Chronological studies of the Xuetangliangzi hominin fossil site in Hubei Province

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2025.0015

Abstract

Abstract:

As a key area for the occupation and dispersal of Homo erectus, a large number of Pleistocene H. erectus fossils have been discovered in East Asia. This provides specific advantages for understanding the evolution and dispersal of H. erectus on our planet. However, so far, the scarcity and poor preservation of the early H. erectus fossils ever found in China, especially the lack of completely preserved skull fossils, significantly hinder our knowledge of the evolutionary history of East Asian H. erectus and its evolutionary systematic status.

Three relatively well-preserved early H. erectus skull fossils have been unearthed from the Xuetangliangzi (Yunxian hominin) site in Hubei province. These fossils hold considerable promise for elucidating this species’ evolutionary trajectory, migratory patterns, and environmental adaptability in East Asia. Consequently, establishing an accurate chronological framework for these fossils is deemed essential.

Since these skull fossils are of great significance for understanding the evolution, dispersal, and environmental adaptations of East Asian H. erectus, establishing a precise chronological framework for these fossils seems to be vitally important.

In this study, the previous studies on the stratigraphic and geochronological dating of the Yunxian hominin site were systematically reviewed and examined to analyze the potential problematic issues. At least five levels of terraces are recognizable in the Yunxian hominin site area, and the WT section which was mostly focused on by previous studies may not correspond to the terrace on which the hominin fossils were discovered. Therefore, this discrepancy suggests that many dating efforts, particularly paleomagnetic analyses, may not reliably reflect the site’s antiquity. Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) dating of mammalian remains from the same stratum provides a minimum age estimate for the Yunxian hominin fossils. Furthermore, the incomplete characterization of the mammalian fauna associated with the site complicates faunal comparisons, thereby affecting the chronological assessment.

Based on this conclusion and integrating regional geomorphological and geochronological data, we propose that disparities in sampling resolution, experimental methodologies, analytical precision, and sample integrity may contribute to the existing controversies. However, the most significant factor undermining the chronological reliability of the Yunxian hominin site is the tenuous nature of regional stratigraphic correlations. Additionally, geochronological datings on the terraces along the Han River indicate that T4 to T1 terraces developed at approximately 55,220,780 and 1,300,000 BP, respectively. The formation of the T4 terrace, where the Yunxian hominin site is located, sets a maximum age constraint for the site. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the temporal distribution of hominin occupations in this region could yield pivotal evidence for correlating the Yunxian hominin fossil with potential cultural affiliations to Paleolithic sites along the river.

Key words: Yunxian Hominin, East Asia Homo erectus, magnetostratigraphy, dating

CLC Number:

K871

HUA Jiequn, GE Junyi, LU Chengqiu, SHEN Zhongshan, XING Song, LU zeji, GAO Xing, DENG Chenglong. Chronological studies of the Xuetangliangzi hominin fossil site in Hubei Province[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2025, 44(02): 316-332.

Figures/Tables 6

References 74

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盆地Basins	T1年龄 Age(kaBP)	T2年龄 Age(kaBP)	T3年龄 Age(kaBP)	T4年龄 Age(kaBP)	方法 Methods	层位 Layers	参考文献References
汉中 Hanzhong	86.3±6.4	154.7±12			OSL	风成堆积底	[60]
汉中 Hanzhong	55.4±3.9				OSL	河流相砂层顶	[64]
汉中 Hanzhong			625-693		²⁶Al/¹⁰Be	砾石层顶	[66]
汉中 Hanzhong		206±18			OSL	河流相砂层顶	[65]
安康 Ankang	46±4				OSL	风成堆积底	[64]
安康 Ankang		215.1±9.9			OSL	河流相砂层顶	[65]
郧县 Yunxian	55	185.5±17		700-1000	OSL、古地磁	风成堆积底	[66]
郧县 Yunxian	18.8±8.2				OSL	风成堆积底	[61]
郧县 Yunxian	24.6±1.9				OSL	河流相砂层顶	[62]
郧县 Yunxian	54.0±4.0				OSL	黄土-砂交错层	[63]
郧县 Yunxian			152±17		OSL	河流相砂层	[34]
郧县 Yunxian			110±18		OSL	河流相砂层	[34]
郧县 Yunxian			143±16		OSL	河流相砂层	[34]
郧县 Yunxian				1050-1100	古地磁	风成堆积底	[68]
郧县 Yunxian	55.1±5.2				OSL	河流相砂层顶	[64]
郧县 Yunxian		212±9			OSL	河流相砂层顶	[65]

盆地Basins	T1年龄 Age(kaBP)	T2年龄 Age(kaBP)	T3年龄 Age(kaBP)	T4年龄 Age(kaBP)	方法 Methods	层位 Layers	参考文献References
汉中 Hanzhong	86.3±6.4	154.7±12			OSL	风成堆积底	[60]
汉中 Hanzhong	55.4±3.9				OSL	河流相砂层顶	[64]
汉中 Hanzhong			625-693		²⁶Al/¹⁰Be	砾石层顶	[66]
汉中 Hanzhong		206±18			OSL	河流相砂层顶	[65]
安康 Ankang	46±4				OSL	风成堆积底	[64]
安康 Ankang		215.1±9.9			OSL	河流相砂层顶	[65]
郧县 Yunxian	55	185.5±17		700-1000	OSL、古地磁	风成堆积底	[66]
郧县 Yunxian	18.8±8.2				OSL	风成堆积底	[61]
郧县 Yunxian	24.6±1.9				OSL	河流相砂层顶	[62]
郧县 Yunxian	54.0±4.0				OSL	黄土-砂交错层	[63]
郧县 Yunxian			152±17		OSL	河流相砂层	[34]
郧县 Yunxian			110±18		OSL	河流相砂层	[34]
郧县 Yunxian			143±16		OSL	河流相砂层	[34]
郧县 Yunxian				1050-1100	古地磁	风成堆积底	[68]
郧县 Yunxian	55.1±5.2				OSL	河流相砂层顶	[64]
郧县 Yunxian		212±9			OSL	河流相砂层顶	[65]

遗址Sites	阶地Terraces	年代Age(kaBP)	测年方法Dating methods	参考文献References
汉中何家梁 Hanzhong Hejialiang	T2	86.3±6.4	OSL	[60]
汉中杨家坪 Hanzhong yangjiaping	T2	73~115	OSL	[56,68]
汉中梁山村 Hanzhong Liangshancun	T2	140~191	OSL	[56,68]
汉中二里沟 Hanzhong Erligou	T2	107~126	OSL	[56,68]
汉中联丰-1 Hanzhong Lianfeng-1	T2	65~145	OSL	[56,68]
汉中联丰-2 Hanzhong Lianfeng-2	T2	114~172	OSL	[56,68]
汉中窑厂湾 Hanzhong Yaochangwan	T3	600	古地磁	[60]
汉中龙岗寺-1 Hanzhong Longgangsi-1	T3	7~58	地层对比	[56]
汉中龙岗寺-2 Hanzhong Longgangsi-2	T3	580~750	古地磁、地层对比	[53]
汉中龙岗寺-3 Hanzhong Longgangsi-3	T4	710~1270	古地磁、地层对比	[53]
安康池河-1 Ankang Chihe-1	T2	106~157	OSL	[56,68]
安康池河-2 Ankang Chihe-2	T2	111~157	OSL	[56,68]
安康曲家河Ankang Qujiahe	T2	101~102	OSL	[56,68]
安康双红村 Ankang Shuanghongcun	T2	110~170	OSL	[56]
安康罗家村 Ankang Luojiacun	T3	600	古地磁	[53]
安康吴台村 Ankang Wutaicun	T4	850~880	古地磁	[53]
郧县后房 Yunxian Houfang	T2	85~185	OSL	[70]
郧县滴水岩 Yunxian Dishuiyan	T2	25~108	OSL	[40]
郧县金矿村-2 Yunxian Jinkuangcun-2	T2	80~167	OSL	[69]
郧县金矿村-3 Yunxian Jinkuangcun-3	T2	78~149	OSL	[69]
郧县黄龙洞 Yunxian Huanglongdong	T2	77~100	U系	[71]
郧县酒厂 Yunxian Jiuchang	T3	710~780	OSL、古地磁	[72]
郧县吴家沟 Yunxian Wujiagou	T3	710~780	OSL、古地磁	[72]
郧县北泰山庙 Yunxian Beitaishanmiao	T3	70~580	地层对比	[56]
郧县彭家河 Yunxian Pengjiahe	T3	70~580	地层对比	[56]
郧县白龙洞 Yunxian Bailongdong	T3	509±16	²⁶Al/¹⁰Be	[51]
郧县人 Yunxian hominin site	T4	930	古地磁、ESR/U系	[36]
郧县梅铺猿人洞 Yunxian Meipu	T4	780~990	古地磁	[21]
郧县月亮湖 Yunxian Yuelianghu	T4	819~865(上层)； 943~989(下层)	古地磁、地层对比	[74]
丹江口双树 Danjiangkou Shuangshu	T3	518~651	ESR	[73]
丹江口关门岩 Danjiangkou Guanmenyan	T4	787~819	古地磁、地层对比	[74]

遗址Sites	阶地Terraces	年代Age(kaBP)	测年方法Dating methods	参考文献References
汉中何家梁 Hanzhong Hejialiang	T2	86.3±6.4	OSL	[60]
汉中杨家坪 Hanzhong yangjiaping	T2	73~115	OSL	[56,68]
汉中梁山村 Hanzhong Liangshancun	T2	140~191	OSL	[56,68]
汉中二里沟 Hanzhong Erligou	T2	107~126	OSL	[56,68]
汉中联丰-1 Hanzhong Lianfeng-1	T2	65~145	OSL	[56,68]
汉中联丰-2 Hanzhong Lianfeng-2	T2	114~172	OSL	[56,68]
汉中窑厂湾 Hanzhong Yaochangwan	T3	600	古地磁	[60]
汉中龙岗寺-1 Hanzhong Longgangsi-1	T3	7~58	地层对比	[56]
汉中龙岗寺-2 Hanzhong Longgangsi-2	T3	580~750	古地磁、地层对比	[53]
汉中龙岗寺-3 Hanzhong Longgangsi-3	T4	710~1270	古地磁、地层对比	[53]
安康池河-1 Ankang Chihe-1	T2	106~157	OSL	[56,68]
安康池河-2 Ankang Chihe-2	T2	111~157	OSL	[56,68]
安康曲家河Ankang Qujiahe	T2	101~102	OSL	[56,68]
安康双红村 Ankang Shuanghongcun	T2	110~170	OSL	[56]
安康罗家村 Ankang Luojiacun	T3	600	古地磁	[53]
安康吴台村 Ankang Wutaicun	T4	850~880	古地磁	[53]
郧县后房 Yunxian Houfang	T2	85~185	OSL	[70]
郧县滴水岩 Yunxian Dishuiyan	T2	25~108	OSL	[40]
郧县金矿村-2 Yunxian Jinkuangcun-2	T2	80~167	OSL	[69]
郧县金矿村-3 Yunxian Jinkuangcun-3	T2	78~149	OSL	[69]
郧县黄龙洞 Yunxian Huanglongdong	T2	77~100	U系	[71]
郧县酒厂 Yunxian Jiuchang	T3	710~780	OSL、古地磁	[72]
郧县吴家沟 Yunxian Wujiagou	T3	710~780	OSL、古地磁	[72]
郧县北泰山庙 Yunxian Beitaishanmiao	T3	70~580	地层对比	[56]
郧县彭家河 Yunxian Pengjiahe	T3	70~580	地层对比	[56]
郧县白龙洞 Yunxian Bailongdong	T3	509±16	²⁶Al/¹⁰Be	[51]
郧县人 Yunxian hominin site	T4	930	古地磁、ESR/U系	[36]
郧县梅铺猿人洞 Yunxian Meipu	T4	780~990	古地磁	[21]
郧县月亮湖 Yunxian Yuelianghu	T4	819~865(上层)； 943~989(下层)	古地磁、地层对比	[74]
丹江口双树 Danjiangkou Shuangshu	T3	518~651	ESR	[73]
丹江口关门岩 Danjiangkou Guanmenyan	T4	787~819	古地磁、地层对比	[74]