Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 1989, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (04): 293-300.

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The role played by Chinese paleoanthropological studies in the history of human evolution—In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the first Peking Man skull

Wu Rukang   

  • Online:1989-12-15 Published:1989-12-15

Abstract: A lot of fossil apes was found in China, among which the most important ones are the Lufcngpithecus lufengensis. It seems close to the common ancestor of the African big apes and australopithecines. Besides, the Gigantopithecus is an interesting form of extinct aberrant ape.
Important representative specimens were found in different stages of human evolution, such as Homo erectus from Lantian, Zhoukoudian and Hexian, archaic or early Homo sapiens from Dali, Jinniushan and Maba and late Homo sapiens from Liujiang, Ziyang and Upper Cave of Zhoukoudian.
The dates of the earliest Homo erectus whether in Indonesia or in China are in controversy. The idea that Homo erectus first originated in Africa and then came to Asia around one million years b.p. has more evidence than the other suggestions at present.
The morphological continuity of human fossils right from Homo erectus to modern Homo sapiens in China clearly exists. Thus it supports the multi-regional model of the theory of origin of modern humankind.
The Chinese human fossils show close relations to the peoples of surrounding areas. A lot of work has also been done on the physical features of modern Han Chinese and many national minority groups.

Key words: Sivapithecus lufengensis; Gigantopithecus; The origin of Homo erectus; The origin of modern Homo sapiens