A Study on Technological Organization of Stone Tool in the Neolithic Southern Coastal of Korea

This study investigates the manufacturing processes of stone tools excavated from Neolithic sites on the southern coast of Korea, with a particular focus on the environmental and social contexts that influenced technological choices. Special attention is given to differences in the selection and use of raw materials based on the locational types of the sites. The aim is to elucidate the technological strategies adopted through human-environment interactions. To achieve this, Neolithic sites in the region were categorized into three types based on their geographical setting: offshore island, coastal mainland, and estuarine. For each type, the raw materials and production techniques of the excavated stone tools were analyzed. The results reveal that stone tool technology in this region developed primarily around the use of tabular raw materials, with significant variation in material utilization depending on site location. Offshore island sites predominantly used pebble cores and flakes, whereas coastal mainland and estuarine sites showed a higher proportion of tools made from tabular materials. These differences appear to be rooted in environmental factors, particularly the accessibility of raw material resources. Additionally, variations in subsistence strategies across site types also played a critical role in shaping stone tool production. Offshore and coastal island sites likely relied heavily on marine resource gathering and fishing, while estuarine and coastal mainland sites may have developed more complex subsistence systems by exploiting a broader spectrum of available resources. Taken together, the findings suggest that changes in stone tool assemblages were not solely driven by chronological developments, but were closely linked to the natural environment of each site. This highlights how stone tool production and usage in the Neolithic period were shaped by ecological conditions and adaptive resource strategies.