Table of Content

15 March 2013, Volume 32 Issue 01

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Experimental study of lithic use-wear multi-stage formation

CHEN Hong; ZHANG Xiao-ling; Chen SHEN

2013, 32(01):  1-18. 

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Use-wear analysis has become an essential method for functional study of lithic artifacts from archaeological assemblages, however study of use-wear multi-stage formation is poorly developed. In this paper, we report on an experimental study focusing on scarring patterns and rounding/polish formation found in multiple stages. The paper starts with an extensive review of use-wear experiments. The objective of this experiment is to understand the formation of use-wear in scarring patterns as well as development of rounding and polish. For comparsion, nine cases of single working tasks were undertaken on bone scraped with Onondaga chert. Each case ?was ?observed ?in? three ?different? working? stages,? S1? represents ?the ?first ?three ?minutes,? S2? the? next six to nine minutes, and S3 working for an additional 12 minutes. Thus all nine scraping bones were worked a total of 21 minutes. Appearance of attributed scarring and abrasion were observed separately in each stage and a photomicrograph was taken and compared for the visual of changing trajectory of use-wear formation.
This experiment clearly demonstrates that scarring formation does not correspond to rate of usage over time, thus formation of scarring pattern and rounding become diagnostic attributes for use-wear ?observation,? at ?least ?for? scraping ?bone ?in ?this ?case.? Scarring ?fractures ?occur? most ?frequently? in early stages (S1 and S2). At the later stage (S3) scarring fractures stopped developing while rounding and polish steady grew to be apparent. This study also examines the changing trajectory of the rate of scarring invasiveness and length of use. The results are informative as they suggest that invasiveness grew as use time extended at a given working angle. This experiment provides detailed data on how use-wear scarring and rounding/polish are formed, as well as relationships between various attributes related to scarring patterns over the multi-stage observations of use- wear? experiments,? which? offers ?lines? of ?inquiries ?for ?future ?study.

Fire and stone: an overview of Paleolithic heat treatment of stone artifacts

ZHOU Zhen-yu; GUAN Ying; GAO Xing

2013, 32(01):  19-30. 

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The earliest evidence for heat treatment of stone materials has been found in South Africa having appeared as early as 164ka and predominates among silcrete tools dated to 72ka years ago from Still Bay, South Africa. Use and control of fire are important behaviors for human evolution as deliberately heating materials improve the rock’s physical properties. Archaeologists have conducted experiments to investigate heat treatment since Shippe (1963) regarded this activity as an important research aspect in prehistoric archaeology. What and how physical properties of material changed by heat treatment are the two issues of this research. The following observations are noted. 1) Some changes are visible by the naked eye such as changes in color, a greasy lustre on heated siliceous rocks; heat damage; and a slowness or acceleration of development of a patina. 2) Macrostructural changes accompanying heat treatment include: fracture toughness is reduced with increased temperature; elasticity increases with increasing temperature;? loss? of? light? energy? by? thermoluminescence;? obliteration? of? fission? tracks;? and? loss? of water of hydration. 3) Microstructural changes accompanying heat treatment can be detected by X-ray diffraction, infrared absorption spectroscopy and with scanning electron microscopy. The following characteristics of heat-treated rock are: disintegration, pot-lid fractures, flake splitting, transverse fractures, and surface crazing. In addition, heated raw material could yield more flakes with less force, and with the flakes being longer than the ones from unheated materials. It is important to recognize that these characteristics are not consistently apparent in heat-treated materials.
Due to the raw materials constraints, no heat-treatment stone artifacts have been identified so far in China. Since heat treatment is considered as an important part of modern human behavior, we? suggest? that? Chinese? archaeologists? should? pay? close? attention? to? the? identification? of? heated? artifacts and more efforts should be emphasized in experimental work.

A preliminary report of the stone artifacts from the Gonglou site at Bose, Guangxi Province

LIU Yang; HUANG Sheng-min

2013, 32(01):  31-36. 

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The Gonglou Paleolithic site was discovered at Tianyang county, Guangxi in 1980s, and was surveyed again in 2010. It is located on the fourth terrace of the south of Youjiang River, and the geographical position is 23°45.568 ?N, 106°42.210 ?E. Altogather 102 stone artifacts were gathered on surface, including cores(n=4), flakes(n=22), choppers(n=47) , picks(n=21), scrapers(n=6) and handaxe(n=1). Lithic raw materials exploited at the site were locally available from ancient riverbeds, and quartzite(43%), quartz (18%), silicalite(15%), siltstone(13%), fine sandstone(10%) and breccia(1%) were utilized in core reduction and tool manufacture. Blanks for tool fabrication are most cobbles. Most of the stone artifacts are large and middle in size; however, some cores, flakes, and scrapers are small. Tools are modified by direct hammer percussion. According to the comparison of Geomorphological with other sites of the Bose Basin, we suggest that this site should be close to the early Middle Pleistocene.

A preliminary report on reconnaissance of the Taiziling Paleolithic locality in Jixian County, Tianjin Area

WANG Chun-xue; SHENG Li-shuang

2013, 32(01):  37-44. 

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The Taiziling Paleolithic locality, buried in the second terrace near the Prince Mausoleum of the Qing Dynasty is located in the Sungezhuang village, Jixian County, Tianjin City. The locality was discovered in April 2005, with a joint research team involved in Paleolithic investigations in Jixian County from April to May that year.
Three stratigraphic layers of the second terrace were identified at this locality with a total thickness of more than 1 m. Archaeological materials were mainly collected from the 2nd layer, a light yellow silt with gravels 0.3-0.5 m in thickness. A total of 58 stone artifacts were unearthed. The stone assemblage includes cores (n=5), flakes (n=42), chunks (n=5) and retouched tools (n=6). The general features of these artifacts are summarized as follows. Lithic raw materials exploited at the locality were locally available from ancient riverbeds, with chert being ?the ?predominant ?raw ?material?(72.5%). ?The ?principal ?flaking ?technique ?was ?direct ?hammer? percussion with core preparation, especially for microblade cores. Most stone artifacts were standardized? in? shape,? finely? retouched, ?and? small? in ?size,? and? most ?tool ?blanks? were ?flakes. ?Only? three ?retouched ?tool ?types? were ?identified:? scrapers,? points? and ?picks. ?Modified ?tools? appear ?to ?be? retouched? by ?hammer ?percussion ?and? pressure ?techniques, ?with ?tools ?retouched? primarily? on ?the? dorsal surface.
It can be inferred from these materials that this stone assemblage shows a close relationship with the Flake Tool Industry (Main Industry) in North China, but bears some characteristics of the Microblade Industry there. Geomorphological and chronological comparison within Jixian County indicates a Late Pleistocene or Early Holocene date. The Taiziling locality provides important data for the study of human adaptive strategies and patterns in this region, and offers evidence? for? the? study? of? lithic? techniques? in? the? Late? Pleistocene/Early? Holocene? in? North? China as well as the cultural relationship between northern and northeastern China during the Pleistocene.

Study of tooth wear and caries of teeth unearthed from the Liyudun site

CHEN Wei-ju; LI Fa-jun

2013, 32(01):  45-51. 

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The idea that 6000 BP inhabitants in southern China made their living mostly by fishing, hunting and gathering, with planting roots and tubers as supplement has been widely accepted. This type of subsistence strategy was different from that that occurred in the middle and lower valley of Yangtze River and in northern China. The differences were not only presented in the remains of animals, plants, and tools excavated from archaeological sites, but also expressed by physical features of unearthed human bones. The latter evidence was analyzed using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. Using teeth uncovered from the Liyudun site, we attempted to exam the differences mentioned above on tooth wear and caries.

A preliminary report of animal fossils and pollen from the Xianrendong Paleolithic site in Huadian City, Jilin Province

CHEN Quan-jia; ZHAO Hai-long; WANG Fa-gang; WANG Chun-xue

2013, 32(01):  52-62. 

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Exactly 1066 bone fragment pieces were recovered from the Xianrendong Paleolithic site, of which 384 were identified to skeletal element. In this paper, distribution of bone fragments, bone surface modifications and skeletal element profiles of the bone assemblage are studied in order to understand hunting behaviors of hominids in different phases. Clearly hunting was the main living strategy at this site, with later hominids making fuller use of the animals than earlier hominids. Based on the bone fragments and stone artifacts, it is assumed that this site was a temporary campsite or butchering site. Comparative analyses of bone assemblages, chronological data and palynology, over time the climate deteriorated and became colder and drier, with grassland vegetation and scattered clusters of trees or shrubs.

New materials of early Pleistocene Sus from Sanhe Cave, Chongzuo, Guangxi, South China

DONG Wei; JIN Chang-zhu; WANG Yuan; XU Qin-qi; QIN Da-gong; SUN Cheng-kai; ZHANG Li-min

2013, 32(01):  63-76. 

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Two suids identified as Sus xiaozhu and S. peii associated with Gigantopithecus unearthed from Sanhe Cave are systematically described. Sanhe Cave is at least the 12th site yielding S. xiaozhu and at least the 9th site yielding S. peii, both finds recognized as the southernmost location in China so far. This evidence confirms the thriving period of both S. xiaozhu and S. peii in the Early Pleistocene and Guangxi as their favorable habitat. Although S. xiaozhu chronologically ranges from the early stage of the Early Pleistocene to the early stage of the Late Pleistocene and S. peii chronologically ranges from the early stage of the Early Pleistocene to the early stage of the Middle Pleistocene, the co-occurrence of S. xiaozhu and S. peii happens always in the Lower Pleistocene. Sanhe Cave is the 6th Early Pleistocene site yielding both types of suids, which are often found with Gigantopithecus; Sanhe Cave is the 5th site with such an association. The presence of these two suids indicates that the Early Pleistocene environment around the cave was forested with scrub and swamps nearby.

Research on faunal remains from the Yangjiesha site in Hengshan County, Shaanxi Province

HU Song-mei; SUN Zhou-yong; YANG Li-ping; KANG Ning-wu; YANG Miao-miao; LI Xiao-qiang

2013, 32(01):  77-92. 

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This article focuses on the identification and analysis of faunal remains unearthed from the Yangjiesha Neolithic site at Hengshan County, Shaanxi Province, in 2010. These faunal remains were recovered from archaeological features of the Late Yangshao Period, including ash pits, house floors and storage pits. At least 13 species such as mussels, birds, hedgehogs, pheasants, sewer rats, Myospalax fontanieri, Myospalax cansus, Siberian weasels, dogs, rabbits, domestic? pigs,? goitred? gazelle? and? sheep,? were? identified.? The? analysis? of? these? faunal? remains? indicate that the climate of the Late Yangshao Period was better than today with extensive grasslands present around the site, which deteriorated with desertification. Based on MNI, pigs comprised 87.9% of the faunal remains showing that the consumption of pigs played an important role in the subsistence system. Except for domestic animals, hunting wild animals was one of the main sources for human meat consumption.

Genetic analysis on craniofacial characteristics of school-age twins

LI Yu-ling; JI Cheng-ye; LIU Yan; DING Yi; LUAN Tian-shu; ZHAO Man; ZHENG Yu-na

2013, 32(01):  93-100. 

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The purpose of this paper is to analyze genetic and environmental influences on craniofacial development of 16 anthropometric items of school-age children in China of 369 twin pairs including 180 monozygotic (MZ), 141 like-sex and 48 opposite-sex dizygotic (DZ) aged 7 to 12 years enrolled in schools in Hohhot and Baotou. Anthropometric items were measured using the standard methods of measurement. Quantitative genetic model fitting and estimates of variance components were done with Mx, a structural equation modeling package designed for the analysis of twin and family data. After adjusting for age, the results were as follows. In cephalic measurements, head circumference had a higher heritability (male 66%, female 66%). Higher heritability of facial measurements was physiognomic facial height (male 73%, female 84%), nose breadth (male 57%, female 67%), interocular breadth ( male 57%, female 50%) and minimum frontal breadth (male 50%, female 50%). Gender effect existed in heritabilities of head length (male 64%, female 25%), head breadth (male 26%, female 82%), external binocular breadth (male 76%, female 34%) and physiognomic ear length (male 23%, female 70%). In conclusion, craniofacial development of school-age twins were influenced by genetic and environmental factors in which male and female’s head circumference and physiognomic facial height, male’s head length and external binocular breadth, female’s face breadth, nose breadth, mouth ?breadth ?and? physiognomic ?ear ?length ?were ?influenced ?primarly? by? genetic? factors.

A study of seven behavioral traits of lateral functional dominance in the Xiang language groups of the Han

LI Yong-lan; LU Shun-hua; ZHENG Lian-bin; LI Chuan-gang; LI Yong-xia; KONG Xiang-wei ; FU Yuan

2013, 32(01):  101-109. 

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A sample of seven behavioral traits of lateral functional dominance (e.g., hand clasping, handedness, arm folding, leg folding, foot preference, stride type and eye preference) was examined on 507 high school students (269 males, 238 females) of the Han ethnic group of Hunan. The results of this research are as follows. The percentage of the right side of five traits are much higher than that of the left side, except for arm folding and stride type. There is no sexual difference in the hakka of four traits except in handedness, arm folding and foot preference. From published materials, the percentage of R-R type of hand clasping, stride type and the percentage of R-R type of handedness are at the middle level; the percentage of R-R type of arm folding and leg folding are at the lowest level; whereas the percentage of R-R type of foot and eye preference are at the highest level. Factor score analysis showed variation between ethnicities of the Han nationality but also similarities with the northern groups of China. These differences in behavioral traits of lateral functional dominances in the China nationality are mainly ?reflected? in? folding ?arm? rate ?difference,? and? preferential? foot? rate? difference.

Holocene climate and environmental changes reconstructed from elemental geochemistry in the Western Hexi Corridor

LI Xiao-qiang; LIU Han-bin; ZHAO Ke-liang; JI Ming; ZHOU Xin-ying

2013, 32(01):  110-120. 

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A 210-cm-long laminated sediment core was collected from Tiaohu Lake in the western Hexi Corridor, and used to investigate the climate and environmental changes during ~11400-1060 cal BP, based on elemental geochemistry and precise AMS-14C dating. The level of Tiaohu Lake is high with intensified chemical weathering in the area indicating relatively warm and humid conditions from ~11400 to 9400 cal BP. The lake level dropped and the intensity of chemical weathering weakened, suggesting dry conditions between ~9400 and 8100 cal BP. During ~8100-5800 cal BP, the climate was relatively wet in the study area. One of the most humid periods occurred between 8100-7200 cal BP in the Holocene. The climate became dry in the area between ~5800 and 4800 cal BP. After ~4800 cal BP, increased human activities resulted in the severity level of desertification in the study area.