Shirataki

Palaeolithic sites in Hokkaido, Japan, with a large number of obsidian artifacts dating from about 18,000-13,000 BC, and including large blades, burins, scrapers, and some bifacial points. There are more bifacial points and microblades in a younger group, which dates c13,000-10,000 BC. The microblades were made by a special technique, called the Yubetsu technique, where a large biface is made into a core which looks like a tall carinated scraper. The technology is also called Yubetsu, though the type site is Shirataki-Hattoridai.

A group of Palaeolithic sites in Hokkaido, Japan. A large number of obsidian, artefacts were recovered during excavations in the 1950s and 1960s. They are divided into two groups, based on radiocarbon and obsidian hydration dates, as well as on the stratigraphy of the Yubetsu river terraces where the sites are located. The older group dates from about 18,000 BC to 13,000 bc, and includes large blades, burins, scrapers, and some bifacial points. There are more bifacial points and micoblades in the younger group, which lasted from about 13,000 to 10,000 BC. The microblades were made by a special technique, called the Yubetsu technique, where a large biface is made into a core which looks like a tall carinated scraper.