Characteristics and dating of stone-tool-making workshop sites in the post-neolithic-early metal age in the Central Highlands

Abstract

Examining the characteristics of stone ax-making workshop sites in the Central Highlands is basically considering the level of specialisation of each area through three steps: exploiting raw materials; preliminary forming of shapes, and finishing products. Determining precisely which relics belong to the factory type, relic of residence - workshop, or residence - workshop - burial site is only at a relative level but still suggests us about a fundamental division of labour in prehistoric times. Comparative research on relative and absolute dating of factories uncover the historical process of prehistoric cultures in the Central Highlands. Based on studying and classifying 45 factory relics, this article gives evaluations on three types of the prehistoric stone-toolmaking workshop relics in the Central Highlands.