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Radiocaron Dates and Archaeology of the Late Pleistocene in the Japanese Islands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Akira Ono ,
Hiroyuki Sato ,
Takashi Tsutsumi  and
Yuichiro Kudo
Akira Ono*
Affiliation:
Archaeology Laboratory, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-Osawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
Hiroyuki Sato
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Takashi Tsutsumi
Affiliation:
Archaeological Heritage Section, Miyota Board of Education, Miyota-machi 2663-2, Kitasaku, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Yuichiro Kudo
Affiliation:
Archaeology Laboratory, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Minami-Osawa 1-1, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
*
2Corresponding author. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

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We discuss the radiocarbon chronology of Late Pleistocene archaeology in the Japanese islands. In sum, 429 samples from more than 100 archaeological sites were compiled and then divided into three periods and four stages. The Early Upper Paleolithic, characterized by Trapezoid industries, lasted during approximately 34-26 ka. The Late Upper Paleolithic period includes both the backed-blade stage and point-tool stage, the latter appearing chronologically later than the former. This stage covers ~25–15 ka. The Final Upper Paleolithic and Incipient Jomon are distinguished by the appearance of microblade industries and the emergence of pottery at the end of this period. This period covers approximately 14-12 ka. The microblade tradition, in the broadest sense, is strongly connected to the background of peopling of the New World. New data on the transitional stage from the Middle to the Upper Paleolithic are also discussed in regards to three archaeological sites. Issues on the application of the 14C calibration to the whole Japanese Upper Paleolithic are critically evaluated.

Type
Special Section
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 44 , Issue 2 , 2002 , pp. 477 - 494
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

References

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