Techno-functional approach to bifaces: Focusing on the artifacts excavated from site 85-12, Jeongok-ri

A significant number of bifaces were found from Jeongok-ri Site 85-12, which was excavated from 2021 to 2022. Existing research methodology on bifaced stone tools tends to evaluate stone tool culture by quantifying and measuring the morphological characteristics of the artifacts, such as symmetry, regularity, and sophistication. However, these form-centered studies have methodological limitations in that they do not consider various factors that affect the shape of the artifacts, such as the characteristics of the stone that determines the shape of the bifaced stone tool, the properties of the hammer, and the way the stone tool is operated, as well as the spatiotemporal context of the artifacts. Furthermore, the form-centered approach is problematic in that it stereotypes the stone tool culture left behind by ancient human groups in the past and perceives it quite negatively, as can be seen in evaluations such as ‘unplannedness,’ ‘lack of goal- oriented attitude,’ and ‘makeshift stone tool production technology.’ Therefore, this research methodology focused on analyzing the blade, angle, and condition of the hand-held part, which are essential parts of the stone tool, rather than the existing analysis of non-essential and secondary morphological properties. As a result of analyzing the Jeonkok-ri biface stone tools from a technological-functional perspective, unlike those of Western Europe, the Jeonkok-ri biface stone tools had very steep blades on both sides, and had a structure in which there was no part that could be used as a blade except for the sharp blade at the end of the stone tool. In addition, the Jeonkok-ri bifaces are characterized by the fact that most of their natural surfaces remain. In the existing morphological taxonomic studies centered on their shape, stone tools with many natural surfaces were evaluated as ‘primitive.’ However, from a technological-functional perspective, the natural surfaces of the stone tools are merely technical devices to make it easier to hold. In consideration of the above results, the existing evaluation that the Jeonkok-ri biface stone tool manufacturing technology system was unplanned and makeshift should be reconsidered.