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    15 March 2018, Volume 37 Issue 01
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    A new molar from the Middle Pleistocene hominid assemblage of Yanhuidong, Tongzi, South China
    Anne DAMBRICOURT MALASSé;ZHANG Pu;Patricia WILS
    2018, 37(01):  1-17. 
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    The last excavation of the small Yanhuidong gallery, Tongzi district, Guizhou Province, South China, was conducted by the Guizhou Provincial Museum in 1988. Fossiliferous layer IV of the endokarstic fill provided again more than 2,000 teeth with a new hominin upper molar referenced as TZ-1 in 2014. This secondary deposit has been dated 240 ka by Uranium Series in 1991. The description of the molar was completed by an analysis of the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) and the topography of the pulp cavity using high-resolution μCT (v|tome|x L240-180) of the AST-RX platform, National Museum of Natural History, Paris, France. The crown is characterized by a small hypocone without disto-lingual development, a trapezoidal shape of the occlusal contour, the bucco-lingual length slightly greater than the mesio-distal one, a large lingual cingulum on the protocone, and the cusps decrease in the order protocone, metacone, paracone and hypocone. The shape of the horns and of the bud horns from the pulp cavity are correlated with the morphology of the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) and the outer enamel surface (OES). The tooth is a second primary molar (dm2) assigned to a mid-Middle Pleistocene lineage of H. erectus living only in China (north-south axis Shanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guandong and Guizhou provinces). The morphology that predicts M1, does not match the two M1 collected in 1983 in the same layer. PA 875 is close to the oldest pattern Jianshi PA 1279 also found at Zhoukoudian (Hebei and Hubei provinces). The germ PA 874 with its protruding hypocone and a rhomboidal shape is similar to the Javanese pattern Sangiran NG 91-G10; these are derived features shared in a certain way with H. neanderthalensis, but the crown keeps the Asian cingulum and is classified as Homo incertae sedis. These three morphological patterns are not necessary contemporaneous but they lift a veil on human settlements in South China before the redeposited faunal assemblage.
    Morphological analysis of skulls of the Longshan period residents from the Xubao site
    ZHOU Yawei, LIU Mingming, FENG Chunyan, HAN Changsong
    2018, 37(01):  18-28. 
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    The Xubao site in the eastern part of the county town of Xubao Village, Henan Province is a typical Longshan culture settlement located on the north shore of the Yellow River. The site dates about 4500-4000 years ago. Unearthed bone specimens of the Longshan period help us to understand the Yangshao and Longshan cultures of the central plains peoples. Morphometric craniofacial analysis of two female skulls gave the following results. The characteristic cranial form is a combination of middle cranial, tropibasic, and narrow skull cranialtype, with mesoprosopy, chamaerrhine, mesoconch traits. The anterior nasal spine shows Broca degree I. The canine fossa is underdeveloped, and the cranial suture is simply developed. Xubao residents belong to modern Asian Mongolian people and shows a close relationship with the recent Fushun group (R=1.08). Compared to ancient groups, similarities are with the recent Baoji group (R=0.48), the Miaozigou group (R=0.49), the DadianziI group (R=0.55), and the Youyao group (R=0.59).
    Tooth wear and the related diet of the Jundushan pastoralists
    DENG Wanwen
    2018, 37(01):  29-40. 
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    Tooth wear, as part of dental anthropology, has long been studied for identifying the subsistence strategies and dietary behaviors of the ancient populations. As representatives of Yuhuangmiao Culture, the archaeological remains from Jundushan cemeteries reveal a distinct minority culture of North China in the Bronze Age. Through the study of human teeth remains from Jundushan cemeteries, the related diet of the ancient population there could be seen from their tooth wear conditions. Here comes the results from the study. Firstly, the degrees of tooth wear measured indicate no difference between male and female dentitions in the same age group. Further, data show that the molars suffer more from masticatory force and hence exhibit greater wear than the anterior teeth, while the first molars suffer most. Compared with the data collected from the other sites in North China, the mean degrees of tooth wear of the Jundushan population, ranging from 3.7– 5.3 (except for M3), exhibit lower than that of the agriculturalists. Moreover, the mostly flat but slightly oblique wear plane forms and angles of the molars, indicate that the Jundushan population probably lived mainly on meat, along with certain properties of plants. Referring to the rate of caries, the isotope analysis and the archaeological remains excavated from the cemeteries, it is likely that the Jundushan pastoralists lived a life of herding-agriculture mixed social economy. Tooth wear degrees may vary from different nomadic or herding populations, according to their subsistence strategies and dietary behaviors. More information on the related diet of the ancient populations could rely on the further study of their molar wear plane forms and angles.
    An experimental study of the use-wear on hornfel burins
    YANG Xia, CHEN Hong, WANG Yiren
    2018, 37(01):  41-52. 
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    This article discusses the use-wear experiment and analyses of hornfel burins. The raw materials of experimental tools were collected from the Dingcun site. The working motions involved in this experiment are scraping and graving and the worked material are dry cow bones and pines with different humidity. Ten artifacts were chosen for a multi-stage experiment through sequential control. This experiment demonstrates that different working motions and worked materials can produce different use-wear: 1) Scraping bones: Most scars appear on the noncontact surface, dominated by small feathered scars, a few medium and large scars are scattered distributed. Heavy rounding were found on the used edges. 2) Graving bones: Scars appeared along both sides of edges, with occasional small-feathered scars and few stepped scars. Light and medium rounding were found on the edge. 3) Graving dry pinewood: Scars occur scattered on both sides of edges. Scars are mainly stepped and some of them are directional. The rounding is light. 4) Graving fresh pinewood: The use-wear is similar to scars caused by graving dry pinewood, but the rounding is lighter. 5) Graving dry pinewood: Scars mainly appear on the non-contact surface and the edge is dominated by medium-to-heavy rounding. This multi-stage experiment shows that rounding will generate quickly in the first 10 minutes and will hardly get heavier after 15 minutes’ using. As time goes on, the numbers of scars will increase and the invasion distance of the scar becomes deeper, but some small scars will disappear, because of the overlay of the following usages. By studying the use-wear on hornfel burins, this article intends to establish a set of reference standards for local lithic use-wear that can be used to compare with archaeological assemblages.
    A study on the microblade technology from the Deng’equ valley in South Qinghai Plateau
    HAN Fang, CAI Linhai, DU Wei, HE Yuanhong, LI Pei, MA Chunyan, LU Hongliang
    2018, 37(01):  53-69. 
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    During July to August 2012, a team from Sichuan University, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology, and Chengdu Institute of Archeology made an archaeological investigation along the upper Tongtian River valley, and found 14 sites with microblade products. This paper is to study the microblade cores collected in the archaeological investigation and to discuss its lithic technology among Deng’equ valley in Zhiduo county. The raw materials used in these sites include at least eight broad classes including siliceous rocks, dolomite, hornfels, schist, limestone, microcrystalline limestone, quartz rough rock, tuff lava. Five types of cryptocrystalline silicates accounted for the majority. The main source of raw material are from river banks of Tongtian River. Most of the microblade cores may be classified as wedge-shaped. The majority of performs are flakes, frequently with some forms of platform and flute rejuvenation. The method of retouching microblade cores includes bifacial and unificial retouch. The microblade core technique used in this area is consistent with the Yangyuan and Layihai techniques, with regard to perform preparation, platform production, rejuvenation and microblade detachment.
    Subsistence in the Middle Upper Pleistocene of Zhengzhou area: Analysis of archaeofauna from the Laonainaimiao site
    QU Tongli, GU Wanfa, WANG Songzhi, CHEN Youcheng, WANG Youping
    2018, 37(01):  70-78. 
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    The paper presents the taphonomic and zooarchaeological analyses of the fauna from the Laonainaimiao site of the middle Upper Pleistocene in the Zhengzhou area. Taphonomic observations show that the bones were accumulated by human activity. The taxa of the fossil assemblage are composed mainly of wild horse and Bos primigenius, followed by gazelle, deer, wild boar, rhinoceros, etc. Most carcasses of Equidae were likely to be transported to the site as a whole. The carcasses were intensively exploited for marrow and grease due to the lack of fat during the harsh seasons. A prime-age dominated profile is observed in the assemblage of the Equidae and Bos, and it indicates a developed capability of hunting and the potential cooperative behavior. This study aims to provide substantial insight into the subsistence and culture during the middle Upper Pleistocene in the Zhengzhou area.
    A report on Paleolithic survey of 2014 in Huailai Basin, Hebei Province
    NIU Dongwei, XUE Feng, LI Dingyuan, LI Yanhao, XIE Fe
    2018, 37(01):  79-87. 
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    This report presents the preliminary result of a Palaeolithic survey in Huailai basin, Hebei Province conducted by the Institute of Nihewan Archaeology of Hebei Normal University and the Huailai Museum. A total of 10 Palaeolithic localities, mainly locating along the southwest bank of Guanting reservoir, were newly discovered and confirmed, and more than 20 stone artifacts and a few mammalian fossils were collected. Based on the technological and typological characteristics of these stone artifacts, two different groups of lithic artifacts have been identified, one is a flake-tool based assemblage characterized by simple cores, flakes, lightly-retouched tools etc.; the other is a microblade assemblage characterized by wedge-shaped microblade cores. Dominated by volcanic rocks, raw materials for stone knapping were mainly collected as pebbles from nearby riverbeds. The principal flaking and retouching technique was direct hard hammer percussion, while soft hammer had probably also been used when modifying bifacial preforms of wedge-shaped microblade cores. The Palaeolithic remains are mainly buried in the second and third terraces of both banks of the Yongding River. It could be inferred from the geomorphological and stratigraphic comparisons in the drainage basin of the Yongding River valley that the newly discovered localities may be dated to the Middle and Late Pleistocene, and the date of microlithic materials is more likely the end of the Late Pleistocene based on the comparison with the similar finds in the Nihewan basin.
    A preliminary report on reconnaissance of the Yuanyichang Paleolithic locality in Mengyin county of Shandong province
    LI Gang, REN Yapeng, Su Jianjun, Ma Yong, Xu Xicun
    2018, 37(01):  88-95. 
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    The Yuanyichang Paleolithic locality, buried in the second terrace near the East Wen river at 35°42′54″N， 117°54′26″E, is situated in the subdistrict office of Mengyin, Mengyin county，Shandong Province. The locality was discovered at June, 2016. Joint team(College of History, Hebei University, Shandong Provincial Institute of Relics and Archaeology, Mengyin county cultural relics management office) have had a series of Paleolithic investigation in Xintai, Mengyin, Yiyuan, Linqu, Zaozhuang Shanting district and Pingdu Cunty during June to July, 2016. Five stratigraphic layers were identified at the site, with the total thickness of more than 2.5m. Archaeological remains were mainly collected from Layer 2, light yellow sandy clay with gravels, 0.4-0.45m in thickness. A total of 43 stone artifacts were unearthed.The lithic assemblage includes cores (n=11), flakes (n=7), chunks (n=8), flake fragments (n=10) and retouched tools(n=7). The general features of these artifacts are summarized as follows: 1) Lithic raw materials exploited at the locality were locally available from ancient riverbeds. Quartzite was the predominant raw material（n=36; 83.7%) used for stone artifacts. 2) The principal flaking technique was direct hammer percussion with core preparation. 3) Most stone artifacts were small and medium in size. 4) Most blanks for tool fabrication were flakes. 5) Scrapers (n=6; 85.7%) dominate retouched pieces, followed by notches.The lithic assemblage shows small flake technology in North China. Geomorphological and chronological comparison in the Mengyin county indicates the geochronology of the locality should be close to late Pleistocene.
    Biological evidence for human subsistence strategy in the Guanzhong area during the Neolithic Period
    QU Yating, HU Ke, YANG Miaomiao, CUI Jianxin
    2018, 37(01):  96-109. 
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    The way that humans have obtained food changed with the origin and development of agriculture. The Guanzhong area was a center of prehistoric culture. The exploration of human subsistence strategies in the Guanzhong area during the prehistoric period presents compelling evidence for the origins of agriculture, its development and dissemination, the influence of cultural communication relating to agriculture, and human adaptations to climatic variability in North China. In this paper, we examine the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of human and animal bones and the plant and faunal remains from different archaeological sites in the Guanzhong area during different prehistoric periods. The results indicate that geographical differences in environment, climatic variability, and cultural development and communication influenced human subsistence strategies in the Guanzhong area during the Neolithic period, resulting in spatial and temporal differences. Hunting and gathering were still important for the Laoguantai culture populations, along with millet agriculture. In the early Yangshao culture, millet agriculture became the main human subsistence strategy, although the levels of agricultural development differs significantly across sites. The pace of development of animal husbandry lagged behind crop cultivation. From the middle and late Yangshao culture to the early Longshan culture, rice and wheat were introduced into the Guanzhong area sequentially. Diversified agriculture consisting mainly of millet and a small quantity of rice was adopted. The rice was consumed by humans, but animals mainly relied on millet. During the Longshan culture, the proportion of millet declined, but that of rice increased in comparison, influencing both the diets of humans and animals. Meat was mainly obtained from animal husbandry, supplemented with hunting and fishing.
    discussions on the related issues
    XIA Yang, ZHANG Jinglei, YU Fei, ZHANG Hui, WANG Tingting, HU Yaowu, Benjamin T FULLER
    2018, 37(01):  110-120. 
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    Investigation of children breastfeeding/weaning practices and feeding practices in the past have become one of hotspot in the international bioarchaeological fields. However,there has been no similar research undertaken in China. Here we investigated the breastfeeding and weaning patterns as well as children feeding practices at the Western Zhou Dynasty site of Boyangcheng located in Chuzhou, Anhui Province, China. In addition, we utilize the differences in bone collagen turnover rates between rib and long bones from the same individual to examine past life histories, such as changes in diet or residence. Bone collagen from both the rib and long bones (either femurs or humeri) of 42 individuals was measured for stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N). The human δ13C values range from -20.7‰ to -12.0‰ with a mean value of –18.8‰±1.6‰. The human δ15N values range from 9.1‰ to 13.4‰ with a mean value of 10.9‰±1.0‰. The δ13C and δ15N results reflect that solid foods were introduced to the infant’s diet before the age of 2 years, and that the elevated children δ15N results returned to adult levels by approximately 3-4 years of age, indicating that the weaning process was completed during this period. Individuals between 2-10 years old, with lower δ13C and δ15N results than the adult mean, possibly consumed more plant-based diets, and this is consistent with Chinese medical teachings ~1500 years later during the Tang Dynasty (618~907 AD). The isotopic offsets between the ribs and long bones revealed that five adults experienced dramatic dietary shifts in their later lives, switching from predominately C4/C3 to C3 diets. This research provides the first isotopic information about ancient Chinese breastfeeding and weaning practices and a good example for future studies to examine diachronic trends of feeding practices of ancient children in China.
    Research on lean and fat masses of the urban Han adults
    LI Yonglan, ZHENG Lianbin
    2018, 37(01):  121-130. 
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    Fat and lean mass change with latitude was analyzed from the measurement of 16 characteristics of 10451 urban adults (5048 males, 5403 females) of Han people from 2009 to 2013. The results of this work was as follows. The averages of fat and lean mass of the 31 groups were different from each other. The maximum of fat mass of males and females were of the Baoding Han people, whereas the minimum fat mass in males was in the Yichun Han and the minimum fat mass in females was in the Ningxiang Han. The maximum of lean mass in males was in the Hulan Han people and the maximum in females was in the Nanyang Han people. The minimum lean mass in males was in the Ganzhou Han people and the minimum lean mass in females was in the Qionghai Han people. In each ethnic group, averages of fat mass was higher in females, but the averages of lean mass was lower than males. The development of chest circumference, hip circumference (abdominal circumference of females) and subcutaneous fat of the body influences the development of fat mass of urban Han people, whereas the development of trunk and lower limbs circumference (bones of upper extremity of male) influences the development of lean mass of urban Han people. With increasing latitude, the body mass of urban adults of Han people increases linearly (or from the south to North China), mass, fat mass, lean mass of urban Han people showed a linear increase. The increase of fat mass and lean mass with increasing latitude commonly caused a regular change in body masses.
    Lean mass and fat mass indices of the Li people in Hainan
    ZHANG Xinghua, YU Keli, JIN Dan, LI Yonglan, BAO Jinping, ZHENG Lianbin
    2018, 37(01):  131-137. 
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    Stature, body mass and four other body composition inde values of 607 Li adults (308 males and 299 females) were measured in five villages of Wuzhishan City, Hainan Province. The percent body fat (Pbf), lean mass (ml), fat mass (mf), lean mass index (Ilm) and fat mass index (Ifm) were calculated in November 2014. The study finds that Pbf, mf and Ifm of females are higher than those of males, while ml and Ilm values are the opposite. As age increases, stature and ml of the Li decreases gradually, and Pbf, mf, and Ifmincrease gradually. The characteristic curve of the sample indicates that both Ibm and Ifm can predict Pbf of the Li, and accuracy of the Ifm is much higher than accuracy of Ibm in estimating Pbf. It also indicates that Ifm is a better index than Ibm in evaluating fatness.
    Current and historical physical conditions of the Dong people in Hunan Province
    PI Jianhui, TAN Juan, XIANG Debiao, LIU Liangke, WU Yizhong, LEI Mingzhi
    2018, 37(01):  138-145. 
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    Physical characteristics, and somatoscopic and anthropometric variables were investigated in 326 (118 males and 108 females) Dong adults of the Tongdao Dong Autonomous County in Hunan Province. Compared with data from 30 years before, our results showed that body height did not change significantly, but that the physical characteristics of the head and face showed a long-narrow-high trending. Also shown was that the physical characteristics of women was more significantly different than men over this 30 years period. Overall, a cluster analysis of Dong traits compared with other 19 minority populations in South China showed that the physical characteristics of the Dong were similar with those of Dong peoples in Guangxi and Hubei, with the Yi and Yao in Guangxi, and with the Sandu Bouyei in Guizhou.
    A study of genetic diversity of three isolated populations in Xinjiang using Y-SNP
    LIU Shuhu, NIZAM Yilihamu, RABIYAMU Bake, ABDUKERAM Bupatima, DOLKUN Matyusup
    2018, 37(01):  146-156. 
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    The Keriyan, Lopnur and Dolan peoples are isolated populations with sparse numbers living in the western border desert of our country. By sequencing and typing the complete Y-chromosome of 179 individuals in these three isolated populations, all mutations and SNPs in the Y-chromosome and their corresponding haplotypes were obtained. Types and frequencies of each haplotype were analyzed to investigate genetic diversity and genetic structure in the three isolated populations. The results showed that 12 haplogroups were detected in the Keriyan with high frequencies of the J2a1b1 (25.64%), R1a1a1b2a (20.51%), R2a (17.95%) and R1a1a1b2a2 (15.38%) groups. Sixteen haplogroups were noted in the Lopnur with the following frequencies: J2a1 (43.75%), J2a2 (14.06%), R2 (9.38%) and L1c (7.81%). Forty haplogroups were found in the Dolan, noting the following frequencies: R1b1a1a1 (9.21%), R1a1a1b2a1a (7.89%), R1a1a1b2a2b (6.58%) and C3c1 (6.58%). These data show that these three isolated populations have a closer genetic relationship with the Uygur, Mongolian and Sala peoples. In particular, there are no significant differences in haplotype and frequency between the three isolated populations and Uygur (f=0.833, p=0.367). In addition, the genetic haplotypes and frequencies in the three isolated populations showed marked Eurasian mixing illustrating typical characteristics of Central Asian populations.
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