Historical overview of the Korean Peninsula’s Paleolithic studies

The article presents the historical overview of Paleolithic research on the Korean Peninsula. The scientific novelty of the work lies in a previously unpublished comprehensive comparative analysis of Paleolithic studies on the Korean Peninsula. Based on the analysis of new archaeological materials introduced into scientific circulation from the Korean Peninsula, existing ideas about the chronology and sequence of the development of Upper Paleolithic industries will be revised. Modern studies of the Korean Paleolithic began in the 1990s. One of the main objectives is to determine the significance of recent research in Northern, Northeastern, and Central Asia for the problem of periodization and identification of the technological repertoire features of the Korean Paleolithic. In addition, the consideration of current views on the problem of distinguishing the stages of the Paleolithic of the Korean Peninsula will make a significant contribution to the discussion on the periodization of the Paleolithic of East Asia and neighboring regions as a whole. At present, it is considered more logical to use a two-stage model for the periodization of the Paleolithic of the Korean Peninsula, in which the Paleolithic era is divided into Early and Late stages (Bae Kidong, Lee Hyeong Woo). However, in some cases, Korean researchers still distinguish the Middle Paleolithic (Lee Heonjong, Lee Kigil, Han Changkyun, Seo Inseong, Kim Kyungjin). Joint comprehensive research by Kazakhstani, Siberian, and Korean archaeologists is aimed at identifying common features and differences in the Paleolithic industries of the Asian part of the Eurasian continent, contributing to the development of the study of the spread of Paleolithic technologies in this region.