Abstract: Stone artifact classification as an important approach for Paleolithic culture is the foundation and premise for lithic technology research of early hominins. However there is no single standardized classification system that can be used for the Chinese Paleolithic. The author notes that Oldowan-like (or Mode 1) technology dominates Chinese Paleolithic stone assemblages and recognizes different classification systems based on African materials. This paper offers a general review of the prevalent lithic classification systems proposed by Mary Leakey, Glynn Isaac, and Nicholas Toth, as well as comments on the application of these artifact systems to China. It should be noted that the current review is preliminary and critiques by colleagues are encouraged to develop the contributions of this research.

Key words: Oldowan; Mode 1; Lithics; Classification; Mary Leakey