Evolution Of The Technical Behaviours During The Late Pleistocene And Early Holocene In North-Western Thailand, With Special Reference To The Lithic Industry From Tham Lod Rockshelter (District Pang Mapha, Mae Hong Son Province)

Identifier:  TDX:2331

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2331

Authors:  Chitkament, Thanon

Abstract:
This dissertation presents the analysis of lithic assemblages that have been unearthed from the late Pleistocene layers 3 to 10 of Tham Lod Rockshelter (excavation area 2, sectors S20W10 & S21W10). This limestone-karstic rock shelter is situated in Pang Mapha district of Mae Hong Son Province, north-western Thailand. On the lines of the research questions outlined by of The Highland Archeological Project, this site was excavated from 2002 to 2006 under the direction of R. Shoocongdej. The radiometric analyses provided dates ranging from late Pleistocene (35 ka, TL, which is one of the oldest dates for a prehistoric site in this region) to late Holocene (3000 years BP). The lithic and faunal remains occur in thousands throughout the stratigraphic sequence; ceramics and metal items appear in the upper layer (Holocene). Noteworthy are the few human burials in the late Pleistocene layers (13 ka BP). Typical sumatraliths, the signature of the Hoabinhian technical tradition, start appearing in the lower layers, yet seem to be absent in the very bottom layer 10; they become conspicuous in the layer 4 (around 24-20 ka). However, they decrease in proportion in the last Pleistocene layer 3 to the benefit of choppers. They are associated with partial sumatraliths (not shaped all around), approximately equally frequent. Conversely, core tools (>100 mm) are almost exclusively choppers in lower layers 10 to 8. The scrapers are the major type among the small tools (<100 mm) and their frequency is quite constant throughout the stratigraphy. They are mostly shaped on broken cobbles, except in the layer 10 where the very few ones are on flake or fragment. Other small tools like denticulates, pointed tools and “atypical small tools” are not frequent in the studied material.