Abstract:

The Middle Paleolithic or Middle Stone Age, dating approximately between 300,000 and 40,000 years ago, represents a critical phase in human evolution, characterized by significant advancements in technology, adaptive behaviors, and complex interactions among different hominin groups, including Homo erectus, Neanderthals, Denisovans, and early modern humans. During this period, lithic technology underwent substantial diversification and refinement, reflecting key cognitive and behavioral developments. Among these innovations, the emergence and widespread adoption of Levallois technology—also known as prepared core technology—stands out as a representative feature of Middle Paleolithic technological innovation.

Despite the global significance of these developments, the present and nature of Middle Paleolithic technologies in East Asia—particularly in China—have long been debated. A dominant perspective has maintained that lithic technologies in China lacked the innovative characteristics observed in other regions before the Upper/Late Paleolithic. However, this view has been increasingly challenged by recent archaeological discoveries, which have identified diagnostic Middle Paleolithic elements—such as Levallois and discoid core reduction strategies—at several sites spanning diverse geographical regions of China. These findings suggest that technological innovations were not absent in East Asia but may have followed distinct regional trajectories.

This study provides a comprehensive global review of Quina technology, focusing on its core diagnostic features: 1) plan-secant volumetric organization for blank production, 2) scalariform stepped retouch (i.e. Quina retouch) on thick, asymmetric and lateral flakes, and 3) complex ramification of the Quina chaîne opératoire. The Quina Mousterian is one of the major technological variants of the European Middle Paleolithic, often interpreted as a Neanderthal adaptation to cold climates, marked by high degrees of tool curation and repeated maintenance during seasonal subsistence.

By synthesizing archaeological reports and incorporating new evidence from northwestern Yunnan, this research demonstrates the presence of a well-defined Quina techno-complex in southwestern China. This discovery significantly expands the known geographical distribution of Quina technology beyond its traditional association with Europe.

The identification of Quina techno-complex underscores the diversity and complexity of Middle Paleolithic traditions in China, offering important insights into cultural transmission, regional adaptation, and potential interactions among hominin populations across East and West. Future research should prioritize targeted excavations and interdisciplinary studies at Quina-related sites in northwestern Yunnan. Such investigations will be crucial for establishing a more precise spatial-temporal framework for Quina technology in East Asia and, for exploring the behavioral and taxonomic identity of the hominins who produced it.

Key words: Southwest China, Middle Paleolithic, Quina technology, Levallois technology, discoid technology