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Full text of article
'Sekiya A, 1997: Volcanic Ash Layers and Stratigraphy of the Palaeolithic in the Kanto District, Japan. Anthropologie (Brno) 35, 2: 145-151'. |
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Abstract | During the past 10 years, geoarchaeological investigations in Japan have provided a rich information on the Pleistocene occupation of the islands and the local cultural development. Except for the archaeological evidence, multidisciplinary investigations have assembled an immense database on the past volcanic activity which constitutes an integral and principal part of the Japanese Palaeolithic and Quaternary studies. The present research focuses on mapping and chronometric dating of single eruptions in terms of the provenience and geographical extent of individual ash layers which are used as stratigraphic markers for spatial and temporal correlation of individual palaeolithic sites. Tephrachronology plays a major role in the chronological assessment of the earliest cultural record. Further studies should focus on locating identical or closely comparable volcanic ashes resulting from one and the same eruption which could be used for establishment of a broader chronostratigraphic framework over a larger area, particularly for age determination of sites potentially older than 100 ka. | | Keywords | Pleistocene period - Quaternary stratigraphy - Japanese Palaeolithic - Tephra chronology - Pumice and volcanic ash layers - Lithic industry | |
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