Ben Marwick

The aim of the workshop is to provide a forum for discussion among experts in stone artefact archaeology for the Palaeolithic period in East and Southeast Asia in order harmonize our methods and interpretive frameworks. Currently, scholars from several different countries and academic backgrounds work on this subject. The high diversity of current approaches impedes progress on important research questions because we lack widely agreed upon definitions for key concepts, and we collect data in such different ways that direct comparison between assemblages and synthesis of sites is currently impossible. This workshop will provide an opportunity to harmonise these diverse approaches, and define a path forward for stone artefact studies in East and Southeast Asia. We will develop a repertoire of rigorously defined methods, terminology and concepts to improve the potential for comparative and synthetic studies. Such studies are vital for building a solid core of knowledge of the Palaeolithic period in this region, and essential for a firm foundation for future research. We will also discuss and study the use of modern tools and services available to the research community to support the open availability of research data. Using these tools and services are an important practical step to improve the transparency and openness of Palaeolithic research, and to increase the efficiency of reusing data from other researchers.