Human activity and lithic technology between Korea and Japan from MIS 3 to MIS 2 in the Late Paleolithic period

There are many explanations for the complicated and diverse sets of cultural features in the region around the East Sea/Sea of Japan, including the Korean Peninsula, Japanese archipelago and the maritime region. The cultural aspects of the people from MIS 3 to MIS 2 show distinctive regional differences. The unique hunting cultures of the late Upper Pleistocene were created according to each local environment. Various kinds of spears and other implements were produced in these local areas, including tanged points, bilateral points, knife-shaped tools, and bifacial points.Sea level changes in the Upper Pleistocene caused different patterns in human migration in this region. Land bridges at the time of lowered sea level disappeared during the period of climatic warming and could not provide any terrestrial route for human movement between two regions.Given the archaeological examples from around the East Sea/Sea of Japan, human activity was considerably limited between countries. People of the Late Paleolithic in Korea and Japan shared and developed flake techniques, such as the blade and micro-blade techniques. During MIS 3 and MIS 2, the emergence of the Late Paleolithic in Japan was very likely influenced by the Late Paleolithic in Korea. Human activity between Korea and Japan is very important to understanding the Late Paleolithic culture in Northeast Asia.