The present study examines material quarrying, utilization, and exploitation strategy with respect to availability, quality and distribution at Donggutuo, a Lower Pleistocene archeological site in the Nihewan Basin of...The present study examines material quarrying, utilization, and exploitation strategy with respect to availability, quality and distribution at Donggutuo, a Lower Pleistocene archeological site in the Nihewan Basin of North China. Through identification of the bedrocks in the vicinity, the analysis reveals that raw materials available at the Donggutuo site are mainly chert, dolomicrite, siliceous dolomite, siliceous limestone, tectonic breccia, quartzite and intermediate lava. Related documents and a geological survey of the area demonstrate that the chert was quarried from dolomite within the Gaoyuzhuang Formation of the Mesoproterozoic Changcheng Group, and the quartzite from the Yousuopu Formation of the Archeozoic Qianxi Group, as well as from Jurassic volcanic lava. Fractures formed by tectonic movements of the Yanshan Stage and the Himalaya Stage made it convenient to quarry these materials. It is observed that fragmentary rock pieces were directly collected and quarried from local fracture belts and that this became the principal strategy of raw material exploitation adopted by the Donggutuo toolmakers. In general, raw materials were not efficiently used, and many of them could have been reduced, retouched and used again. Some suggestions are also proposed to improve the understanding of earlyhumans’ tool complex in the Nihewan Basin.展开更多
The Donggutuo site, situated in the east margin of Nihewan basin, is one of the most important Paleolithic sites in China, characterized by the longest excavation seasons and the most abundant cultural remains recover...The Donggutuo site, situated in the east margin of Nihewan basin, is one of the most important Paleolithic sites in China, characterized by the longest excavation seasons and the most abundant cultural remains recovered in the region. Based on well-constructed sporopollen, sediment grain size analysis, magnetic susceptibility, and iron oxide analysis of the 2000―2001 excavated section, four stages of environmental change in the Nihewan Beds are identified by the authors. The results indicate four major stages of environment and climate change from 1) warm and humid forest grass to 2) temperate and humid forest grass to 3) temperate and dry forest grass to 4) warm and humid forest, which is suitable for hominid occupation. The changes correspond to the stages of lake transgression and regression. The environment after the lake died out away has been cold and dry boschveld. The hominid activities at the site took place in the Early Pleistocene (1.10 Ma), which corresponds to the early three environmental stages. Therefore, it can be inferred that the early hominids adapted to the relatively low lake level episodes through activities involving sporadic stone tool making, procuring of raw materials for tools, concentrating stone artifacts, and hunting and butchering. In conclusion, the results will be of great significance to research regarding the relationship between hominid occupation and environmental changes as well as the adaptive behaviors of early humans at the Donggutuo site.展开更多
文摘The present study examines material quarrying, utilization, and exploitation strategy with respect to availability, quality and distribution at Donggutuo, a Lower Pleistocene archeological site in the Nihewan Basin of North China. Through identification of the bedrocks in the vicinity, the analysis reveals that raw materials available at the Donggutuo site are mainly chert, dolomicrite, siliceous dolomite, siliceous limestone, tectonic breccia, quartzite and intermediate lava. Related documents and a geological survey of the area demonstrate that the chert was quarried from dolomite within the Gaoyuzhuang Formation of the Mesoproterozoic Changcheng Group, and the quartzite from the Yousuopu Formation of the Archeozoic Qianxi Group, as well as from Jurassic volcanic lava. Fractures formed by tectonic movements of the Yanshan Stage and the Himalaya Stage made it convenient to quarry these materials. It is observed that fragmentary rock pieces were directly collected and quarried from local fracture belts and that this became the principal strategy of raw material exploitation adopted by the Donggutuo toolmakers. In general, raw materials were not efficiently used, and many of them could have been reduced, retouched and used again. Some suggestions are also proposed to improve the understanding of earlyhumans’ tool complex in the Nihewan Basin.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40672119)Major Basic Research Projects of MST of China (Grant No. 2006CB-806400)+1 种基金Basic Scientific Special Program of MST of China (Grant No. 2007FY-110200)Natural Science Foundation of Beijing (Grant No. 5072017)
文摘The Donggutuo site, situated in the east margin of Nihewan basin, is one of the most important Paleolithic sites in China, characterized by the longest excavation seasons and the most abundant cultural remains recovered in the region. Based on well-constructed sporopollen, sediment grain size analysis, magnetic susceptibility, and iron oxide analysis of the 2000―2001 excavated section, four stages of environmental change in the Nihewan Beds are identified by the authors. The results indicate four major stages of environment and climate change from 1) warm and humid forest grass to 2) temperate and humid forest grass to 3) temperate and dry forest grass to 4) warm and humid forest, which is suitable for hominid occupation. The changes correspond to the stages of lake transgression and regression. The environment after the lake died out away has been cold and dry boschveld. The hominid activities at the site took place in the Early Pleistocene (1.10 Ma), which corresponds to the early three environmental stages. Therefore, it can be inferred that the early hominids adapted to the relatively low lake level episodes through activities involving sporadic stone tool making, procuring of raw materials for tools, concentrating stone artifacts, and hunting and butchering. In conclusion, the results will be of great significance to research regarding the relationship between hominid occupation and environmental changes as well as the adaptive behaviors of early humans at the Donggutuo site.
