Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to understand the general form and distinct features of the Tanged points that are the typical hunting weapon in the Upper Paleolithic of the Korean Peninsula, and to understand the manufacturing techniques of Tanged points. Tanged points were first recovered and recognized in 1964 from the site of Seokjang-ri, the first Paleolithic site to be excavated in the southern part of Korea. Following this, 48 Tanged points were uncovered at the Suyanggae site in 1983.To date, these artifacts have now been confirmed at 33 Upper Paleolithic sites in the Korean Peninsula, ranging from 35,000 to 15,000 BP, with most dates between 25,000 and 15,000 BP. Many researchers have suggested varying definitions of Tanged points in the past. However, the precise criteria that distinguishes the categories of Tanged points have been neglected. Hence, research has regarded Tanged points as a type of tool composed of a “point part” and a “tang part”, with the latter accomplishing the function of hafting. The tool is made on a long and thin flake or blade, with ridges on the dorsal side of blanks. The lithic raw material should not break easily, such as siliceous shale. Many occupation layers found with Tanged points have obsidian flakes, but only two obsidian Tanged points have been found in the Korean Peninsula. The reason can be found in the attributes of this raw material, and in the proportions of the raw materials in relation to the ratio of flakes, blades, and microblades. Tanged points were eventually replaced by small tools such as arrows in the late Pleistocene.

Key words: Tanged points; Upper Paleolithic; Korean Peninsula; Manufacturing techniques