Obsidian in prehistoric complexes of the southern Kurile islands (the Russian Far East): A review of sources, their exploitation, and population movements

Obsidian provenance studies in the southern Kuriles (Kunashir and Iturup islands), part of the insular Russian Far East, are reviewed and summarized for the first time. The sites analyzed belong to the Jomon (ca. 7300-2500 BP), Epi-Jomon (ca. 2500-1400 BP), and Okhotsk (ca. 1400-800 BP) cultural complexes, with particular attention given to the well-studied Yankito 2 site. The main sources of high-quality volcanic glass for the southern Kuriles were on the neighboring Hokkaido Island-Oketo and Shirataki (ca. 140-390 km away). The presence of obsidian at an Epi-Jomon site on southern Kunashir Island originating from remote sources on the Kamchatka Peninsula ca. 1290-1440 km away is an important contribution to understanding the prehistoric contacts and population dispersals that occurred within insular Northeast Asia. This is also supported by paleoanthropological and DNA data from Epi-Jomon human remains on Iturup, showing similarities with native Kamchatkan populations. The use of boats in the southern Kuriles is evident from the beginning of colonization, ca. 7300-7100 BP given that islands were not connected after the Early Holocene due to sea level rise. It is clear that seafaring was an important part of human activities throughout the entire island chain since the Epi-Jomon, ca. 2500 BP. Because the Kurile Islands were one of the most probable migration routes between Northeast Asia (i.e., Japan) and Northeastern Siberia and North America, study of the human colonization of the Kuriles has wider implication for the northeastern part of Eurasia as a gateway to the Americas.

Automated summary

This study provides a comprehensive review and summary of obsidian provenance in the southern Kuriles (Kunashir and Iturup islands), revealing the main sources of high-quality volcanic glass to be Hokkaido Island and the Kamchatka Peninsula. The presence of obsidian from Kamchatka at an Epi-Jomon site on southern Kunashir Island contributes to our understanding of ancient contacts and population dispersals in insular Northeast Asia. The use of boats in the southern Kuriles has been evident since the beginning of colonization, highlighting the importance of seafaring activities in the region. Considering the Kurile Islands as a migration route between Northeast Asia, Siberia, and North America, the study of human colonization in the Kuriles has broader implications for Eurasia as a gateway to the Americas.