The purpose of this article is to examine synthetically a stone axe of the Neolithic era in the region of the Korean peninsula. This paper, first of all concerning a stone axe of the Neolithic era is the broadest sense, covers 1339 pieces in total;...
The purpose of this article is to examine synthetically a stone axe of the Neolithic era in the region of the Korean peninsula. This paper, first of all concerning a stone axe of the Neolithic era is the broadest sense, covers 1339 pieces in total; a chipped stone axes named as digging tools, small-sized stone axes and commonly named axes with not knowing its skill.
In Chapter Ⅲ, in an attempt to present hierarchical classification having applied an existing scheme of typological classification and the use wear analysis actively as excludable as possible with carrying out typological classification of a stone axe of Neolithic era. There is two in the priority order, one is manufacturing technique in which little has been done previously and another one is a size which is highly objective. I have categorized plant form which is easily get involved by researcher’s subjectivity and cross section form based on a correlation into a large framework on the evidence of correlation.
In Chapter Ⅳ, I revealed a position of time and space of stone axes of new Neolithic era in an area of South on the basis of an existing scheme of typological classification. Knowing little research of pottery chronology have been done in terms of position of time, I have put an effort to fractionate pottery chronology rather than to group. I have divided into two stages on the base of form of ratio of each stone axe. Turning point was the second half of early phase having confirmed a rapidly increasing ratio of Chipped Medium Ⅰ a and a rapid decrease of ratio and volume of both Chipped Medium Ⅱb and Edge shape Large Ⅱb. I examined each of periodical aspect with spatial aspect focusing on compounding within a form of a stone axe. The initial and the second stage of stone axe can be divided with several regions; the eastern, the southern coast of Korea and Jeju; the western, the east-southern coast of Korea, the southwest of inland and Jeju, respectively. I assumed that the regional division was highly related with each of the region’s site and its position.
In Chapter Ⅴ, I categorised a stone axe by tools. To put it more specific,
I, on the base of the use wear analyse and achievement of existing research, divided by digging-tools, felling tools, woodworking-tools and I took a note of how different between separated times and divided region. As a result, cross section of Chipped Medium Ⅰ a has become thinner, and its plant form became lager and reshaped it like a circle in the second stage. Such digging-tools seemed to be used as cultivation-tools on the evidence of its shape and damages. Most of digging-tools in the initial stage do not seem to be made elaborately, whilst digging-tools in the second stage showed similar shape over the whole region. In this respect, it can be understood that standardisation of digging-tools took place in the second stage. I see that Salnae site in the second half of early phase in the east south of inland is where the standardisation happened and it is possible relating to plant cultivation. Meanwhile, felling-tools and woodworking-tools are distributed in the coastal and insular areas, especially Edge shape Large Ⅱb can be a good example and it is named as a polished stone axes in southern coast Korea.
Lastly, I found out the cause of turning point having examined subsistence economy in turning point of stone axes. Subsistence economy has been researched with the combination of tool assemblages revolving around frequency of excavation and volume. As a consequence, it seems that change of entire stole tool happened in a relation with change of stone axe in the Neolithic era. As confirmed of changes in turning point of stone axe, I made a point that subsistence has been changed in the second half of early phase. I verified if it happen to stone axe around whole stone tools as assuming that the region in the mid-western has affected cause of this change. Consequently, standardised digging tools confirmed in the second half of early phase or a bit earlier in Amsa-dong of Central-Western area and Woonseo-dong site. Thus, I made a judgement that such standardised digging-tools flew into Salnae site in the southern of inland with hand-stone, grinding/pounding-tools of grinding-slab and stamped short-line pottery.