A report on the 2019-2020 paleolithic survey in Yuxian Basin

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2021.0067

Abstract

Abstract:

Yuxian basin, located in the southeast part of the Nihewan basin (senso lato) in Hebei Province, is an important area occupied by early hominins during Pleistocene. This report presents some preliminary results of the new Paleolithic survey conducted by the staff from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Hebei Normal University from 2019 to 2020 in Yuxian basin. A total of 18 Pleistocene localities including 16 Paleolithic localities and 2 mammalian fossil localities, were newly discovered and confirmed, and 35 stone artifacts and a few mammalian fossil fragments were collected. The Paleolithic and fossil remains are buried in the Nihewan lacustrine sediments and loess. Typologically, the stone artifacts collected from these Paleolithic localities include hammerstone, cores (including microblade cores), debitage (whole flakes, flake fragments and chunks) and tools. The raw materials for stone knapping are dominated by volcanic rocks, followed by cherts and quartzite. The principal flaking and retouching technique were hard hammer percussion, while soft hammer had probably also been used when modifying bifacial preforms of wedge-shaped microblade cores. Based on the technological and typological characteristics of these stone artifacts, two different assemblages of lithic artifacts have been identified, one is a core-flake assemblage characterized by simple cores, flakes, lightly-retouched tools etc.; the other is a microblade assemblage characterized by wedge-shaped microblade cores. Based on the geomorphological and stratigraphic comparison in the Nihewan basin and the technological traits of lithic assemblage, it can be inferred that these new 18 discovered localities may be assigned to the Middle Pleistocene (n=4) and the Late Pleistocene (n=14). Furthermore, the two microlithic localities are more likely formed during the late Upper Pleistocene based on the comparison with the similar finds (Youfang site and Ma’anshan site) in the Nihewan basin of Yangyuan county.

Key words: Paleolithic survey, Stone artifacts, Middle Pleistocene, Upper Pleistocene, Yuxian Basin

CLC Number:

K871

NIU Dongwei, YAN Xiaomeng, MA Dongdong, XU Zhe, PEI Shuwen. A report on the 2019-2020 paleolithic survey in Yuxian Basin[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2022, 41(05): 936-944.

Figures/Tables 6

References 14

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地点名称 Locality	编号 No.	地点坐标Coordinate	海拔(m) Elevation	地理位置Location	遗物Remains (n)	年代Age
Xiliangtou1	XLT1	39°51′15.1″N; 114°45′38.3″E	1135	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Stone artifacts(2)	Q₃
Xiliangtou2	XLT2	39°51′14.3″N; 114°45′58.0″E	1166	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Stone artifacts(2), Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Xiliangtou3	XLT3	39°51′15.0″N; 114°46′9.6″E	1146	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Xiliangtou4	XLT4	39°51′9.3″N; 114°45′46.5″E	1138	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₃
Xiliangtou5	XLT5	39°51′11.5″N; 114°45′45.5″E	1142	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₃
Xiliangtou6	XLT6	39°51′17.5″N; 114°47′7.5″E	1145	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Stone artifacts(7),Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Shuiyuliang1	SYL1	39°56′19.8″N; 114°26′8.3″E	1210	蔚县百草村乡韩家湾村东南	Stone artifacts(2),Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Shuiyuliang2	SYL2	39°56′52.6″N; 114°26′22.2″E	1233	蔚县百草村乡韩家湾村东北	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₃
Beizhuangzi	BZZ	40°00′47.2″N; 114°31′49.9″E	1230	蔚县杨庄窠乡北庄子村南	Stone artifacts(2, Wedge-shaped microblade core)	Q3 3
Taigou	TG	40°04′23.7″N; 114°44′32.8″E	904	蔚县黄梅乡下康庄村东北	Stone artifacts(5),Mammalian fossils	Q₂
Yuanzigou	YZG	40°04′12.0″N; 114°44′45.7″E	924	蔚县黄梅乡下康庄村东	Stone artifacts(2),Mammalian fossils	Q₂
Heipozi	HPZ	40°03′43.6″N; 114°44′57.3″E	898	蔚县黄梅乡下康庄村南	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₂
Longzigou	LZG	40°03′26.6″N; 114°47′31.7″E	923	蔚县黄梅乡常胜疃村东	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₃
Quangou	QG	39°58′19.8″N; 114°41′37.2″E	898	蔚县西合营镇穆家庄上堡村北	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₃
Shuikudong	SKD	39°58′24.1″N; 114°41′11.5″E	894	蔚县西合营镇穆家庄上堡村西北	Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Xiaohuanggou	XHG	39°58′9.8″N; 114°40′50.8″E	917	蔚县西合营镇穆家庄上堡村西	Stone artifacts(1),Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Yinjiangou	YJG	39°48′35.7″N; 114°26′35.0″E	948	蔚县暖泉镇风水庄村东北	Stone artifacts(6),Mammalian fossils	Q₂
Beihewan	BHW	39°48′41.2″N; 114°27′32.5″E	902	蔚县暖泉镇风水庄村东南	Stone artifacts(Microblade)	Q3 3

地点名称 Locality	编号 No.	地点坐标Coordinate	海拔(m) Elevation	地理位置Location	遗物Remains (n)	年代Age
Xiliangtou1	XLT1	39°51′15.1″N; 114°45′38.3″E	1135	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Stone artifacts(2)	Q₃
Xiliangtou2	XLT2	39°51′14.3″N; 114°45′58.0″E	1166	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Stone artifacts(2), Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Xiliangtou3	XLT3	39°51′15.0″N; 114°46′9.6″E	1146	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Xiliangtou4	XLT4	39°51′9.3″N; 114°45′46.5″E	1138	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₃
Xiliangtou5	XLT5	39°51′11.5″N; 114°45′45.5″E	1142	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₃
Xiliangtou6	XLT6	39°51′17.5″N; 114°47′7.5″E	1145	蔚县南杨庄乡九宫口村西	Stone artifacts(7),Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Shuiyuliang1	SYL1	39°56′19.8″N; 114°26′8.3″E	1210	蔚县百草村乡韩家湾村东南	Stone artifacts(2),Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Shuiyuliang2	SYL2	39°56′52.6″N; 114°26′22.2″E	1233	蔚县百草村乡韩家湾村东北	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₃
Beizhuangzi	BZZ	40°00′47.2″N; 114°31′49.9″E	1230	蔚县杨庄窠乡北庄子村南	Stone artifacts(2, Wedge-shaped microblade core)	Q3 3
Taigou	TG	40°04′23.7″N; 114°44′32.8″E	904	蔚县黄梅乡下康庄村东北	Stone artifacts(5),Mammalian fossils	Q₂
Yuanzigou	YZG	40°04′12.0″N; 114°44′45.7″E	924	蔚县黄梅乡下康庄村东	Stone artifacts(2),Mammalian fossils	Q₂
Heipozi	HPZ	40°03′43.6″N; 114°44′57.3″E	898	蔚县黄梅乡下康庄村南	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₂
Longzigou	LZG	40°03′26.6″N; 114°47′31.7″E	923	蔚县黄梅乡常胜疃村东	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₃
Quangou	QG	39°58′19.8″N; 114°41′37.2″E	898	蔚县西合营镇穆家庄上堡村北	Stone artifacts(1)	Q₃
Shuikudong	SKD	39°58′24.1″N; 114°41′11.5″E	894	蔚县西合营镇穆家庄上堡村西北	Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Xiaohuanggou	XHG	39°58′9.8″N; 114°40′50.8″E	917	蔚县西合营镇穆家庄上堡村西	Stone artifacts(1),Mammalian fossils	Q₃
Yinjiangou	YJG	39°48′35.7″N; 114°26′35.0″E	948	蔚县暖泉镇风水庄村东北	Stone artifacts(6),Mammalian fossils	Q₂
Beihewan	BHW	39°48′41.2″N; 114°27′32.5″E	902	蔚县暖泉镇风水庄村东南	Stone artifacts(Microblade)	Q3 3

编号No.	类型Type	原料 Raw material	尺寸 Size (mm)	重量Mass (g)	台面尺寸 Platform size(mm)	台面性质 Platform type	石片角 Flake angle(°)	背疤数量 Number of Dorsal scar	背疤方向 Dorsal scar direction	背自然面(%) Natural dorsal surface ratio	远端特征 Feature of distal end
XLT1-01	II	Basalt	73×47×13	42	27×14	Natural	95°	1	same direction	60%	Step fracture
XLT4-01	V	Basalt	50×41×16	31	18×7	Plain	98°	5	Multi-directional	25%	Feather termination
XLT6-01	V	Volcanic breccia	69×47×17	54	31×15	Plain	93°	3	Same direction	25%	Feather termination
TG-04	VI	Rhyolite	21×23×4	2	12×8	Plain	95°	2	Same direction	0	Step fracture
TG-05	V	Chert	27×32×15	10	18×2	Plain	78°	4	Multi-directional	5%	Feather termination
HPZ-01	II	Trachyte	104×62×16	107	37×18	Natural	100°	1	Same direction	20%	Step fracture
YJG-04	VI	Chert	15×12×2	1	—	Punctiform	—	2	Multi-directional	0	Feather termination
YJG-05	II	Basalt	27×23×7	4	13×4	Natural	100°	1	Same direction	80%	Feather termination
YJG-06	VI	Trachyte	29×33×10	7	20×7	Ridged	110°	5	Multi-directional	0	Feather termination

编号No.	类型Type	原料 Raw material	尺寸 Size (mm)	重量Mass (g)	台面尺寸 Platform size(mm)	台面性质 Platform type	石片角 Flake angle(°)	背疤数量 Number of Dorsal scar	背疤方向 Dorsal scar direction	背自然面(%) Natural dorsal surface ratio	远端特征 Feature of distal end
XLT1-01	II	Basalt	73×47×13	42	27×14	Natural	95°	1	same direction	60%	Step fracture
XLT4-01	V	Basalt	50×41×16	31	18×7	Plain	98°	5	Multi-directional	25%	Feather termination
XLT6-01	V	Volcanic breccia	69×47×17	54	31×15	Plain	93°	3	Same direction	25%	Feather termination
TG-04	VI	Rhyolite	21×23×4	2	12×8	Plain	95°	2	Same direction	0	Step fracture
TG-05	V	Chert	27×32×15	10	18×2	Plain	78°	4	Multi-directional	5%	Feather termination
HPZ-01	II	Trachyte	104×62×16	107	37×18	Natural	100°	1	Same direction	20%	Step fracture
YJG-04	VI	Chert	15×12×2	1	—	Punctiform	—	2	Multi-directional	0	Feather termination
YJG-05	II	Basalt	27×23×7	4	13×4	Natural	100°	1	Same direction	80%	Feather termination
YJG-06	VI	Trachyte	29×33×10	7	20×7	Ridged	110°	5	Multi-directional	0	Feather termination

编号 No.	类型Type	原料Raw material	尺寸Size (mm)	质量 Mass (g)	台面数量 Platform number	台面性质 Platform type	台面角 Platform angle(°)	剥片面数量 Number of flaking surface	石片疤数量 Number of flaking scar	自然面比 Ratio of natural surface(% )
TG-01	Polyhedron^a)	Quartz	172×125×112	3900	4	Natural	90°~95°	3	>5	40%
TG-02	Heavy-duty scraper^b)	Siliceous dolomite	96×90×82	833	1	Artificial	90°~120°	4	>8	40%
TG-03	Heavy-duty scraper	Quartzite	99×80×46	462	1	Artificial	80°	1	>3	40%
LZG-01	Core with multi-platforms	Basalt	92×76×24	197	3	Natural/Artificial	75°~85°	3	>6	30%
QG-01	Bifacial chopper-core^c)	Trachyte	102×97×64	628	2	Artificial	80°~100°	2	>10	25%
BZZ-01	Wedge-shaped microblade core	Chert	30×22×12	8	1	Artificial	50°~85°	1	5	5%