Abstract:

In 2007, the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with the Ningxia Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Relics, initiated a formal excavation at Shuidonggou Locality 9. The excavation uncovered an area of 20 m², revealing relatively thin cultural deposits that were situated directly beneath the surface soil layer. Over the course of the excavation, a total of 414 lithic artifacts were unearthed from this cultural layer. These findings suggest that while the lithic artifacts at SDG9 were largely in-situ burials, they had experienced some degree of post-depositional disturbance over time. A detailed analysis of the lithic assemblage revealed cultural characteristics at this site that were strikingly similar to those documented at SDG1, indicating a shared technological tradition. The predominant raw material used in the lithic assemblage was siliceous limestone, reflecting the local availability of resources and suggesting a pattern of raw material exploitation focused on efficiency. In addition to simple core-flake technology, researchers uncovered evidence of a more sophisticated technique involving the systematic production of elongated flakes and blades from prepared cores using hard hammer percussion. This advanced production method points to a deliberate technological choice aimed at maximizing material utility and reflects a highly organized approach to lithic reduction. Furthermore, artifacts related to bladelet production were also identified, providing valuable insights into the diversity of technological practices at the site. However, only three formal stone tools were recovered from the assemblage, suggesting a relatively narrow range of tool types present. Luminescence dating of the cultural layer yielded an approximate age of 29,000 years, although it was suggested that this date may have been underestimated due to the shallow burial of the artifacts, which may have led to some post-depositional alterations. The discovery of the SDG9 lithic assemblage provides yet another important example of blade production technology, closely resembling that documented at SDG1 and characteristic of Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) technology in this region. Despite the overall similarities, the SDG9 assemblage exhibits differences from SDG1, most notably the absence of prismatic and sub-prismatic cores, as well as fewer retouched pieces. Such disparities likely indicate regional variations and diversities in IUP assemblages across different sites at Shuidonggou. These findings contribute valuable material for advancing the study of blade technology in northern China, examining the cultural attributes associated with the Initial Upper Paleolithic, and shedding light on the broader behavioral evolution of prehistoric human populations inhabiting arid regions.

Key words: Shuidonggou site, archeological excavation, stone artifact, blade