2 research outputs found
Late Pleistocene Geology and Paleolithic Archaeology of the Shimaki Site, Hokkaido, Japan
Here, we assess geochronological, sedimentological, stratigraphic, and stone tool data from Shimaki, an Upper Paleolithic site in southeastern Hokkaido, Japan. Overall, we find that Shimaki\u27s landscape context and flakedâstone assemblage are similar to sites in Hokkaido that date to just before or at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Based on several numerical ages, we suggest that the artifactâbearing layer, including a wedgeâshaped core morphologically similar to postâLGM specimens from Siberia, formed during the LGM, and sites like Shimaki with clear stratigraphy, relatively undisturbed cultural material, and what appear to be transitional artifact forms, may be key to answering questions about the origins of microblades, but, without human fossil remains for ancient DNA comparison, are inadequate to address the fate of Late Pleistocene Siberians