Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 2022, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (02): 334-341.doi: 10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2021.0031

• Excavation/Investigation Reports • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A preliminary report on the survey and excavation at Anyouzhuang Paleolithic site in Ningguo city, Anhui province

DONG Zhe1(), ZHAN Shijia2   

  1. 1. Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Relics, Anhui Province, Hefei 230601
    2. School of Cultural Heritage, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069
  • Received:2020-11-25 Revised:2021-01-08 Online:2022-04-15 Published:2022-04-13

Abstract:

Since 2003-2004, the Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Relics of Anhui Province conducted a field survey and archaeological excavation at Anyouzhuang Site, which located at the Shuiyangjiang River Basin. A total of fifty-two stone artifacts were discovered in the site, with three specimens from surface collection and forty-nine specimens from digging. The raw materials of these lithics are mainly nearby quartzite river cobbles and quartz is less common. The assemblages of stone artifacts include cores, flakes and stone tools. The lithic technique is free-hand percussion. According to the stone artifacts buried in the homogeneous red soil and vermiculated red soil, it is reasonable to anticipate that early human occupied the site during the Middle Pleistocene. Mode 2 lithic technology is surely existed in Anyouzhuang Site, which includes large core where large flakes are detached, large flakes and large cutting tools. Typical bifacial shaping handaxe is the first time appeared in this river basin. It is also important for discussing the spread of early human and lithic technology diffusion in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Key words: Shuiyangjiang River Basin, Anyouzhuang site, Stone artifacts, Mode 2, Middle Pleistocene

CLC Number: