2021-2022年，我们在西藏拉萨堆龙曲流域史前人类活动野外调查时，共发现3处有原生埋藏地层的旧石器遗址以及10处地表采集石器点，海拔分布均在4000 m左右。此次13处地点调查发现的79件石制品均为石核-石片技术组合类型，无手斧、石叶或细石叶等技术产品。对尚嘎岗和邱桑寺两处重要遗址的文化层进行了光释光年代测定，初步结果显示两处遗址的年代均不晚于距今10万年。通过此次野外工作，确认了位于高原腹地的堆龙曲流域存在明确的、有原生埋藏地层的旧石器时代遗址，且遗址分布范围较为广泛。然而目前调查发现的石制品数量有限，难以对遗址的技术属性和文化内涵进行全面而深入的研究和探讨，但当前研究无疑为今后的工作提供了宝贵的线索。

From 2021 to 2022, a joint archaeological survey was carried out in the Duilong River valley, Lhasa, Xizang, with the support of the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program. This collaborative effort involved researchers from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Institute for Conservation and Research of Tibetan Cultural Relics. The main objective was to investigate prehistoric human activities in this high-altitude region, especially to identify Paleolithic sites buried in primary strata.

The survey area, located in the hinterland of the Tibetan Plateau at an average altitude of about 4,000 m, includes the Duilong River valley and its tributary systems. These river valleys have well-developed fluvial terraces, which not only serve as the location for modern villages but also as favorable areas for prehistoric human habitation. A total of 13 Paleolithic localities were discovered, consisting of 3 sites with primary buried deposits (Shanggagang, Qiusangsi, and Jiawu) and 10 surface lithic scatters. The elevation of these sites ranges from 3837 m to 4182 m, reflecting the adaptability of early humans to extremely high-altitude environments.

A systematic analysis of 79 stone artifacts shows a consistent technological pattern dominated by core-flake assemblages. The lithic industry lacks advanced products such as handaxes, blades, or microblades. In terms of the number of stone artifacts and well-preserved buried strata, Shanggagang and Qiusangsi sites are the two most important sites identified in this survey.

For the 54 stone artifacts discovered at the Shanggagang site, the raw materials were mainly igneous rocks (64.8%), followed by chert (16.7%) and quartz (11.1%), sourced locally from river gravels. Among the 7 cores, the classification includes discoid cores (n=4), polyhedral cores (n=2), and a bipolar core (n=1). The 27 flakes include 15 Type VI, 7 Type V, 3 Type III, 1 Type II, and 1 bipolar flake. The tool assemblage (n=12) is mainly composed of scrapers (n=11), with only 1 pointed tool identified. The number of stone artifacts discovered at the Qiusangsi site is relatively small, but all 5 stone artifacts were found in the primary strata. The raw materials of the 5 artifacts are all igneous rocks, and the knapping method used is the percussion method. The only core found is a polyhedral core. Among the two whole flakes, one is a Type V flake and the other is a Type VI flake. Unfortunately, no tools were discovered. Due to the limited number of stone artifacts found in this investigation, it is difficult to conduct comprehensive and in-depth research and analysis on the technological attributes and cultural connotations of the site.

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of cultural layers at Shanggagang and Qiusangsi provided preliminary age estimates, indicating human occupation no later than 100 kaBP. However, signal saturation prevented precise chronological resolution.

The discovery of buried sites in the Duilong River valley significantly expands the geographical and temporal scope of known Paleolithic activity on the Tibetan Plateau. This survey confirms that humans inhabited the hinterland of the Tibetan Plateau at least by the Middle Paleolithic.

Future work should focus on formal excavations, refined chronometric methods, and comparative studies with adjacent regions to reveal the dynamics of early human colonization and adaptation on the Tibetan Plateau. This survey lays a crucial foundation for understanding the adaptability and creativity of Pleistocene hominins in the challenging environments of the Tibetan Plateau.