Patterns of transitions in Paleolithic stages during MIS 3 and 2 in Korea

During MIS 3 and 2, a large proportion of the entire lithic repertories of the Paleolithic episode are represented in the Korean Paleolithic data. The diversification in Late Paleolithic lithic data in Korea calls into question the utility of a unilinear model of successive cultural stages defined by cultural markers. The recent increase in the number of well-controlled archaeological record with radiometric data during MIS 3 and 2 does not support a straightforward relationship with the conventional set of chrono-typological criteria. Radiocarbon dates were examined for reliability in artifact-bearing horizons from 39 Paleolithic sites in Korea. Using high-resolution examples, this paper examines if the transition from early Late Paleolithic (Stage 1) to late Late Paleolithic (Stage 2) is defined by clear-cut discontinuities. Results are not compatible with the traditional expectation of differences in toolkit assemblages between cultural stages. It is concluded that the conventionally known cultural stages are limited for adequately representing the updated data, because of the complex tempo and the non-directional mode shown during transitions. Although distinctive and varied cultural markers are observed, there is also a considerable overlap in the lithic assemblages of different stages. The cultural shifts and diversifications show both saltational and gradualistic shifting during MIS 3 and 2. Results of this paper provide an insight for reconstructing a workable (regionally distinctive) chrono-typological framework.