宮城県の旧石器時代前・中期

Abstract

Since 1980, 38 early and middle Paleolithic sites have been found in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Honshu, Japan. In particular along the Eai River, stratigraphic sequences can be well observed on terraces of tephra. Until now 9 of them, Yamada-Uenodai, Zazaragi, Kitamae, Nakamine C, Shibiki, Babadan A, Nagakuki, Aobayama B, and Kashiwagi had been excavated systematically.Industries from these sites are divided into three groups by typology, lithic reduction systems, raw materials and tephrochronology of the layers including artifacts.The oldest group A which is found from the sites located on the highest terraces is characterized by the small pieces of shattered vein quartz. The small size and crudity of the industry reflect probably only the raw material. Vein quartz is very intractable, but it is broken into fragments with useful, razor-sharp edges. Tools made on these blanks are typologically less specialized. There were also a few andesite artifacts, which gave rather massive and crude impressions. The group A has been found from Babadan A strata 20, 32, 33, Nakamine C stratum VII and Aobayama B stratum 11d. They are older than 110, 000y.B.P.Group B is 110, 000-45, 000y.B.P. As compared with the group A, small tools of quartz are less dominant and tools of siliceous shale are increased. Various kinds of scrapers and points are characteristic of this group. Crude and massive tools such as bifaces, pics, choppings and ovades are also observed. This group was included in Yamada-Uenodai lower, Nakamine C stratum VII and Shibiki stratum 9. The industry of Kashiwagi stratum 7 has a character common to both A and B groups. From stratigraphy and production techniques, industries from Kitamae lower and Shibiki stratum 8 are probably comparable to the later part of this group.Group C is 45, 000-35, 000y.B.P. Major raw material is siliceous shale. Reduction systems and variations of lithic tools are the same as in the group B, however, axe-shaped tools are highly characteristic. Crude tools of andesite are thoroughly disappeared. Babadan A strata 6, 7, Zazaragi stratum 13, Nakamine C stratum III and Shibiki stratum 6 are included this group.Besides the industries found in Miyagi Prefecture, those of Souzudai and Fujiyama may be included in the group B, and Gongenyama II, Irinosawa and Tama New Town No. 471 in the groupes B or C, and Kiribara in the final stage of the group C.From these findings many problems arose as to the migration of Homo erectus, and the transition from early to middle or from middle to late Paleolithic in eastern Asia. Since the beginning of our studies, interdisciplinary researches have been carried out for solution of various questions. Such kind of cooperations shall be maintained and promoted for further investigation.