Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 1996, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (01): 1-20.

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Comparison of technological mode of Paleolithic Culture between China and the West

Lin Shenglong   

  • Online:1996-03-15 Published:1996-03-15

Abstract: Comparison of technological mode of paleolithic culture shows that there are very significient differences between China and the West. In Chinese Paleolithic Mode I technology persisted and continued to develop throughout from early to late Paleolithic. Remarkably, there are no true hand-axes, no platform preparation and bifacial thinning technique, no soft hammer technique essentially, no Levallois technique in Chinese Paleolithic, so there are no Mode II and Mode III technology. Mode IV technology appeared only in one site, that is the Shuidonggou site, probably that is the result of cultural intercourse. Component of Mode V technology existed in some stone assemblages of late Paleolithic, but there are no microburin technique, no geometric microlith, and microblades have been used mainly as the blade of composite tools. There are also profound difference in microlithic technology between China and the West. This situation shows clearly that the Paleolithic culture of China and the West represents different traditions, and also shows the peculiarity and continuity of Chinese Paleolithic. It seems to me that there not happened the cultural replacement on a large scale throughout whole Chinese Paleolithic. Thus the evidence of Chinese Paleolithic supports the evdutionary continuity hypothesis of Chinese fossil man.
Table 1 shows the Mode technology in Chinese Paleolithic.

Key words: Technological mode; Paleolithic cultures; Comparsion between China and the West