Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 1984, Vol. 3 ›› Issue (01): 11-90.

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Human fossil and paleolithic remains from Jinchuan, Gansu

Liu Yulin, Huang Weiwen, Lin Yipu   

  • Online:1984-03-15 Published:1984-03-15

Abstract: This paper deals with the materials including a less complete skull cap of Homo sapiens associated with the remains of fossil mammals and stone artifacts from two localities in Jinchuan, Gansu.
Their geological age determined by the remains of fossil mammals especially the Myo- s pal ax fontanieri, may be Upper Pleistocene.
The skull cap characterized by its thinness and by the development of a protuberance on the occipital bone etc., is indistinguishable from that of Homo sapiens. The owner of this skuil cap might die in her twenties, as the sagittal suture between the foraminas was closed.
The paleolithic assemblage includes choppers, scrapers, points, bolas, cores and flakes. The direct percussion by a striking hammer and bipolar methods were applied in the flake detachment process. AH of the stone tools were made by the way of direct percussion.
The characters of this paleolithic assemblage are similar essentially to that of the paleolithic assemblage from the sites of Nanyugou, of Taoshanzui, of Zhangwu and of Liujia- cha which are also located in the Jing valley as this paper dealt with. We think they belong to the same culture tradition.
Judging on the study of fossil mammalian fauna, the geological age of these sites is comparable either with that of Sala-wushu (foremerly Sjara-osso-gol), ca. 50,000—37,000 y. BP, or that of Shiyu, ca. 28,945 ± 1,370 y. BP, and younger than the age of Dingchuan which represents tke early stage of Upper Pleistocene in North China.

Key words: Jinchuan; Homo sapiens; Paleolith