人类学学报 ›› 2026, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (03): 570-585.doi: 10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2026.0016cstr: 32091.14.j.1000-3193/AAS.2026.0016

• 研究论文 • 上一篇    下一篇

泥河湾盆地蔡家沟遗址A和B地点动物骨骼的埋藏学观察

杜雨薇1(), 耿帅杰2,3,4, 徐静玥2,3,4, 叶芷2,3,4, 张乐5, 马东东2,3, 裴树文2,3()   

  1. 1 吉林大学考古学院生物考古实验室长春 130012
    2 中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所北京 100044
    3 旧石器时代人类演化与遗传国家文物局重点科研基地北京 100044
    4 中国科学院大学北京 100049
    5 中央民族大学民族学与社会学院北京 100081
  • 收稿日期:2025-12-10 接受日期:2026-02-12 出版日期:2026-06-15 发布日期:2026-06-12
  • 通讯作者: 裴树文,研究员,主要从事旧石器时代考古学和地质考古学研究。E-mail: peishuwen@ivpp.ac.cn
  • 作者简介:杜雨薇,讲师,主要从事旧石器时代动物考古学研究。E-mail: duyuwei@jlu.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金项目(42371165)

Taphonomic observation of the faunal remains from Locality A and B of the Caijiagou site in the Nihewan Basin

DU Yuwei1(), GENG Shuaijie2,3,4, XU Jingyue2,3,4, YE Zhi2,3,4, ZHANG Yue5, MA Dongdong2,3, PEI Shuwen2,3()   

  1. 1 Bioarchaeology Laboratory, School of Archaeology, Jilin University, Changchun 130012
    2 Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044
    3 Key Scientific Research Base on Paleolithic Human Evolution and Paleogenetics (IVPP), SACH. Beijing 100044
    4 University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049
    5 School of Ethnology and Sociology, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081
  • Received:2025-12-10 Accepted:2026-02-12 Online:2026-06-15 Published:2026-06-12

摘要:

古人类与动物资源之间的关系是探讨古人类生存策略的重要议题,但目前对东亚早-中更新世期遗址的相关研究仍较有限。蔡家沟遗址位于泥河湾盆地东南部的蔚县盆地,2019-2021年共发掘A、B、C三处地点,出土了大量动物化石和石制品,26Al/10Be埋藏测年结果为0.47±0.13 Ma至0.64±0.21 Ma,属中更新世早期。本研究基于A、B地点动物化石的埋藏学观察,综合分析风化、生物化学腐蚀及食肉动物啃咬等自然因素与人工因素对动物骨骼的影响。结果显示,尽管自然因素在一定程度上参与了动物骨骼堆积的形成过程,但骨骼的富集与改造主要由古人类活动造成。人工切割、砸击等痕迹的出现频率及其在骨骼各解剖部位的分布表明,蔡家沟古人类主动获取以马科动物为主的大中型有蹄类动物资源,并在附近区域开展剥皮、肢解、割肉与敲骨取髓等处理行为,同时可能将部分高营养或较难处理的骨骼部位带离遗址。本项研究为探索东亚北部中高纬度地区早期古人类的资源利用策略提供了新的证据。

关键词: 蔡家沟遗址, 中更新世, 脊椎动物埋藏学, 古人类生存策略, 泥河湾盆地

Abstract:

The relationship between hominins and animal resources is an important topic in studies of hominin subsistence strategies. However, zooarchaeological and taphonomic research on Early to Middle Pleistocene sites in East Asia remains relatively limited, particularly regarding the roles played by hominins and carnivores in the formation of faunal assemblages and the ways in which hominins acquired and processed animal resources. The Caijiagou site is situated within the Yuxian sub-basin on the southeastern margin of the Nihewan basin, North China, a region well known for its rich prehistoric archaeological record. Systematic excavations conducted between 2019 and 2021 at three localities (A, B and C) yielded abundant animal fossils and lithic artefacts. Cosmogenic 26Al/10Be burial dating indicates that the archaeological deposits date to approximately from 0.47 ± 0.13 Ma to 0.64 ± 0.21 Ma, corresponding to the early Middle Pleistocene.

This study focuses on the taphonomic analysis of faunal remains from Localities A and B. Detailed observations were conducted to assess the impacts of both natural and anthropogenic factors on the accumulation and modification of bones. Natural processes examined include weathering, biochemical corrosion, and carnivore gnawing, while anthropogenic modifications were assessed through the identification of cut marks, impact marks and other traces associated with carcass processing activities. These observations provide an important basis for evaluating the relative contribution of natural and anthropogenic agents in the formation of the faunal assemblage.

The results indicate that although natural factors have contributed to the formation of the animal assemblage to a certain extent, hominins were the primary agents responsible for the accumulation and modification of faunal remains at both localities. The faunal assemblage suggests that the Caijiagou hominins actively exploited medium- to large-sized ungulates, with horses representing the dominant component. The relatively high frequencies of cut marks and impact marks, along with their patterned distribution on specific skeletal elements, provide strong evidence for systematic carcass processing by hominins. Evidence of skinning, dismemberment, filleting and marrow extraction indicates that carcasses were intensively processed in the surrounding area of the site. They may also have transported certain highly nutritious or difficult-to-process bone elements away from the site for further consumption.

Overall, the taphonomic characteristics of the Caijiagou-A and B assemblages highlight the significant role of hominins in the formation of the faunal remains. This study provides new evidence for understanding the strategies of animal exploitation by early Middle Pleistocene hominins in the mid - to high - latitude regions of northern East Asia.

Key words: Caijiagou site, Middle Pleistocene, vertebrate taphonomy, hominin subsistence strategy, Nihewan Basin

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