Overview

The rise and fall of microblade technology during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene is not only a part of the panorama of global microlithization, but also a key question linked to human adaptive change in the face of climate fluctuation. This monograph creatively uses Lewis Binford's macroecological approach developed from his book Constructing Frames of Reference (2001) against both interglacial and glacial climate conditions, to provide an explanation of variation and change among late Pleistocene and early Holocene microblade-based industries in northeastern Asia. It uses six case studies to discuss two waves of cultural change linked with issues of the origin of microblade technology and the Palaeolithic to Neolithic transition. These cover the formation and convergence of microblade-based societies (MIS 3 to MIS 2), referring to case studies in Siberia and Northern China, and the development and ultimate divergence of microblade-based societies (MIS 2 to MIS 1), involving case studies in the Japanese Archipelago, Eastern Siberia, Northern China, and the Tibetan Plateau.

Full Product Details

Author:   Meng Zhang
Publisher:   BAR Publishing
Imprint:   BAR Publishing
Weight:   0.957kg
ISBN:  

9781407358482

ISBN 10:   1407358480
Pages:   240
Publication Date:   30 November 2021
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

"List of Figures List of Tables Foreword Preface 1. Theoretical Background and Introduction to The Question.. 1.1. Current Theories for the Study of Lithic Technology 1.2. Toward a Paleosociological Research Strategy 1.3. Microblade-based industries in Paleosociological Research 1.4. Organization of the Monograph Part I. Setting The Stage: Microblade Technology and Microblade-Based Societies 2. An Overview of Microblade Technology 2.1. Microblade Technology 2.1.1. Forms of Microcores 2.1.2. Methods of Microblade Production 2.1.3. Microblade Technology as a Composite Technology 2.2. Origin and Spread of Microblade Technology in the Northern Circum-Pacific 2.3. Assessment of the Culture-Historical Approach 2.4. Geography and Climates of NE Asia 2.4.1. Geography of Contemporary NE Asia 2.4.2. NE Asia during the Last Ice Age 2.5. Summary 3. Temporo-Spatial Framework of Microblade-Based Societies in Northeastern Asia 3.1. Microblade-based Societie 3.2. Spatial Framework of Microblade-based Societies 3.2.1. The ""40 Degree North Latitude Phenomenon"" 3.2.2. The Four Regions of NE Asia 3.3. Temporal Framework of Microblade-based societies 3.3.1. Phase I 3.3.2. Phase II 3.3.3. Phase III 3.3.4. Phase IV 3.4. Two Waves of Cultural Change among Microblade-based Societies Part II. Building Frames of Reference 4. The Macroecological Approach 4.1. The Macroecological Approach: Theoretical Background 4.1.1. What is the Macroecological Approach? 4.1.2. Study of the Past Using Modeled Past Climate Data 4.2. Cultural changes among microblade-based societies 4.2.1. Paleoclimate, Technological Organization, and Macroecology 4.2.2. Cultural Changes among Microblade-based Societies: Research Questions 4.2.3. The ""Refugium Model"": A Starting Point to Study the First Wave of Cultural Change 4.2.4. The Pleistocene-Holocene Transition: Investigation of the Second Wave of Cultural Change 4.3. Construction of Input Files for Binford's Frames of Reference from Existing Data Sources 4.3.1. Modern Weather Station Data 4.3.2. The Database for the Last Glacial Maximum 4.3.3. Instructions for Running the EnvCalc2.1 Program 5. Developing A Frame of Reference 5.1. Key Variables 5.2. Climate, Biomes, and Habitat 5.2.1. Climate 5.2.2. Biomes and Habitat 5.3. Minimalist Terrestrial Model: Modelling A-Cultural Adaptation of Human Beings 5.3.1. Population Densities 5.3.2. Subsistence Specialization 5.4. Modelling Density-Dependent Change in Hunter-Gatherer Subsistence 5.4.1. Subsistence: Hunting, Gathering, or Fishing 5.4.2. Projected Population Density 5.4.3. Group Size and Social Organization 5.4.4. Mobility 5.5. Unpacked or Packed: A Growth Rate Model and Density Controlled Subsistence 5.5.1. Mapping Unpacked and Packed Subsistence Specialization 5.5.2. Population Packing and Technological Change 5.6. Lifeways of Hunter-Gatherers: Habitat and Diversity of Behavior 5.6.1. Climate Change and its Impacts on Past Foraging Societies 5.6.2. Vegetation Change 5.6.3. Variables among Different Culture-Ecological Regions 5.6.4. Summary Part III. Cultural Process among Microblade-Based Societies in Northeastern Asia I: Cultural Change during the Last Glacial Maximum 6. High Latitudes of Northeastern Asia: Transbaikal and the Pshk 6.1. Continuously Occupied or Abandoned? 6.2. Assessment of the Previous Viewpoints 6.3. A Macroecological Approach 7. Edge of The Loess 7.1. Local Origin or Exotic Technology: An Assessment of Previous Viewpoints 7.2. A Macroecological Approach Part IV. Cultural Process Among Microblade-based Societies in Northeastern Asia II: Cultural Change During The Pleistocene-Holocene Transition 8. Rise of Jomon: From The Paleo-Honshu Island to the Pshk Peninsula 8.1. The ""Jomon Revolution"" 8.2. A Macroecological Approach 9. Cultural Change in Eastern Siberia and its Neighbors: The Rise of a Mesolithic Adaptation 9.1. The Temporo-Spatial Framework of Archaeological Cultures in Eastern Siberia and Its Neighbors 9.2. A Macroecological Approach 10. Northern China: Food Production and Microblade-based Societies 10.1. Archaeological Sites Associated with Microblade Technology in North China 10.2. Early Intensification or Group Activity: A Study of Plant Use at the Shizitan Site 10.3. Broad Spectrum Revolution and Intensification: A Study of the Pleistocene-Holocene Transition 10.4. The Demise of Microblade-based Societies: A Preliminary Study on Microblade Assemblages during Early Holocene 11. A New Frontier: Microblade-based Societies on the Tibetan Plateau 11.1. Paleolithic and Neolithic on the Tibetan Plateau 11.2. A Macroecological Approach 11.2.1. Sites of the Late Pleistocene 11.2.2. Epipaleolithic Hunter-Gatherers 11.2.3. Neolithic Agriculturalists 11.2.4. A tale of Two Models 12. A New Starting Point for Further Research 12.1. What Has Been Learned? 12.2. Where to Go Next? 12.2.1. The Regions Not Yet Analyzed 12.2.2. Global Microlithization a"

Reviews

'This work by Zhang Meng is monumental in terms of time, geography, and theory, and it sets a high bar for all future work on China's Paleolithic through Neolithic prehistory.' Professor Robert L. Kelly, University of Wyoming 'This important work addresses the evolution of hunter-gatherer societies and the transition to sedentary lifeway. These issues, as well as the development of new technologies by human societies are pivotal subjects in the history of Northeast Asia and the development of human society more generally. To address those issues Meng Zhang is using new and innovative theoretical and methodological perspectives.' Professor Gideon Shelach, Hebrew University of Jerusalem 'Because this work is rooted in a cross-cultural approach to hunter-gatherers, it is informative to researchers throughout the world. Also, it touches upon the peopling of the Americas so would be interesting to researchers working on Paleoindian North America and the early inhabitation of the northern Arctic.' Dr Joshua Wright, University of Aberdeen

Author Information

Meng Zhang (??) is a Junior Research Fellow (Assistant Professor) at the Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology, and the Institute of Archaeological Science, Fudan University. He was awarded his BA and MA at Jilin University, and his PhD at the Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico.

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