Paleolithics excavated from Area B of the Yahuai Cave site, Guangxi

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2025.0047

Abstract

Abstract:

The Yahuai Cave site is a newly discovered Late Paleolithic to Neolithic site in South China. The site has yielded rich cultural remains spanning a relatively long period. Three Paleolithic cultural phases have been identified from the site. Analysis of lithic assemblages shows that two distinctive flaking systems co-existed at the site. One is featured by the steep-angled flaking cores made on sandstone, while the other is featured by the bipolar flaking cores made on tektite, chert, quartz and crystal. Bipolar technology is mainly related to the production of miniaturized flakes and flake tools. Miniaturized lithic assemblages or minialithic technology have been widely documented in the Upper Paleolithic sites in South and Southeast Asia, as well as the different regions of China, likely indicating the migration and dispersal process of early modern humans. The study of knapped stone artifacts at Yahuai Cave provides important materials and evidence for understanding the behavioral diversity and complexity of early modern humans in East Asia.

Key words: Late Paleolithic, tektite, bipolar technology, minialithic, early modern humans

CLC Number:

K871

LI Hao, XIE Guangmao, LI Dawei, LI Sanling, XIAO Peiyuan, CHEN Qingyi, WANG Yuqing, JIA Zhenxiu, WU Yan, LU Jieying. Paleolithics excavated from Area B of the Yahuai Cave site, Guangxi[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2025, 44(03): 404-412.

Figures/Tables 3

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岩性Lithology→ 类型Type↓		砂岩 Sandstone	玻璃陨石 Tektite	石英 Quartz	燧石 Chert	灰岩 Limestone	水晶 Crystal	总计 Total
第一期文化Phase 1	石核Cores	49	9	16	2	2	2	80
	完整石片Complete flakes	149	17	9	14	5	3	197
	不完整石片Incomplete flakes	50	4	9	3	1	-	67
	石器Tools	54	3	4	11	1	1	74
	石锤Hammerstones	5	-	-	-	-	-	5
	断块和碎屑Chunks & debris	109	4	25	12	5	-	155
	备料Manuports	4	-	4	-	-	-	8
	总计Total	420	37	67	42	14	6	586
	百分比Percentage	71.7%	6.3%	11.4%	7.2%	2.4%	1.0%	100%
第二期文化 Phase 2	石核Cores	31	10	11	6	-	1	59
	完整石片Complete flakes	138	56	9	9	6	5	223
	不完整石片Incomplete flakes	93	16	8	9	1	2	129
	石器Tools	144	12	7	12	3	-	178
	石锤Hammerstone	1	-	1	-	-	-	2
	断块和碎屑Chunks & debris	290	13	15	10	2	2	332
	总计Total	697	107	51	46	12	10	923
	百分比Percentage	75.5%	11.6%	5.5%	5.0%	1.3%	1.1%	100%

岩性Lithology→ 类型Type↓		砂岩 Sandstone	玻璃陨石 Tektite	石英 Quartz	燧石 Chert	灰岩 Limestone	水晶 Crystal	总计 Total
第一期文化Phase 1	石核Cores	49	9	16	2	2	2	80
	完整石片Complete flakes	149	17	9	14	5	3	197
	不完整石片Incomplete flakes	50	4	9	3	1	-	67
	石器Tools	54	3	4	11	1	1	74
	石锤Hammerstones	5	-	-	-	-	-	5
	断块和碎屑Chunks & debris	109	4	25	12	5	-	155
	备料Manuports	4	-	4	-	-	-	8
	总计Total	420	37	67	42	14	6	586
	百分比Percentage	71.7%	6.3%	11.4%	7.2%	2.4%	1.0%	100%
第二期文化 Phase 2	石核Cores	31	10	11	6	-	1	59
	完整石片Complete flakes	138	56	9	9	6	5	223
	不完整石片Incomplete flakes	93	16	8	9	1	2	129
	石器Tools	144	12	7	12	3	-	178
	石锤Hammerstone	1	-	1	-	-	-	2
	断块和碎屑Chunks & debris	290	13	15	10	2	2	332
	总计Total	697	107	51	46	12	10	923
	百分比Percentage	75.5%	11.6%	5.5%	5.0%	1.3%	1.1%	100%