Paleolithic Nguom Culture of Northern Vietnam

Abstract

Purpose. In North Vietnam, the Nguomian culture has been distinguished, which is characterized by the predominance of flake tools in the techno-typological complex. This industry dates back to the second half of the Upper Pleistocene, preceding the previously identified Sonvian and Hoabinhian. The purpose of this study is to determine the technical and typological characteristics of one of the key monuments of the Nguom industry – the Nguom Rockshelter. For this purpose, a technical and typological analysis of the collection of stone products obtained as a result of excavations in 1981–1982 was carried out.Results. In 2023, 4 589 artifacts of the Nguom Rockshelter were processed, of which 2 437 items were medium and small flakes and 1 284 fragments. The primary splitting of archaeological material is dominated by parallel cores (35 specimens), there are variants of unsystematic (12 specimens) and radial (8 specimens) cores, many core-like fragments (121 specimens). The tool set is represented by a large number of side-scrapers made of flakes and pebbles (22 specimens), retouched flakes with ventral undercut (43 specimens), choppers (25 specimens), adze-shaped objects (6 specimens), and fragmented axes (9 specimens), notched tools (5 copies). There are 25 punctures, 9 checks. Notched tools were mentioned earlier, but a group of artifacts (9 specimens) made of medium flakes should be separately distinguished. The number of single side scrapers is 10 pieces. Of interest is the category of rectangular scrapers with retouching on ¾ of the perimeter, numbering six objects. A series of oval scrapers (10 specimens) is close in shape. End and double scrapers have 52 items. The stone industry of the Nguom Rockshelter can be defined as a flake industry with medium and small tools.Conclusion. In the Late Paleolithic in southern China and Vietnam, both pebble and flake industries coexisted. As in Vietnam, flake complexes are sporadic in South China. These sites are characterized by a large number of tools made of small and medium flakes, simple parallel splitting without preliminary preparation, and the predominance of scrapers in the tool set. The manifestation of the Nguom culture can presumably be considered as a result of the mixing of the alien population in the territory of Southern China and Northern Vietnam with the local original culture in the late Pleistocene.