Shooting and stabbing experiments using replicated trapezoids

Abstract

This paper focuses on trapezoids, a weapon technology of the Initial Early Upper Paleolithic (the IEUP) in the Japanese Islands. A series of shooting and stabbing experiments using replicated trapezoids were conducted to evaluate weapon technology functions during the IEUP. The shooting and stabbing experiments were designed to investigate several factors, including impact velocity, weight of shafts, and hafting methods affecting the formation of impact fractures. Results of the shooting and stabbing experiments and comparisons between experimental specimens and archaeological specimens suggest that hunting weapons equipped with trapezoids had a mechanism of a cushion at their hafting parts or connected parts between shafts and fore-shafts. I was able to identify functional properties (i.e., lethality and strength) of obsidian trapezoids through experiments. Comparisons also indicate that specimens from the Doteue site contain several trapezoids broken by high impact. A characteristic fracture pattern on the broken specimens in both the archaeological specimens and the experimental specimens suggests that hunting weapons equipped with trapezoids were used with complex projectile technologies. Hunting weapons equipped with trapezoids were intended for specific functions. This research identifies complexity in producer decisions involving hunting tool production in the IEUP in the Japanese islands.