江苏溧阳上黄高级灵长类及哺乳动物化石的发现

Discovery of Fossils of High-grade Primates and Mammal in Shanghuang Town of Liyang,Jiangsu Province

在中国江苏省溧阳市上黄水母山发掘出距今４５００万年的哺乳动物化石群，共鉴定出１２个目３６科３８属６０余种动物，种类之多在世界上罕见。尤其是中华曙猿化石的发现意义最大，这是迄今为止在地球上所发现的最古老的、包括人类在内的、一切高级灵长类动物的始祖化石，被世界考古界认为是本世纪具有划时代意义的重大发现，具有特别重要的科学价值，其意义可与周口店北京人的发现媲美。这一具有重大科学价值的史前高级灵长类及哺乳动物化石遗址的保护工作亟待加强。

Large quantity of mammal fossil communities,B. P. 45 Ma,i. e. medium Eocene epoch of early Paleogene period,have been discovered is Shuimu Hill of Shanghuang Town,Liyang city. ldentified animal fossils,including 12 orders, 36 families and 38 genera,are exceptionally riching types in the world. Especially,the discovery of Eosmiassinepsis has a great significance and is an important discovery in the 20tk century because it is the earliest ancestor fossil found in the world. its scientific value can be compared favourably with Homo erectus pekmensis discovered in Zhoukoudian of Beijing. The discovery, attracting many scientific researchers' and public attentions at home and abroad,is being suffered damage from local quarry operation.In order to protect the valuable geologic trace fossils,the forceful measures must be taken in terms of the relative national laws and rules and measurement under the governments at different levels.