Abstract:

Extensive microlithic remains uncovered in Xinjiang and the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau indicate a likely westward dispersal of microlithic populations originating in North China. However, the discovery and study of microlithic remains in the Liupan Mountains, a critical transitional zone between North China and the western regions, have remained scarce, which has impeded a holistic understanding of the time, migration routes, and technological adaptation strategies involved in this dispersal. To address this issue, the Ningxia Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, in collaboration with other institutions, carried out a systematic Paleolithic archaeological survey in May-June 2024 across the Yuanzhou district, Guyuan city, situated at the northern foothills of the Liupan Mountains and near the headwaters of the Qingshui River. The survey identified 23 Paleolithic sites, from 22 of which 85 lithic artifacts were collected. These included 15 ordinary cores, 24 flakes, 10 retouched tools, and 36 chunks and debris, all embedded within MIS 2 loess deposits. These artifacts are dominated by a small flake tool assemblage, with vein quartz constituting the predominant raw material (94.1%). Core reduction is primarily through the freehand hard hammer technique (80.0%), and scrapers were the most common formal tool type (40.0%).

A small test excavation (approximately 2 m²) was conducted at the remaining site, Daquantai, yielding 2,757 lithic artifacts along with abundant fragmented faunal remains. All cultural materials were embedded within a ca. 2-meter-thick loess layer sandwiched between two gravel layers. Radiocarbon dating indicates an occupation period between approximately 18,600 and 12,900 cal BP. The lithic assemblage includes 38 ordinary cores, 3 microblade cores, 28 microblades, 813 flakes, 46 retouched tools, and 1,829 chunks and debris. Vein quartz was the main raw material (73.5%), followed by chert (23.8%), with minor proportions of siliceous dolomite (2.0%) and quartz sandstone (0.7%). Bipolar cores account for the majority of ordinary cores (57.9%), with the remainder being the freehand hammer percussion cores (42.1%). The microblade cores include two boat-shaped cores and one expedient core. Retouched tools consist mainly of traditional small tools such as scrapers, alongside microlithic types including end-scrapers and small bifacial points. Retouching was primarily executed via freehand hard hammer technique (69.6%), with pressure-flaking retouch also present (30.4%). Overall, the Daquantai assemblage represents a technological tradition focused on small flake tool production, supplemented by microlithic technology.

The Daquantai site exhibits deep stratigraphy, rich cultural deposits, and a long chronological sequence spanning the entire Last Deglaciation. Notably, the boat-shaped microblade core technology shows similarities to that of North China. Further excavation at this site is expected to yield critical insights into the migration, dispersal, and ecological adaptation of microlithic populations in the Liupan Mountains region during the Last Deglaciation.

Key words: Qingshuihe River, boat-shaped microcore, microblade, flake tools, Last Deglaciation