Learning Behavior of Sanukite Knapping Among the Upper Palaeolithic Communities of Suichoen, Japan

Abstract

This paper presents a case study of the learning behaviors among Upper Palaeolithic modern humans in the Japanese Archipelago. The study is based on an analysis of numerous refit sets of lithic artifacts excavated in situ at the Suichoen site in western Japan, dated from between approximately 30 and 20 ka. The analysis used three steps: (1) reading more than 150 refits to evaluate the knappers' skills, (2) identifying the individual knapper in each lithic concentration (i.e., "post"), and (3) analyzing the spatial and contextual relationships of the knappers/lithic concentrations, and hence communication between the knappers. Based on the results, the learning behaviors at this site can best be described as laissez-faire, with experts having limited control of beginners. At the same time, the practice of specific behaviors (i.e., demonstrating, ordering, and teaching) was also suggested. These features match well with the learning behaviors observed in ethnographies of modern hunter-gatherers.