This study is to analyze various components of every stemmed point in Korean Peninsula. Stemmed points, the most signal artifacts among Korean Late Paleolithic assemblages, are considered as the artifacts which have relatively unquestionable authentic...
This study is to analyze various components of every stemmed point in Korean Peninsula. Stemmed points, the most signal artifacts among Korean Late Paleolithic assemblages, are considered as the artifacts which have relatively unquestionable authenticity compared to other artifacts due to the distinct stem on the bottom and the triangular head of the tip.
They are mainly distributed from the southern Korean Peninsula to the western Japan. Especially, the stemmed points are closely tied in with the feature of the blade in the same period. With the development of blade-technology—certain blank, they appear to be typical in terms of the shape.
For these reasons, lots of present studies have been focused in on examination of interchange and propagation and comparison between other ancient areas rather than stemmed points in and of themselves. Even though researchers have been paid attention to stemmed points unearthed from a single site in recent years, it won’t be enough to grasp the general meaning of the artifacts.
Therefore, this study aims at analysis of the function and other identifications of the subject by observing the exterior form of every stemmed point excavated in Korean Peninsula.
This paper, started with arranging of diverse terms, includes the transition phase and the function of stemmed points on the basis of analysis of form, crafting techniques, sites, and so on. When it comes to the transition phase, the stemmed points are categorized into three phases.
The phaseⅠis identified the period of the advent of stemmed points. They consist of coarse particles such as quartz, bulging sections, being irregularly shaped.
The phase Ⅱ is the full-fledged process where assimilation between blade-technology and stemmed point-manufacture occurs.
The phase Ⅲ represents the decline of the artifacts, but it is hard to regard it as the period of complete extinction. They are shown to be gradually replaced by other points: the obsidian points from Suyanggae or Sam-ri.
Furthermore, function of stemmed points is examined by analyzing the form of artifacts in detailed manner. They could be classified into three types by size of them; the biggest one seems to be a tool for thrusting or chopping like a hand axe, considering that it is hard to be equipped with shaft. The middle size is expected to have a specific use for a spear. It is believed that the usage of them was utilized not only for hunting but also for throwing or thrusting. Last but not least, small stemmed points tend to show obvious features such as edges and the pasal part assuming that function of them differentiate from that of others. This study suggests possibility that it was the tool for fishing.