早-中更新世中国古人类演化及其与气候环境的关系

Human evolution of the Early and Middle Pleistocene in China and its relationship with climatic conditions

近一个世纪以来,随着旧石器时代考古与古人类研究的发展,我们已经获得了大量的研究材料和数据。尽管个别遗址的年代、文化性质和化石人类分析及鉴定仍有争议,但如此长时间的积累依然为构建序列性认识和思考提供了基础。目前的研究多集中在单个遗址或者区域的古人类化石、石器打制技术和气候环境背景的个案分析,对早-中更新世中国古人类演化及其与气候环境的关系尚缺乏系统探讨。本文选取过去百万年里地球气候冰期-间冰期旋回经历的两次显著转型事件:中更新世气候转型期和中布容事件作为时间节点,讨论伴随气候转型时期中国北方地区、秦岭及周边地区和中国南方地区出现的早期古人类演化特征的变化。具体从遗址分布、石器技术变化、早期人类化石特征等方面入手,尝试构建人类活动与气候环境变化的耦合关系。

With on-going implementation of palaeoanthropological surveys and excavations,in China the Early and Middle Pleistocene hominin record is accumulating steadily.Although the dates and cultural attributes of some sites are controversial,increasing information allows for the assessment of the effects of climate variability on archaeological site distributions and its influence on hominin behaviours.During the last one million years,there are two major changes in the climate regime,namely the Mid-Pleistocene climate transition(MPT)centered around 1.2-0.7 MaBP and the Mid-Brunhes event(MBE)around 0.4 MaBP.Here,we combine the fossil and archaeological data sets of the Early and Middle Pleistocene and subdivide them into four time frames,i.e.,pre-MPT,MPT,pre-MBE and post-MBE.We examine archaeological site distributions across China to determine long-term geographic and behavioural effects on hominin populations before,during and after the two critical climatic events.Changes in the geographic distribution of hominins are demonstrated across the MPT,with significant shifts in the number of sites in high and low latitudes.The appearance of Large Cutting Tools,and new innovations in small tool industries,are key technological changes documented during the MPT.Across the MBE,the distribution of hominins is more extensive in both high and low latitudes.In contrast to earlier periods,post-MBE sites witness significant technological developments,such as the introduction of new stone tool reduction techniques in some sites of Yunnan and Guizhou in South China and improved tool designs at sites such as Dali,in North China.Across the MBE,a series of human fossil evidence indicate that several hominin species may have co-existed as increased morphological diversity is indicated.The Qinling Mountain Range and its surrounding area,at the boundary of North and South China,contained the densest and most continuous human occupations throughout the Early to Middle Pleistocene.Geographic and behavioural shifts in the hominin record challenge traditional views about the long-term,conservative nature of the biological and cultural evolution of hominins in Eastern Asia,and instead demonstrate dynamic responses of populations to ecosystem changes across the Early and Middle Pleistocene.