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    15 June 2015, Volume 34 Issue 02
    The Stone Artifacts from Shangshazui, Nihewan Basin
    WEI Qi, PEI Shuwen, FENG Xingwu, AO Hong, JIA Zhenxiu
    2015, 34(02):  139-148. 
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    A total of 34 pieces of stone artifacts in association with a variety of mammalian fossils were recovered from the Lower Pleistocene sediments at the Shangshazui locality in the Nihewan basin. The artifact categories include cores, flakes, modified pieces, and “chunks”. The first stone artifact at the locality was discovered by Gai Pei in 1972 as reported in Vertebrata PalAsiatica (1974). The artifact is thus among the earliest reported archeological discovery in East Asia. Subsequently, in 1980 the artifact-bearing layer was attributed to the Upper Pleistocene and correlated with a terrace on the Sanggan He (River). Most recently, further research at the Shangshzui locality indicates that the artifact-bearing layer is in fact attributable to the Lower Pleistocene sediments of the Nihewan Formation.These are now known to be situated between Jaramillo and Olduvai subchrons, thus suggesting a maximum age 1.6-1.7 million years old.
    A Preliminary Report on the Excavation of the Shujialing Paleolithic Site in the Danjiangkou Reservoir Region
    LI Yiyuan, GAO Chenglin, XIANG Kaiwang
    2015, 34(02):  149-165. 
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    The Shujialing Paleolithic site, buried in the third terrace of the right bank of the Hanshui River, is located in Shujialing village, Niuhe town, Danjiangkou City, Hubei Province. As a salvage archeological project, the site was excavated from March to July 2012 by the staff of the Institute of Hunan Provincial Archaeological and Cultural Relics. This excavation exposed an area of about 2784m2, and 1954 stone artifacts were unearthed form the site. Fifty-four stone artifacts were also surface collected from the site. The stone assemblage includes cores (n=158), flakes (n=294), chunks (n=437), raw material types (n=942), hammers (n=12) and retouched tools (n=111). About seven kinds of raw materials are utilized in core reduction and tool manufacture, with quartz being the predominant type(49.8% of the assemblage. The principal flaking technique is direct hammer percussion without core preparation. Three kinds of blanks for tool fabrication are pebbles, flakes and chunks, with pebbles being the predominant type. There are five retouched tool classes identified: choppers, scrapers, picks, points and cleavers that are all retouched by direct hammer percussion. According to the survey, lithic raw materials were locally available from ancient riverbeds close to the site. Generally the extent of raw material consumption was low judging from the characters of cores and flakes. Picks and choppers are large and medium in size, while the scrapers and points are small. In general, the stone tool assemblage shows close associations with the Pebble Tool Industry (Main Industry) in South China. Compared to previous periods, more light-body tools including scrapers were more common as was the amount of quartz. Geomorphological and chronological comparison with other sites indicates that the age of this site is late Pleistocene, namely the Middle Paleolithic. The Hanshui River region is situated in a transitional area between the two main industries of north and south China, an important region for early hominid occupation, migration and cultural exchange during Pleistocene. Thus excavation of the Shujialing site enriches the human occupation details in this area and also bears great significance in studying human occupation behaviors of the Late Pleistocene.
    A Study on Cores Unearthed from the Shuidonggou Locality 12 in 2007
    YI Mingjie, GAO Xing, WANG Huimin, PEI Shuwen, CHEN Fuyou
    2015, 34(02):  166-179. 
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    This paper is a systematic analysis of the cores unearthed from the Shuidonggou Locality 12 in 2007, which includes 46 traditional flake technological cores, 82 bipolar cores, and 95 microcores. Based on the sizes and technological characters of the cores, it is reasonable to say that the flake cores are preparations of microcores. Bipolar technology is mainly used for working on smaller sizes or good quality raw materials represented by chert, which may not be suitable for direct/indirect flake technology. Microblade technology is key to this site with wedge-shaped microcores the most systematic. The phenomenon of microblade technology in North China during the Late Upper Paleolithic was widespread, and was the technological support for hunter-gatherers to subsist in the climatic fluctuations during the end of Pleistocene.
    Refitting Analysis of Stone Artifacts from the Xujiacheng Site, Gansu Province, North China
    LI Feng, CHEN Fuyou, LI Gang, WANG Shan, GAO Xing
    2015, 34(02):  180-191. 
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    The Xujiacheng site is a significant Paleolithic site yielding plenty of archeological materials, buried in the Malan Loess overlying the second terrace of the Shuiluo River in Zhuanglang County, Gansu Province. AMS14C dating and comparing climate events with other sites indicate that the entire suite of assemblages span a period from roughly 46,000 to 23,000 calibrated radiocarbon years BP. Refitting analysis shows that the distribution of stone artifacts in the main archaeological layers (4B, 4C) resulted from stone flaking and retouch, probably combined with intentional artifact movements by ancient occupants. The sparse distribution in the upper layer(4A) may demonstrate that the site was located at the edge of the main occupied area during the time span of 4A. Hard hammer percussion is the main technique for flaking, and cores are always rotated to exploit the stone on several flaking surfaces. Ancient occupants may have moved the broken stone tools to other places and reused them. Distribution of refitted pieces revealed that there were two main flaking areas, and occupants made the tools in the same area. Limited by raw materials and the small excavated area, this research does not show the potential of refitting analysis. Future studies should combine more research strategies together, such as use wear, lithic technology, and minimum analytical nodule analysis, to understand site formation and human behavior.
    Replication Experiments on Lithic Products from the Taosi Site Including Analysis of Production Techniques for Ground Stone Tools
    ZHAI Shaodong
    2015, 34(02):  192-201. 
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    This paper introduces the purpose, methods, processes and results of experimental replication of stone tools from the Taosi site. Before the experiment, a few requirements were needed in order to make the experimental results fit as closely to the original situation. First, raw materials used in the experiment were collected around Taosi. Second, the methods used in the experiment conformed to the hypothesized social development level. Third, the experiment used standard lithics procedures. Fourth, the experimental process was recorded in detail, including size and weight of the material before and after each step. The production level in this experiment was regarded as the lowest among craftsmen of the Taosi culture because the flintknapper in this experiment had no experience in producing stone tools. The experiment replicated 10 ground stone tools, including one knife, one axe, four adzes, three wedges and one chisel. Although the experiment also produced six spear-shaped blanks and three decorations, this paper focuses on replicated ground stone tools. In the experiment, each tool was replicated according to the following procedure: raw material and shape selection; flaking; pecking; grinding; drilling; polishing”. During the experiment, various techniques were considered, including time cost during the process; tools required for each technique; and shape result from using each technique. The experiment showed that the procedures to make ground stone tools were easy but time consuming because the inexperienced flintknapper in this experiment could succeed in making all the ground stone tools. We noted that not every technique was required in each replication due to raw materials shape and characteristics, and the shape of the target tool form. We conclude that the techniques for making ground stone tools were simple and easy to operate.
    Body Size of Neolithic Human Remains from the Qihe Cave, Zhangping, Fujian
    FANG Yuan, FAN Xuechun, LI Shiming
    2015, 34(02):  202-215. 
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    Stature, body mass and cranial capacity are very important physical characteristics that reflect human body size, development, nutrition and health condition. In this study, we examine new human female remains from Qihe Cave II that dates about 9500 years ago. Results of this research show that the stature of Qihe Cave II is 160.3 cm, with a body mass of 59.9 kg. Compared with other Neolithic females and Paleolithic samples, Qihe Cave II is well-developed in stature, body mass and cranial capacity. It suggests a suitable living environment and good nutritional status for the Qihe Cave human. Our research also indicates that differences in body size and shape between south and north populations have showed a transitional period from the Paleolithic to early Neolithic.
    Research on the Limb Bones of Ancient Inhabitants from the Dabaoshan Cemetery in Inner Mongolia
    ZHANG Xu, LI Jing, ZHU Hong
    2015, 34(02):  216-224. 
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    In this paper, we describe long bones of ancient people from the Dabaoshan Cemetery in Inner Mongolia and compare them with other ancient population from south-central Inner Mongolia. Our conclusions are as follows. Humerus robusticity of the Dabaoshan people was weak. Femur robusticity was medium, with generally a flat femoral shaft and relatively developed femoral crest. Male stature was higher, and female stature was medium. Female economic status in south-central Inner Mongolia during the Eastern Zhou period was generally low.
    Phytolith Analysis from the Baodun Archaeological Site, Xinjin, Sichuan
    CHEN Tao, JIANG Zhanghua, HE Kunyu, YANG Yang, Jade d’Alpoim GUEDES, JIANG Hongen, HU Yaowu, WANG Changsui, WU Yan
    2015, 34(02):  225-233. 
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    Ancient civilization is mostly founded on well-developed agricultural economies, with the Chengdu Plain considered to be the “civilization center” of the upper Yangtze region in China. From result of floatation and phytolith analysis on cultural layers and from two pits at the Baodun site, we obtained archaeobotanical knowledge that can be used to interpret local agricultural economies. In this study, we found abundant cuneiform bulliform cell and parallelbilobate short cell phytoliths from rice leaves, and double-peaked cell phytoliths from the glume of rice. A small amount of husk phytoliths from common millet were also present. Our results demonstrate that the general size of the cuneiform bulliform cell phytoliths are big and fit well with Oryza sativa L. ssp. Japonica. Thus, we conclude that the agricultural economy of the ancient Baodun people was based mainly on rice and supplemented by millet.
    A Study on the Physical Characteristics of the Gejia in China
    LI Yonglan, ZHENG Lianbin, FENG Chenlu, RONG Wenguo, QI Xiaolin, NI Xiaolu
    2015, 34(02):  234-244. 
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    We investigated the physical characteristics of 311 adult Gejia (159 males and 152 females) living in Huangping City of Guizhou Province and compared their traits with other ethnic groups in China. Results as follows. Occurrence rate of the upper eyelid eyefold is higher and the epicanthic fold is lower among the Gejia. Most people have higher or medium ectocanthion in the palpebral fissures and are medium size in nasion height. They have straight dorsum nasi, upwarp positioning of the nasal base, and moderate nasal base medium height of nosewing. Male zygomatic projection is not herniated in contrast to females. Most male maximal diameter of the nostrils is oblique whereas most females is transverse. Most male breadth of alae nasi is wide and in the middle, while most females are positioned in the middle. Round earlobe type is frequent. Upper lip skin height is of medium size among males and smaller among females; most are middle type in lip height. They displayed dark black hair, yellow skin and brown eyes generally. Male head length is large and morphological facial height is small. Male characters are similar to south Asian type in head breadth, face breadth, nose height, lip height, interocular breadth; and similar to north Asian type in mouth breadth. Minimum frontal breadth and nose breadth are between the south and north Asian types. For females, morphological facial height and nose height is small. Female characters are similar to the south Asian type in head length, head breadth, minimum frontal breadth, face breadth, nose breadth, lip height; and similar to the north Asian type in mouth breadth and interocular breadth. Both males and females had short body height. Male Gejia are brachycephaly, hypsicephalic type, aerocephalic type, euryprosopy and mesorrhiny. Females are mesocephaly, hypsicephalic type, metriocephalic type, mesoprosopy and mesorrhiny. Males have medium chest circumference and submakroskelic type, whereas females have wide chest circumference and mesatiskelic type. The Gejia physique is similar to the Mongolian ethnic group of South Asian characteristics of type with obvious differences to Miao.
    A Comparative Dermatoglyphic Study of Han Chinese and Austronesian Populations
    CHEN Yaofong, ZHANG Haiguo
    2015, 34(02):  245-252. 
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    This research studies the dermatoglyphs of Han and Austronesian populations in Mainland China and Taiwan in order to understand differences between them. Our results indicate that Han populations of Mainland China and Taiwan are all assigned to the northern group. Austronesians of both Mainland China and Taiwan are significantly different in their dermatoglyphic variables. Utsat in Hainan Island, an Austronesian population, is assigned to southern group, whereas Taiwanese aboriginal populations are assigned to the northern group. Our work is the first comparative dermatoglyphic study of Austronesian and non-Mandarinspeaking Han populations.
    Polymorphisms of the Uygur People’s Ocular Features from Different Regions of Xinjiang
    WANG Bin, YANG Shengmin
    2015, 34(02):  253-259. 
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    Uygur people from different parts of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region show various eye colors, the majority of which are dark brown appearing 90.45% of the time. Other kinds of light colored eyes (sky blue, gray, light green, light yellow) have appearance rates that average 9.55%. In general, the appearance frequency of light colored eyes gradually increases from east (Hami) to west (Kashgar). The eyebrows of Uygur people grow pretty well and have a relatively high rate of eyebrow connection. From east to west, Uygur people’s eyebrows gradually appear to be bushier and have higher frequency of connection. Among all Uygur peoples, upper eyelid folds have relatively high frequency that average to 62.07%, gradually decreasing from east to west, while inner canthal folds have a lower frequency with an average 48.63%, gradually falling from east to west. In conclusion, the ocular features of the Uygur people are characteristic of their national identity. All investigated indices of their eyes have values that are inbetween that of the northern Mongolian and Europeans. These ocular features shown by modern Uygur people coincide with their ethnic composition and evolutionary path of their ancestors.
    Preliminary Review of the Biological Anthropology Trait of Tibetan Peoples
    XI Huanjiu, LI Wenhui, ZHAO Hong
    2015, 34(02):  260-266. 
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    Tibetan peoples who live in the Tibetan Plateau (known as the roof of the world) occupy a unique ecology that gives them special adaptive mechanisms to survive hypoxia-based environments. This research examined 492 publications on Tibetan anthropology in both Chinese and English languages, in particular anthroplological studies of the past 30 years focussing on the relationship between Tibetan and Han peoples. Scientific evidence from anthropometry, blood groups, molecular biology and archaeology etc. indicate that Tibetan peoples are an indispensible member of the Chinese nation.
    A Review of Self-Recognition Ability in Nonhuman Primates
    WU Qinglu, WU Chengfeng, ZHANG Peng
    2015, 34(02):  267-280. 
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    Self-recognition is an ability where individuals realize the relationship between themselves and an image in the mirror using various clues. In past three decades, self recognition studies of nonhuman primates have deepened in scope and significance by using various research paradigms and methodologies. Research in this area not only provides deeper insight into and explanation for complex cognitive abilities, but also interactions between behavior and cognition. Currently, with this research widely undertaken in foreign countries, the domestic literature on this subject is relatively weak. This article introduce a mirror-based experiment as well as outlining the basic research paradigm of self-recognition studies, the advantages of video observation and face recognition. In conclusion, this article proposes the future prospects of clearly defining procedures in self-recognition studies with the goal of expanding the domestic research field.