A preliminary research on the bone, antler and tooth artifacts from the Yumidong site in Chongqing

doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2017.0085

Abstract

Abstract:

In the Paleolithic age with the hunter-gatherer economy, ancient humans lived with and depended on animals for survival under the same environment. Ancient humans further developed and utilized meat resources to produce bone-horn-tooth tools, which were kinds of by-products of animals. The Yumidong site, discovered newly in Wushan county of Chongqing, is a Paleolithic cave site special for its cultural feature. Bone-horn-tooth tools from the site are quite characteristic. In this paper, the author mainly preliminarily studied typology of bone-horn-tooth tools from the site and recorded relevant materials into bone tools (n=104), bone flakes(n=2), bone chunks(n=5),tooth tools (n=6) and antler tools (n=3) in detail. At the same time, the author tried to analyze manufacturing technology of the bone-horn-tooth tools and human behaviors from a chaÎne opératoire, indicating simplicity, flexibility, efficiency, and survival strategy of ancient human. At last, the author discussed the age of the excavated bone-horn-tooth tools and behavioral modernity of ancient humans, showing that the age of bone-horn-tooth tools from the Yumidong site ranged from middle Pleistocene to early Holocene. There was the continuous or discontinuous development between simple tools and formal tools, but it is necessary to reconsider standards for judging Behavioral Modernity of ancient humans in China.

Key words: Yumidong site, Technology, Bone-antler-tooth tools, Behavioral Modernity, Three Gorges region

CLC Number:

K871.11

HE Cunding. A preliminary research on the bone, antler and tooth artifacts from the Yumidong site in Chongqing[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2019, 38(01): 33-49.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig.1 Geographic location of the Yumidong site

Fig.2 Part of cultural modifications on the fossils form the Yumidong site

Tab.1 Stratigraphic horizon of bone, antler and tooth artifacts from the Yumidong site

层位Layers→ 类别Types↓	②层	③层	④层	⑤层	⑥层	⑦层	⑩层	?层	?层	?层	小计(n)
骨器Bone tools	56	5	9	15	1	2	1	5	1	2	97
角器Antler tools	3										3
牙器Tooth tools	1	1		2		1		1			6
骨片Bone flakes	2										2
骨断块Bone chunks	4						1				5
合计（n）Total	66	6	9	17	1	3	2	6	1	2	113

Tab.2 Classes of bone, antler and tooth artifacts from the Yumidong site

类别Types→ 原料Raw material↓	骨片	骨断块	刮削器	尖状器	砍砸器	凹缺器	雕刻器	锥钻	镞	铲	小计(n)
骨Bone	2	5	32	33	2	4	3	17	1	5	104
角Antler			1							2	3
牙Tooth			4							2	6
合计(n)	2	5	37	33	2	4	3	17	1	9	113

Fig.3 Bone scrapers from the Yumidong site

Fig.4 Bone points from the Yumidong site

Fig.5 Other bone tools and bone flakes from the Yumidong site

Fig.6 Antler tools from the Yumidong site

Fig.7 Tooth tools form the Yumidong site

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