Abstract: This paper introduces a new lithic discovery from the Lijiagou site, which yields abundant cultural remains from the Upper Paleolithic to Neolithic. A preliminary study of these materials suggests that ?the ?assemblage? varies ?with ?time ?and ?is ?characterized ?by? flake? tools? from ?the ?early? phase ?of ?the ?Upper? Paleolithic and by microblade tools from the late phase of the Upper Paleolithic. In the early Neolithic and later, the knapped stone tools continued to be used in the Peiligang culture. According to this analysis, we propose that lithic technologies in central China changed gradually from Upper Paleolithic to Neolithic and present a long process of transition.
The main cultural layer is Layer 6 in the southern area dated to 10300-10500 BP. It produced a microblade assemblage together with animal remains, indicating a hunter-gatherer occupation. The microblades were knapped from boat-shaped and conical microcores. The microblade and microcore are quite small but exhibit clear evidence of standardized knapping techniques and document the skillful employment of microbalde technology. Tools include end-scraper, side-scraper and an arrow. Associated with the microblade assemblage is a partly polished adze and some pottery. A new complex of Neolithic culture? dated? to? 10000-9000? BP? is? identified? above? Layer? 6.? It? is? characterized? with? a? large? number? of? pottery? sherds,? grinding? stones? and? artificially ?transported ?rocks.? The ?cultural ?remains ?and ?anthropogenic? features of these objects points to the sedentary nature of the human population. The animal remains show that small-sized mammals were mainly hunted, and the use of pottery and grinding stone indicates plant food in human diet.

Key words: Lijiagou; Paleolithic; Neolithic; Microblades; Pottery