Abstract:

The Shengwangping site is located on the top of Xicheng Mountain, Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province, at 35°34’N, 112°22’E, and 1690 m above sea level. The site was first discovered in 2006, and in later investigations stone artifacts were found on the surface. There is still a lack of information on unearthed layers, specific ages, and technical characteristics and cultural labels of stone artifacts, therefore to determine the relationship between Shengwangping and the Xiachuan culture, we investigated Shengwangping site from September to October 2020. A total of 1717 stone artifacts were obtained, including 11 stone artifacts with microlithic traits from the surface and 1706 when cleaning the profile. The profile was divided into four cultural layers, of which 34 lithics were unearthed in the first layer, 36 in the second, 416 pieces in the third, and 1220 pieces in the fourth layer. Lithic technical analysis shows similar cultural characteristics between the third and fourth layers. Lithic assemblages are mainly small and miniature in size made primarily of chert. Bipolar technology plays an important role in the two layers, and becomes the predominant core reduction pattern in the third layer. It is mostly applied to the development and utilization of cryptocrystalline and small blanks with a relatively higher degree of core reduction. Lithic assemblages of the third and fourth layers include a small flake tool industry with scrapers as the predominant type. Pièces esquillée and spur-like tools were only unearthed in the third layer, not the fourth layer. Tools were retouched by freehand percussion, not pressure. The lithic technology characteristics of the third and fourth layers and the lower cultural layer of the Upper Paleolithic at the Xiachuan site belong to the small flake tool technology. Dating results of a charcoal sample in the middle of the fourth layer is 45590±510 BP cal (IntCal 20, 95.4% probability) indicating that the Shengwangping site may be the earliest Upper Paleolithic site found in the southern Shanxi Province.

Key words: Shengwangping, Lithics, Chert, Technology, Late Paleolithic