The Application of the Concept of Archaeological Culture and its Limitation: A Case Study on the Niuchoutzu Culture

• Main Authors: Zhi-JiaTai, 戴志家
• Other Authors: Ching-Yung Chao
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/r5tm8e

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 考古學研究所 === 107 === Among numeruous archaeological sites belonged to the Fine Cord-Marked Pottery Culture, the Niuchoutzu site might be the most representative site in the south- western plain and relatively contains richest archaeological data. Despite of various different time- spatial frameworks proposed before, there remain parts to be clarified pertinent to the archaeological culture itself. This thesis aims to analyze lithic and pottery artifacts from the excavation in 2016 to discuss the Concept of Archaeological Culture, in particular when application on the Niuchoutzu Culture .I quantify both texture and typology of unearthed pottery and apply cluster analysis for observing correlation coefficiency between rims from various available locations in order to establishe comparative study on Niuchoutzu culture. By testing archaeological cultural concepts against pratical archaeological data, the result shows that the most representative pottery type from the Niuchoutzu site is dominated by heavy and thin pot with eave shape in two sides. Furthermore, this type of pots only can be seen in Suo-kang, Pong-hu Islands, and prevail through-out the entire southwestern region. Therefore, it demonstrates the results of interreginal interactions, instead of local productions. Similar example could be found in Bali-Jiucheng to the northern Taiwan , where also have been classified by same dominant pot type as same as Niuchoutzu site. The pottery types in Bali-Jiucheng site have different circulative mode and area of distribution. The identical pattern in Bali-Jiucheng and Niuchoutzu site adequately suggests a discrepancy between structural laws of traditional archaeological culture and comtemporary culture concept. It is also evident that the material boundary of archaeological cultures is not discriminately divided but may have crosscut eachothers. Based on my analyses discussed above, we can draw the conclusion that archaeological.cultures may not accurately and realistically reflect the diverse aspects of material performance. Prehistoric archaeological culture frameworks nowadays in Taiwan are yet satisfactory to explain increasing assembalges of materials recently uncovered. Consequently, it is argued that cultural boundaries should better understood as dynamic, flexible and ever-changing. The problematic task that archaeologists must face is how to formulate a significant classification system from various categories , which can recognize cultural meanings at the time.