泥河湾盆地旧石器时代人类活动与环境关系的研究进展

Research progress on the relationship between Paleolithic hominid activities and environmental changes in the Nihewan Basin

泥河湾盆地是中国北方旧石器时代古人类遗存数量最多、分布最密集、年代序列最为完整的区域。本文根据已公开发表的泥河湾盆地阳原和蔚县地区65处旧石器遗址的相关数据和信息,探讨了更新世不同时期泥河湾盆地古人类活动与环境变化之间的关系。研究结果显示:1)早更新世时期遗址主要分布在岑家湾台地北部边缘区,年代在1.8-1.0 MaBP;中更新世之后,遗址分布范围明显扩大,晚更新世时期,遗址分布模式改为集中分布于河流两岸阶地。2)在早-中更新世,80%以上遗址处在低地球轨道偏心率期,70%以上处在温暖的间冰期。3)遗址的植被多为以蒿属、藜科占优的草原或森林草原。4)晚更新世时期,随着古人类环境适应能力的提高、石器技术的进步和火的使用,在寒冷的冰期时段,古人类也可以在泥河湾盆地很好地生存。

The Nihewan Basin in northern China has the largest number,densest distribution and most complete chronological sequence of Paleolithic hominid remains,and as such is an ideal region for the research on Paleolithic hominins and environment.Based on published data of 65 Paleolithic sites(groups)in the Yangyuan and Yuxian basins of the Nihewan,this paper discusses the relationship between Paleolithic hominid activities and environmental changes during Pleistocene.The results are as follows.1)Sites of early Pleistocene mainly appeared 1.8 MaBP to 1.0 MaBP,and were distributed in the northern margin area of the Cenjiawan platform.In the Middle Pleistocene(i.e.,after 0.78 MaBP),with reduction of the paleolake,the range of hominid sites expanded significantly from the Early Pleistocen.These sites were distributed not only in the southern margin of the Cenjiawan platform and the Yuxian basin,but also in the other margins of the ancient lake,such as the central and western parts of the Yangyuan basin.In the Late Pleistocene(i.e.,after 0.126 MaBP),the range of hominid sites further expanded,but with the gradual disappearance of the Nihewan paleolake and the formation of the Sanggan and Huliu rivers,the distribution pattern of sites changed to concentrate on the river terraces reflecting a dependence on water sources.2)More than 80%of Early-Middle Pleistocene hominid sites correspond to the low Earth Orbit Eccentricity,and more than 70%sites correspond to the Marine Isotope Stage(MIS)interglacial stage,which showed that the climate was relatively warm and with small fluctuations;suitable climate conditions for hominins.3)During periods of hominin occupation,plant types are mostly steppe dominated by Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae,or forest-steppe dominated by Pinus,mixed with some broad-leaf tree species such as Betula,Ulmus and Quercus.The overall biodiversity was high,which provided not only rich food sources but also relatively wide spaces for hominin occupation.4)In the Late Pleistocene,advances in stone technology and the use of fire,humans began to appear in later cold glacial pe riods.