Evaluating the Advent of Neolithic in Southern Kyushu, Japan, through Systematic Ceramic, Lithic, and Paleoenvironmental Studies

Summary

Archaeologists suggest that during the transitions between the Pleistocene and the Holocene, drastic changes occurred in the lifeways of humanity. They are termed the "Neolithization processes." Changes include the advent of food production and sedentism, and the adoption of pottery and ground stones. However, case studies around the world suggest that the timings, order, and nature of the occurrence vary. More case studies are required to better understand the "Neolithization." In this study, we focus on the transitions from the Upper Paleolithic to Initial Jomon periods of southern Kyushu, Japan. The earliest signatures of sedentism are found there. Pottery was adopted at least by 14,000/13,500 years ago by hunter-gatherers. Our previous study suggested that the advent of ceramics is associated with sea level changes but the change in climate and biomes may correspond with the increase in the occupational intensity, the proportion of decorative vessels, and lithic type variability. In this study, we conducted (1) a systematic literature-based investigation of ceramics, stone tools, features, and paleoenvironment, (2) a visual analysis of pottery and stone tools, and (3) map-based research of landscapes. Our results add new understanding to our previous results on the timings of technological, behavioral, and paleoenvironmental changes.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

Keywords

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20323