Were tanged points mechanically delivered armatures? Functional and morphometric analyses of tanged points from an Upper Paleolithic site at Jingeuneul, Korea

Abstract

A total of 99 tanged points have been unearthed from the Jingeuneul site in Jinan-gun, Korea. The exceptionally large number of tanged points suggests a specific site function at this location. Even though the tanged point is one of the representative tool types for Korean Upper Paleolithic assemblages, the function of this tool is not well known because no systematic use-wear analyses have yet been undertaken. Here, we conduct a use-wear analysis of 95 tanged points from the Jingeuneul site. The use-wear analysis reveals that a considerable number of the tanged points show diagnostic impact fractures (DIFs). Because a large number of the tanged points appear to have been used as hunting weapons, a morphometric analysis is also undertaken to examine the potential projectile capability of the tanged points with DIFs. The large dimension of the DIFs and the complex fracture pattern of the tanged points, as well as the small morphometric values of the tip cross-sectional area, tip cross-sectional perimeter, and neck width of the tanged points, all suggest that the tanged points from the Jingeuneul site were mechanically propelled using a spearthrower or a bow.

Late Upper Paleolithic occupation at Cooper’s Ferry, Idaho, USA, ~16,000 years ago

“…are made by retouching the proximal end of a thick, pointed blade (23). The eponymous "bifacial stemmed point" type, seen mainly in Japan from 16,000 to 13,000 cal yr B.P., was often made on macroflakes or blades with contracting bases and elaborative bifacial retouch (24)(25)(26)(27)(28). Regional variants include the Tachikawa type on Hokkaido, the Kosegawsawa type in northern Honshu near the Sea of Japan, and the Yanagimata type in central and western Honshu.…”

Retouched, rejuvenated, recycled and occasionally hafted as projectiles: stone points of Holocene Australia

“…The relative portion of points with probable projectile evidence from Holocene Australia is notably smaller than those from other regions of the world with stone points (Andrefsky ; Lee & Sano ; Rots et al . ).…”

“…This study recorded use‐wear observable with low magnification (following Lee & Sano ; Schoville ), using 20× and 50× magnification. Supp.…”

“…The index of invasiveness (Clarkson ) is used to quantify retouch intensity. Australian points lack tanged (Lee & Sano ) or notched (Andrefsky : 37) proximal associated with hafting. Bifacial retouch could be used to thin the proximal end.…”

深海氧同位素3阶段中国北方人群扩散与行为适应

“…对区域内萨拉乌苏遗址的再研究发现 了明确修铤装柄记录, 但其文化层年代存在争议, 处于 更新世初期或MIS3阶段早期 [31] . 修铤技术在此之后的 旧石器时代晚期, 在东亚北部地区, 尤其是日本和韩国 被大量报道 [32,33] . 此外, 骨器在这一时期的乌兰木伦和 西白马营等遗址中被明确认定和分析 [18,20] (图2(a)).…”