Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 1984, Vol. 3 ›› Issue (03): 215-304.

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Paleoliths discovered in Ziyang man locality B

Li Xuanmin, Zhang Senshui   

  • Online:1984-09-15 Published:1984-09-15

Abstract: During building the foundations for a new highway bridge about 100 m. to the west of Ziyang man locality; 172 artifacts, some mammalian and tree fossils were found in pebble layer about 8 m. from the surface in spring 1981. Though the distance between the new locality bearing the artifacts and the old locality yielding the fossil skull of Ziyang man is so near and they are situated in the same terrace i.e. Ti in the valley of Toujiang river, we call the new locality as "Ziyang man locality B'' for distinction. C14 tests on the tree fossils associated with the artifacts and the mammalian 'fossils giving the date of 37400±300 B. P. (Uper part) (PV-221) and 39300士250。B.P. (Lower part) (PV-160) respectively.
Almost all flakes are produced by direct hammering method and the tools include choppers, scrapers and a few points. The choppers are the main type in this assemblage. In this industry two characters should be emphasised: 1) Most artifacts are very large and crude; 2) The tools are usually retouched on the ventral surface or on two surfaces. Compared with other paleolithic cultures known in southern China, the artifacts found from the pebble layer of Ziyang man locality B are closely related to those of Tonglian Culture.
On the basis of new materials discovered in Ziyang man locality B, we propose that the Terrace I represented by pebble layer in the valley of Tuojiang river should be physiograghically called "Ziyang Stage,7 and its age is geologically dated as the late stage of upper Pleistocene while the artifacts gathered from pebble layer belong to upper paleolithic age.

Key words: Paleolith; Ziyang stage; Upper Pleistocene