This thesis is written on the functionality and the embodiments of the beak-shaped stone tools, ancient relics. These beak-shaped stone tools are relics belonging to the Earthenware Era in the southern part of Korean Peninsular prior to the invention ...
This thesis is written on the functionality and the embodiments of the beak-shaped stone tools, ancient relics. These beak-shaped stone tools are relics belonging to the Earthenware Era in the southern part of Korean Peninsular prior to the invention of writing skills, and little has been known on the characteristics of the form or the usages, Accordingly this study has been focused on finding out the characteristics of embodiment and usages.
Firstly, the precise characteristics on the hawk's beak-shaped stone tools and the beak-shaped stone tools are being defined. The hawk's beak-shaped stone tools are made of a hardened stone or pebble, and fabricated by applying impacts on one side so as to produce the beak-shaped embodiment. The beak-shaped stone tools are made of various stone materials, and fabricated with the same fabrication method but the lower part was made particularly sharp. The origins of the two tools were reviewed, and the origin of the beak-shaped stone tools is found to be San-Dong Peninsular, and similar tools have been found in Book-Sin Culture and DeMonGo Cuture. On the other hand, It is confirmed that the beak-shaped stone tools have the origin at the northeastern area of Korean Peninsular, that is, the area of Doo-Man River.
Secondly, the temporal changes in the hawk's beak-shaped stone tools and beak-shaped stone tools were reviewed. Four temporal stages were defined: Stage I - Stone gate dwelling era, Stage II- dwelling era(세장방형), Stage III - dwelling era 1(휴암리1기) and Stage IV -dwelling era 2(휴암리2기). The changes along the stages were evident for the hawk's beak-shaped stone tools and the beak-shaped stone tools. The beak-shaped stone tools were found in larger quantities and the shapes became more varying as the stage changed from I to II to III. Yet in Stage IV, much less amount of the beak-shaped stone tools have been unearthed.
Thirdly, studies were made on the usages of the beak-shaped stone tools. First, their forms were inspected using naked eyes. And a microscope was used to inspect areas that were different from the prior inspected areas. The study results are as following:
The recess on the beak-shaped stone tools is not directly related to the usage of the tools, but is rather for the convenience of grabbing the tools. That is, it is to increase the friction between the holding hand and the tool. The extruded part is on the upper area making the recess pointed toward the user's body.
The lower part of the beak-shaped stone tools is the main part in terms of the functionality. The beak-shaped stone tools have sharpened edges in the lower part so as to be used for cutting. That is, that part was used to cut the stems of millet or African millet for harvesting. The lower part sometimes show a zigzag pattern, indicating that the part functioned as a saw. Since the beak-shaped stone tools were used to cut the plant stems, they could be justifiably called 'Beak-shaped stone denticult tool'.
As explained above, the beak-shaped stone tools are not ancient relics uniquely found in Korean Peninsular. These tools were introduced to the southern part of Korean Peninsular in the early stage of the Earthenware Era prior to the invention of writing skills, and are categorized as harvesting tools for cutting millet and African millet, aiding the farming activities practiced in that era.