东亚现代人来源的考古学思考：证据与解释

The origins of modern Homo sapiens in China: An archaeological perspective

现代人的起源与扩散是当今古人类学界极具争议的问题。目前,"多地区进化"假说和非洲起源为主的"同化"假说是该争议的两大阵营。在"多地区进化"假说的基础上,立足中国的化石材料,吴新智提出了中国乃至东亚古人类"连续演化、附带杂交"的假说,认为中国的现代人主要由本地古老类型人类演化而来。本文从现代人扩散关键时段的考古材料出发,讨论氧同位素5～3阶段(大约13～3万年)考古材料在研究中国现代人形成中的作用和存在的挑战。首先,概括介绍现代人起源的主要假说和现代人扩散的假定路线——南线和北线的多重证据;其次,在此背景下,通过对中国境内考古材料的概括,分析不同石器技术可能反映的现代人来源;最后,简要探讨立足考古材料研究现代人起源与扩散的挑战。总体而言,氧同位素5～3阶段的旧石器考古材料支持中国北方南部和中国南方古人类的连续演化,同时也指示了非洲扩散而出的现代人人群自西北地区和南方地区进入中国的可能性。该模式支持中国古人类"连续演化、附带杂交"假说,然而我们也认识到中国现代人起源研究的考古基础仍十分薄弱,使用考古学材料研究现代人扩散的理论基础也需探讨。目前,细化、完善基础考古数据仍是中国旧石器时代考古学和古人类学学者努力的主要方向之一。如此,我们才能够更加有效地将人类化石与考古学证据融合,进而结合分子生物学的研究,更为全面地理解现代人的起源与演化。

Hypotheses concerning the origins of modern Homo sapiens have been intensively debated, and two competing models, the ＂Assimilation＂ and ＂Multiregional Evolution＂ paradigms, have dominated current research and discussions. Based upon the hominin fossil record from China, Wu Xizhi proposed a ＂Continuity with Hybridization＂ model based upon the ＂Multiregional Evolution＂ paradigm to address Pleistocene human evolution in China. This model suggests modern humans in China are mainly evolved from local archaic hominins with genetic input from western Eurasia. In this paper, we review archaeological materials dating to Marine Isotope Stages （MIS） 5 to 3 and discuss their implications for understanding modern human origins in China. First, we briefly introduce the multiple lines of evidence which have been used to support northern and southern routes of modern human dispersals. Second, we evaluate lithic technological variability from MIS 5 to 3 in China and discuss its significance for modern human evolution and dispersals. Finally, we touch upon the ongoing challenges in research on the anatomically modern human diaspora using archaeological data from China. Archaeological evidence, especially lithic technology during MIS 5 and 3, demonstrates three points： 1） continuous evolution of simple core-flake systems in southern North China and South China may support the local derivation of modern humans; 2） the Initial Upper Paleolithic in northwest China may suggest the in-migration of modern human groups from Central Asia or Siberia during MIS 3; 3） a few lithic assemblages with organized technology in South China may imply that some MIS 5 modern human groups entered China from southern Asia. At least three sources may be responsible for the origins of modern humans in China, and interaction among various modern human groups may have also occurred. This scenario generally fits Wu＇s ＂Continuity with Hybridization＂ model, but we also realize that the paleoanthropological and archaeological data from MIS 5 and 3 are still scarce, particularly with respect to a dearth of sites yielding both abundant fossil and cultural materials. The discoveries of additional well-dated sites, especially those bearing both hominin fossils and archaeological remains, are crucial for understanding modern human evolution in China. With such additional data we will be able to test current hypotheses for modern human origins on a more solid basis.