Abstract: The stone industry of Xiaozhangliang from a Paleolithic site located at Nihewan Basin in the north of Hebei Province, has aroused much attentions and a heated discussion since it was discovered in 1978. Some scholars think the technique is so advanced that its age can not be too old.
The geological section at Xiaozhangliang was found to consist of a bedrock base overlain by a thick fluviolacustrine sediments of interbedded sands, sandy clays and elays. The sequence is capped by an 8-15 m thick bed of loess. A layer of sand more than 40 m below the present ground surface was found to contain stone artifacts. The mammalian fossils associated with the stone artifacts include Hyaena sp. , Palaeoloxodonsp. , Hipparion sp. , Equus sanmaniensis, Gazella sp. , Cervus sp. , Coelodonta sp. , ete. . The age of the Xiaozhangliang Industry could be at the end of Lower Pleistocene or about 1. 0 m. y. BP based on the study of stratigraphic geology and paleontology and paleomagnetie determinations. According to preliminary reports, the materials for making stone implements are mostly chert which came from the old gravel bed nearby. The direct free-hand blows and the "bipolar"method were both used for flaking, but the latter only accidentally used. Some smaller blades and a piece of flake with faceted platform were observed. The types of stone artifacts include simple side scrapers, multiside scrapers, end serapers, double end serapers, proto-carinated scrapers, notched serapers, points, borers, small chopping-tools and ? burins. Retouches were made by simple direct percussion. The working edges on most of the implements are rather zigzag, but a few of them have neat working edges which might be retouched on anvil.
Generally speaking, Xiaozhangliang Industry had many advanced characters, but it did not overstep its successor-Peking Man's Industry technically. Its oecurrenee indicated that the origin of the tradition of small stone tools in North China can be traced iback very early.

Key words: Xiaozhangliang; The end of Lower Pleistocene