Experimental archaeological study on emergence of prehistoric long-range projectile hunting in East Asia

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24720350
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Archaeology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2013-2014); Tohoku University (2012)
• Principal Investigator: SANO Katsuhiro 東京大学, 総合研究博物館, 特任助教 (60587781)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 実験考古学 / 先史学 / 狩猟

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study conducted projectile experiments in order to test correlation between impact trace patterns on stone tips and impact velocities, which allow us to detect emergence of long-range projectile hunting using spearthrower or bow that were often disappeared due to acid sediment in East Asia. The analysis of the experimental specimens provided proxies for identifying long-range hunting armatures based on the impact trace patterns. Furthermore, the investigation of archaeological assemblages suggested that long-range hunting has already been practiced by East Asian modern human groups from the early Upper Palaeolithic.

Free Research Field

先史考古学