泥河湾地质遗址的发现——以桑志华、巴尔博对泥河湾研究的优先权为中心

The Discovery of the Nihewan Geological Site:A Case Study of the Priority Conflict in Nihewan Research between E. Licent and G. B. Barbour

泥河湾盆地是国际地质界公认的华北第四纪早更新世标准地层,在中国第四纪研究和旧石器时代考古领域具有十分重要的地位。最早对泥河湾进行地质古生物学考察并做出开拓性贡献的有巴尔博、桑志华和德日进三位外国科学家。本文依据新发现的书信、日记等原始文献,并结合考察记和出版物,通过回顾泥河湾地质遗址的发现过程以及早期研究情况,梳理了泥河湾研究史上的若干重要问题:考证了泥河湾地点线索提供人樊尚神父的重要作用,首次深入探讨了巴尔博与桑志华围绕泥河湾地点发现展开的优先权之争,分析了两人在泥河湾早期研究中的具体参与情况和做出的贡献。

Nihewan- Formation,universally acknowledged as the standard sequence of the early Pleistocene in north China,occupies a major place in Quaternary science and paleolithic research in China. E. Licent（ 1876-1952）,G. B. Barbour（ 1890-1977） and P. Teilhard de Chardin（ 1881-1955） were the three pioneer geologists who carried out the earliest reconnaissances and investigations at the Nihewan geological site. As a case study,based on newly found letters,diaries and some publications,this essay reviews some key issues in the history of Nihewan research,such as the process of the discovery of this important site,and analyses for the first time the priority conflict between Licent and Barbour. It examines also the role played by Father E. Vincent,who provided the first information about the palaeontological site in Nihewan village.