섬진강 상류 구석기유적의 분포와 특징

Abstract

78 Paleolithic sites were identified in the upper area of Seomjin River, where a full-scale excavation survey has been conducted since the 2000s. The sites located the upper area have a short separation distance of 0.27㎞ on average from the river due to the geographical characteristics formed by winding through the rugged mountainous areas. In addition, 27% of the sites are distributed in the main stream, not in tributaries.In the geological structure, the Seomjin River basin is distributed with metamorphic rocks consisting of Sobaek mountain and Jiri mountain gneiss layers of the Precambrian era. However, the upper area consists of acid volcanic and sedimentary rocks from the Mesozoic Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Therefore, it is easy to obtain raw material with a dense particle structure that can be collectively referred to as the 'Rhyolite' compared to the middle and lower areas. As a result, raw material use is observed that is clearly distinguished from the middle and lower areas in the lithic technology of sites equipped with the same lithic technology. In the upper area of Seomjin River, which shows characteristics compared to middle and lower areas in the distribution of sites and the use of raw material, a soil profile that connects bright brown, dark brown, and reddish brown is observed. Most stone tools are identified with blade and micro-blade lithic technology in the light brown layer.In terms of the characteristics of soil profile, absolute dating, and lithic technology, this period corresponds to the Seomjin River Phases IV and V, which can be seen as the prime of the Paleolithic culture of Seomjin River. During this period, a group that owns blade･micro-blade lithic technology in the middle and lower areas of Seomjin River chose raw material called 'Rhyolite' for efficient application of the technology. In addition, it can be seen that the Paleolithic groups with blade･micro-blade lithic technology spread to the upper area of Seomjin River around 20,000 BP as they advance into the upper area to acquire the raw material. After that, the upper area of Seomjin River forms a site with regional diversity from the end of the Upper Paleolithic to the time when neolithic elements emerge.