open access

https://doi.org/10.14943/105603

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/87914

Identification of bifacial point knapping techniques at the Nakajima-B site, Central Japan

日本語

2021-12-06

北海道大学大学院文学研究院考古学研究室

Bulletin of the Laboratory of Archaeology, Hokkaido University

1

51-62

From the Last Glacial Maximum to the Late Glacial, the lithic assemblages with various bifacial points occurred in the Japanese islands. To date, many researchers have focused on techno-typological classifications, chronologies, and cultural lineages of these lithic assemblages with bifacial points. However, the knapping methods and techniques for producing those bifacial points have not been fully considered in such debate. To examine a reliable temporal transformation of bifacial reduction technology, this paper attempts to present more improved identification of bifacial point knapping techniques by dealing with the analysis of fracture wings which are the reliable indicators of the crack velocity. Here, my focus is on identification of obsidian bifacial point knapping techniques during the Late Glacial at the Nakajima-B site in Nagano Prefecture, Central Japan. Numerous bifacial points and their preforms, stone axes, associating with linear relief pottery, were obtained from this site. The results of fracture wing analysis show that the early reduction phase of bifacial points from unmodified natural forms such as angular pieces at the Nakajima-B site was employed by indirect percussion or direct percussion using organic hammers. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrates that the late reduction phase was characterized by pressure knapping technique. Fracture wing analysis for identification of knapping techniques quantitatively verified can provide appropriate criteria for distinguishing preforms of bifacial points from the end of the shaping sequence from a technological perspective.

紀要論文

Version of Record

2436-5874