The Old Stone Age in Wakayama and Japan

• Outline of the Old Stone Age
  • The oldest period in the long history of human beings is called the Old Sone Age (or the Paleolithic era).
  • Geologically speaking, it is equivalent to the Pleistocene epoch, when cold glacial stages and warm interglacial stages commenced one after another.
  • During one of the glacial stages, A part of the Japanese Islands and the Asian Continent are thought to have been connected by land.
  • During this time, people and animals reached the Japanese Archipelago from various parts of the continent.
  • In those days, humans were nomadic hunters.
  • They used implements made of stone, wood, bones or horns. Stone implements were important for them.
  • The tools assumed a variety of forms with various methods at different times and locations. (Reference: A display in Kagoshima Pref. Reimeikan)

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• Sea Level
  • During the Old Stone Age, global climate was much colder than today, and a lot of sea water was kept on land as ice or snow.
  • It is said that around 30 percent of land was covered with glaciers and average temperature was lower than today by six to seven degrees C. in those days.
  • Sea level was much lower than today and large-sized animals including elephants habitated present Setonaikai Sea.
  • One theory holds that sea level was lower by 140 meters and another theory suggests that it was lower by 80 meters than at present.

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• Stone for Tools
  • Sanukite and obsidian (volcanic glass) were two of notable rocks which were processed into tools. They are easier to work than other stones.
  • Shirataki in Hokkaido is famous for its obsidian.
  • Argillite quartzite from Yamagata and Aomori was used in Tohoku and the southern part of Hokkaido.
  • Obsidian, chart and shale were used in Kanto and Chubu.
  • Sanukite was used in Kinki and Shikoku.
  • Sanukite and obsidian were used in Kyushu.

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• Regionality of Stone Tools in the Old Stone Age
  • In Hokkaido, while knife-shaped stone tools were not many, spears with micro attached (saisekijin 細石刃 in Japanese) appeared earlier than other parts of the Japanese Islands.
  • In Tohoku, stone tool techniques were distinguished.
  • In the Setonaikai Region, long knife-shaped stone tools made of sanukite developed.
  • Influence from the Korean Peninsula spread in Kyushu.
  • As a whole, however, stone tools in the Japanese Islands shared common traits.

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• People's Life in the Old Stone Age
  • Some of their dwellings were　on a hill by a stream
  • Some of their homes were placed in a circular. The central open space is thought to have been important for the residents.
  • They set up pitfalls to catch animals.
  • Accessories such as amber beads in those days have been found in Hokkaido.

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• Wakayama Prefecture in the Old Stone Age
  • Around 25,000 years ago, people seems to have begun to live in present Wakayama Prefecture area.
  • Larches stretched in the highlands and beeches spread in the lowlands.
  • Around 40 archeological sites dating from the Old Stone Age have been found in Wakayama Prefecture. Next places are included in the list.
    • The Fujinami-chiku Ruins and the Habuike Ruins in Kibi, Arida-gawa Town (knife-shaped stone tools and others)
    • The Oike Ruins in Wakayama City (knife-shaped stone tools and others, until the Jomon Period)

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