A synthetic model of Palaeolithic seafaring in the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3919368
AutoresYousuke Kaifu (0000-0003-0483-104X, The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, autor de correspondencia)
Año2022
Volumen54
Número2
Páginas187-206
Fecha de publicación2022-03-15
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaWorld Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0043-8243 • E-ISSN: 1470-1375
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00438243.2022.2121317
OpenAlexW4296127102
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas5
Referencias citadas54

The rise of water transport technology enabled early modern humans to expand their habitable territory to insular environments. However, apart from intensive discussion for Wallacea, developmental process and regional variation of Palaeolithic seafaring remain unclear. To contribute this issue, the author presents a synthetic model for Palaeolithic seafaring in another region of the western Pacific, the Ryukyu Islands (Ryukyus). Here, some islands were more than 100 km away and invisible beyond the horizon, and one of the world's strongest ocean currents intervened the seaways. Despite these challenging situations, Palaeolithic sites appeared throughout much of the 1,200 km chain of the islands ~35,000–30,000 years ago. By integrating currently available information from archaeology, skeletal morphology, genetics, palaeogeography, oceanography and our own experimental voyage project, the author discusses probable migration routes, possible watercrafts, preparation and strategy needed for successful maritime migrations, and other issues relevant to deeper understanding of the origins and development of human maritime activities

Archaeology · Biogeography · Geography · Palaeogeography · Tectonics · Volcanism · Geology · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · History · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies · Paleontology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology