentological, stratigraphic, and stone tool data from Shimaki, an Upper Paleolithic site in southeastern Hokkaido, Japan. Overall, we find that Shimaki's landscape context and flaked‐stone assemblage are similar to sites in Hokkaido that date to just before or at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Based on several numerical ages, we suggest that the artifact‐bearing layer, including a wedge‐shaped core morphologically similar to post‐LGM specimens from Siberia, formed during the LGM, and sites like Shimaki with clear stratigraphy, relatively undisturbed cultural material, and what appear to be transitional artifact forms, may be key to answering questions about the origins of microblades, but, without human fossil remains for ancient DNA comparison, are inadequate to address the fate of Late Pleistocene Siberians.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
