当“石器研究”成为一门专业：王幼平著《石器研究：旧石器时代考古方法初探辩介

石器研究已经成为史前考古巾相当专门的领域,西方学术界许多最具影响的入门指南一直未能在中国得到重视。近年中国旧石器时代考古学者中常有一些有关石器研究基本概念的争论,一方面显示出学界对于石器研究规范化的热情,另一方面也说明中国旧石器研究在基础方法论方面还亟待加强。王幼平著《石器研究：旧石器时代考古方法初探》是由中国学者撰写的第一部系统介绍石器研究基本方法的著作,在中国旧石器考古学研究史上具有重要意义。     

沈阳市康平县东小陵西山旧石器地点的石器研究

2011年4月,沈阳市文物考古研究所和吉林大学边疆考古研究中心合作,在康平和法库两县秀水河及辽河地区发现旧石器地点14处,通过分析可将之分为大石片石器、小石片石器和细石叶三个工业类型,年代相当于旧石器时代晚期至新旧石器时代过渡时期。其中东小陵西山地点为小石片石器工业类型中石器具有表性的一处地点。     

沈阳市康平王立岗窝堡东山旧石器地点发现的石器研究

近年来,沈阳旧石器考古调查成果逐渐填补了沈阳地区旧石器地点的空白,这些新发现与晚更新世古生物化石一起,为复原沈阳地区晚更新世的面貌提供了重要的材料.2011年4月,吉林大学边疆考古研究中心和沈阳市文物考古研究所组成旧石器考古调查队,对沈阳市的康平和法库两县进行了为期15天的旧石器考古调查.本次调查在秀水河和辽河的Ⅱ、Ⅲ级阶地上,共发现旧石器地点14处,石器1029件（极少部分出在地层内）,其中包括石片、石核、一类工具（石锤、石砧）、二三类工具（刮削器、尖状器和砍砸器等）,可以分为大石片石器、小石片石器和细石叶三个工业类型.年代跨度为距今3万年至1万年,相当于旧石器时代晚期至新旧石器时代过渡阶段①.王立岗窝堡东山旧石器地点即为其中一处石器较为丰富、具有代表性的地点.该地点发现石器75件,大多采自地表耕土层.     

石器技术的潜力

美国考古学家唐·克雷布特利是与法国旧石器考古学家弗朗索瓦·博尔德齐名的石器技术和实验考古学巨擘,是他们两位将打制石器实验带入了受人尊敬的科学殿堂。在本文中,克雷布特利回顾了石器技术和实验考古在欧美旧石器学界被广泛重视和推广的过程及对打制石器研究的重要意义。对于他文中提到的1964年莱塞济会议,博尔德也有如下评论:"这次会议最明显的一个现象是,在克雷布特利、蒂克西亚和我之间很容易交流的信息,很难传递给那些手里从未握过石锤和鹿角的考古学家。我觉得,石器打制实验一定要成为每一个对史前史感兴趣的考古学家所必须受训的一部分"。在我国目前的旧石器研究论文中,我们仍见到大量诸如正向、反向、错向加工,以及素台面、零台面、脊台面和各种器物的分类和描述。虽然这是我国学者对石制品观察的经验总结,但是在读了这篇文章后可以意识到,如果不了解石器打制技术和人类行为方式,这样以特征描述为取向的研究方式并不能增进我们对石制品和人类行为和文化发展的了解。更有甚者,我们常见一些旧石器新手在报告中为其在旧石器时代早中期组合中鉴定出所谓的雕刻器、端刮器和尖状器等晚期类型而欣喜不已。正如本文所言,如果不了解石器技术的片疤形成原因,对一些零星孤证的鉴别很容易出错,可能将石片破碎过程中偶尔形成的假象误断为史前人类刻意所为。因此,虽然中国旧石器考古学有了长足的进步,但是也应该在石器技术上急起直追,将熟悉和掌握打制和剥片技能作为分析研究的基础。     

丹江口库区旧石器时代文化初探——以近年来南水北调中线工程考古新发现为例

近十余年间为配合南水北调中线工程,国内多家考古单位在丹江口库区抢救性发掘并报道了一批旧石器时代考古材料。本文通过对这些材料的石制品属性进行分类统计和系统分析,发现从早更新世晚期较晚阶段至晚更新世晚期,该区域存在“砾石石器工业”“石片石器为主、砾石石器为辅工业”“砾石石器为主、石片石器为辅工业”和“石片石器工业”四类遗存,并在一定程度上指示了人群的迁徙与文化的交流。通过对该区域旧石器文化的分析和比较,对了解南方旧石器文化的发展演变、探讨南北方旧石器文化交流具有重要意义。     

辽宁宽甸县太平哨镇北山旧石器地点调查简报

2014年4月,吉林大学边疆考古研究中心与辽宁省文物考古研究所对辽宁省丹东地区进行旧石器考古调查,其中宽甸满族自治县太平哨镇北山地点发现石器49件。石器原料以石英砂岩为主,打制方法为锤击法。石器包括石核、石片以及二、三类工具。工具可分为刮削器和砍砸器两类。从石器总体特征来看,应属大石器工业类型,年代推测为旧石器时代晚期。     

骨质修理器——石器修理的新视角

本文介绍在欧洲旧石器时代遗址中发现较多的用于修理石器的动物骨头和牙齿。这类工具被称为骨质修理器,为解读石器修理技术和人类对动物资源的利用提供了重要线索。文章通过实验揭示了骨质修理器的操作过程、效能及其痕迹特征,有助于分析修理器的技术和行为内涵。从技术操作和原材料的来源与供给来看,使用骨头或牙齿修理石器是很有效的方法且成本低。最后从考古材料来看,骨质修理器在欧洲旧石器时代中期和晚期常见,而在东亚尚未发现。这种分布特点可能反映了人类对原材料选择利用和文化传统的差异;另一方面随着我们对骨质修理器的关注和认识,随着动物遗存与石制品综合系统研究的开展,这种工具有可能在更多地区被发现,为研究旧石器时代的技术和人类行为提供更丰富的材料与视角。     

萨拉乌苏河旧石器时代考古史(下)

萨拉乌苏河旧石器是中国旧石器时代考古序幕的重头戏,“河套人”与“北京人”和“山顶洞人”及其文化曾经以“三步曲”长期掌控中国旧石器时代考古舞台。萨拉乌苏河的旧石器时代考古历经将近一个世纪,地层和古人类学等方面有了较大发展,然而旧石器时代考古研究却进展甚微,特别是有关考古术语的畸形演化,突显出中国旧石器时代考古不甚严肃的科学作风。本文对这一历程的充实期和综合科学研究期(20世纪50年代至今)作了回顾性研究。     

萨拉乌苏河旧石器时代考古史(上)

萨拉乌苏河旧石器是中国旧石器时代考古序幕的重头戏,“河套人”与“北京人”和“山顶洞人”及其文化曾经以“三步曲”长期掌控中国旧石器时代考古舞台。萨拉乌苏河的旧石器时代考古历经将近一个世纪,地层和古人类学等方面有了较大发展,然而旧石器时代考古研究却进展甚微,特别是有关考古术语的畸形演化,突显出中国旧石器时代考古不甚严肃的科学作风。本文对这一历程的开拓期和稳固期(19世纪末至20世纪50年代)作了回顾性研究。     

吉林两江镇旧石器地点发现的石器研究

2006年4月,吉林大学边疆考古研究中心与吉林省文物考古研究所联合对延边朝鲜族自治州进行旧石器时代遗址专项调查,共发现旧石器时代遗址地点7处,海沟金矿和石人沟两处地点发现的石器数量虽不多,但却具有代表性,故本文对其发现的石器进行分析研究.     

The Upper Paleolithic Assemblages of Shugnou,Tajikistan

Lithic industries from the key strati?ed Upper Paleolithic site at Shugnou, Tajikistan, are described. Results of the technological, typological, and attributive analyses suggest that the industries of all horizons represent a single cultural tradition. Its evolution was marked by a gradual transformation of the microblade technology with the use of carinate techniques. This tradition is paralleled by lithic assemblages from Kulbulak layers 2.1 and 2.2, Kyzyl-Alma-2, and Dodekatym-2, Uzbekistan     

Levantine Perspectives on the Middle to Upper Paleolithic “Transition”

This article presents a synthesis of the presently available data concerning the processes and meaning of the technical changes in lithic productions across the Middle Paleolithic/Upper Paleolithic boundary in the Levant. As a “corridor” between Africa and Eurasia, this area is of first importance in the discussion of Modern Human origins. The results of several new field projects (especially concerning the Initial Upper Paleolithic), the recent lithic technological studies (based on the chaîne opératoire concept) as well as radiometric dating were used here to discuss the rhythms and processes of technical changes at the onset of the Upper Paleolithic, examining carefully the lithic repertoire from the Late Middle Paleolithic through the Initial Upper Paleolithic from Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and Israel. This paper puts forward the idea that the emergence of Upper Paleolithic technical characteristics did not occur following a single process, even in the same region (here the Levant), but most probably followed a “mosaic” pattern. However taking into account the data presently available, the main basic scenario for the onset of the Upper Paleolithic in this region would have been the generalization of new technical traits that would have emerged within certain local Late Middle Paleolithic and the following Initial Upper Paleolithic groups. If a diffusion phenomenon should be considered, as claimed by many scholars, the available information suggests that it has functioned more as a stimulus rather than the simplistic scenario of a catastrophic wave of population and the resulting acculturation.     

Finding the message in intricacy: The association of lithics and fauna on Lower Paleolithic Multiple Carcass Sites

This paper examines alternative models for the interpretation of Lower Paleolithic Multiple Carcass Sites based on analysis of the site of Holon, Israel. The nature of the lithic and faunal assemblages found at Holon are most consistent with a palimpsest site that represents repeated occupations of a marsh edge location by both hominids and carnivores, the remains of which have been moderated by natural agencies. It is argued that ambush hunting by hominids was likely to have been one of the activities involved in the accumulation of lithic and faunal remains on the site. A comparison of the lithic assemblage found at Holon with the lithic assemblages from Lower Paleolithic Single Carcass Sites suggest differences between the activities that took place on these sites and the type of activities that took place at Holon.     

Evaluating morphological variability in lithic assemblages using 3D models of stone artifacts

Technological and morphological variability in lithic artifacts is commonly used to identify taxonomic entities in Paleolithic research contexts. Assemblages are mainly studied using either linear distance measurements or qualitative assessments of morphologies. Here, we present a method to quantify morphological variability in lithic artifacts using 3D models of stone artifacts. Our study on the sequence of the Upper Paleolithic layers V–I from the site Yabroud II in western Syria, demonstrates that utilizing 3D models provides a new insight into the variability of lithic technologies. We use quantitative data on convexities, twist and scar patterns on cores and blades, attributes previously not readily quantifiable, to trace technological change through the archaeological sequence. We are able to identify differences and translate these findings into a grouping of the layers. While layers VI–II are characterized by technological continuity and were grouped together, layers V and I can be separated from this group and represent technologically different groups chronologically before and after. Our results demonstrate the potential of 3D models for studying morphological variability in lithic assemblages.     

Lithic use-wear analysis of the Early Gravettian of Vale Boi (Cape St. Vicente,southern Portugal): insights into human technology and settlement in southwestern Iberia

During the Upper Paleolithic, lithic variability is one of the most important keys to recognize hunter-gatherer behavior, technology, ecology, and social dynamics. The origin and expansion of Gravettian populations in Eurasia has been seen as one of the most critical episodes in human evolution, argued to be the first clear evidence of the so-called polymorphism among modern human populations. In the case of southern Iberian Peninsula, recent data have shown a new regional and diachronic organization for the Gravettian occupation in this region. Therefore, the interpretation of such variability is one of the most important questions, and functional analysis is a fundamental proxy to recognize human technological, settlement and ecological adaptations as major factors for this polymorphism. This study focused on lithic use-wear analysis of the Early Gravettian of Vale Boi (southern Portugal), in order to understand lithic technological organization and variability within and between occupations at the site. Results show similar patterns between assemblages, showing that different materials were worked at the site, although showing reduced time of work, low variability and percentage of pieces used. Unlike other Gravettian contexts in southern Iberia, the Early Gravettian from Vale Boi is characterized by some variability of backed points, marked by the predominance of bipointed double-backed bladelets. Functional analysis of the Early Gravettian lithic industries of Vale Boi provide a new insight to interpret human technology and settlement strategy during the onset of Upper Paleolithic industries in western Eurasia.     

Exploitation of Lithic Raw Material in The Northwestern Caucasus Upper Paleolithic

Sources of lithic raw material discovered by the authors are described with special regard to methods of transporting stone to Upper Paleolithic sites in the northwestern Caucasus. The analysis of obsidian artifacts suggests that materials were imported from remote regions such as the central and South Caucasus, evidencing mobility patterns in the Upper Paleolithic.     

New Archaeological Books and Journals

Abstract

As part of a research program aimed at clarifying the date of the Middle Paleolithic in Greece and its relationship with contemporary industries in the Balkans, a survey of the Larisa area of Thessaly for Paleolithic remains was undertaken in 1987. The results of this survey are reported, along with a reinterpretation of the available evidence in Greece for the date of the Middle Paleolithic. The banks and terrace system of the Peneios River were systematically searched along with those parts of Thessaly with deposits old enough to contain prehistoric artifacts. In 1987, we discovered 32 find spots and collected211 lithic artifacts. The lithic artifacts are Middle and Upper Paleolithic types, and are dated by their association with the fluviatile deposits exposed by downcutting of the river. Radiometric dates for the fluviatile deposits indicate an age of 45–27 KYA (thousands of years ago) for the Paleolithic finds. Other dates for the Middle Paleolithic in Greece are on the same order. The Thessalian Paleolithic industry is a Levallois-Mousterian facies with bifacial leafpoints, side Scrapers, Mousterian points, denticulates, andAurignacian-type end scrapers, burins, retouched Blades, and bifacial leafpoints with rounded bases. The Thessalian industry with its mixture of Middle and Upper Paleolithic types, is similar to other assemblages in Greece. The Greek Levallois-Mousterian resembles the Szeletian of Hungary and is of approximately the same age. It was perhaps produced by late Neanderthals in contact with an anatomically-modern human population. Late Upper Paleolithic Epigravettian and Mesolithic industries were not identified in Thessaly and are rare in Greece. Some areas may have been uninhabited or little used until 9 KYA when the first Neolithic settlements appear in Thessaly.     

Reassessment of the Lower Paleolithic (Acheulean) presence in the western Tien Shan

Kulbulak (Uzbekistan) is among the most important Paleolithic sites in Central Asia. Based on excavations from the 1960s to the 1980s, a stratigraphic sequence yielding 46 archeological horizons of the Lower, Middle and Upper Paleolithic has been described. The lowermost 22 layers were at that time defined as Acheulean, both in cultural and chronological aspects. Based on these previous works, Kulbulak has thus often been cited as one of the rarest occurrences of Lower Paleolithic and Acheulean in the region. However, this attribution was debatable. New excavations at Kulbulak in 2007–2010 provided new material and the first reliable dates that permitted us to tackle this issue. Moreover, a reappraisal of the lithic collections and documents from previous excavations was also conducted. These new data clearly indicate the absence of Acheulean or even Lower Paleolithic at Kulbulak. On the contrary, the lithic assemblages from this site only correspond to Middle and Upper Paleolithic periods. The lowermost layers are particularly interesting due to the presence of an early industry with blade and bladelet technology.     

Neanderthal settlement patterns in Crimea: A landscape approach

Traditional settlement pattern analysis involves classifying sites within a region using previously established functional categories. Faunal and lithic data are frequently combined as archaeological indicators of site function. The results are interpreted in terms of a settlement system from which inferences about mobility patterns and social organization are drawn. The previously published site of Karabi Tamchin is used here as a spring-point for a discussion of the problems inherent with established site typologies and some of the settlement models that have been proposed in the past. The rich Middle Paleolithic archaeological record of Crimea is used to demonstrate the usefulness of the landscape approach as a means of supplementing existing information about Middle Paleolithic settlement patterns.     

Standing at the gates of Europe: Human behavior and biogeography in the Southern Carpathians during the Late Pleistocene

This study presents a behavioral analysis of Middle and Upper Paleolithic lithic assemblages from 14 sites located in the southern Carpathian Mountains. Using a whole assemblage behavioral indicator, we show that the hominins that manufactured those stone tools do not appear to have differed in terms of the flexibility of the mobility strategies they employed to exploit their landscapes. Rather than biological change, we argue that large-scale climate changes are likely more important drivers of behavioral changes during the Late Pleistocene of the region, including during the Middle–Upper Paleolithic transition. These results agree well with the results of studies having employed this methodology in other regions, suggesting that this is a generalized feature of the transition across Eurasia. Recasting the transition as a mainly ecological rather than purely biocultural process allows us to generate new perspectives from which to approach the question of behavioral change during the Late Pleistocene, and ultimately suggests that the process referred to as the ‘Middle–Upper Paleolithic transition’ is essentially a brief segment of a much more extensive process driven by prehistoric human–environment interactions that would culminate in the highly logistical mobility strategies documented throughout the continent at the Last Glacial Maximum.