In a groundbreaking revelation, a collaborative team of researchers hailing from China, Australia, France, Spain, and Germany has unearthed a trove of advanced material culture in East Asia dating back a staggering 45,000 years. Published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, their study focused on an archaeological collection from the Shiyu site, nestled in the Shanxi Province of North China.
Lead author of the study, Associate Prof. Yang Shixia from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), expressed the significance of their findings. “Our new study identified an Initial Upper Paleolithic archaeological assemblage from the Shiyu site of North China dating to 45,000 years ago that includes blade technology, tanged and hafted projectile points, long-distance obsidian transfer, and the use of a perforated graphite disk,” shared Prof. Yang.
This discovery not only showcases an array of cultural and technological innovations but also sheds light on the ancient migration of Homo sapiens into East Asia around 45,000 years ago. The researchers meticulously dated animal bone samples from the 1963 excavation, revealing human modification evidenced by cut marks. Radiocarbon dating pinpointed the main cultural layer of Shiyu to an impressive range between 45,800 and 43,200 years ago.
The integrated scientific studies conducted on the archaeological findings at Shiyu unveiled a sophisticated material culture dating back millennia. Levallois points, tanged and hafted projectile points with evidence of impact fractures, long-distance transfers of obsidian from sources hundreds of kilometers away, a perforated graphite disk, and finely crafted bone points emerged as crucial components of this ancient toolkit.
Taphonomic analysis of mammal fossils and use-wear analysis of stone tools revealed that the inhabitants of Shiyu were adept “horse hunters” equipped with tanged and hafted projectile points, showcasing their ability to hunt and selectively cull adult equids.
Shiyu, with its well-preserved artifacts, offers a unique window into the lives of skillful hunters in northern China 45,000 years ago. The region’s inhabitants demonstrated a remarkably advanced tool kit, featuring a spectrum of innovative tools from the Upper Paleolithic, including end-scrapers, awls, and tools from former times, such as Middle Paleolithic Levallois points, various tanged tools, denticulates, and borers.
The distinctive set of stone tool artifacts, coupled with the shaped graphite disk and bone tools, paints a vivid picture of a rich and sophisticated culture. The long-distance transport of obsidian from sources hundreds of kilometers away also signifies advanced resource procurement strategies and migration abilities, challenging conventional notions of early human expansion.
Shiyu appears to reflect a fascinating process of cultural creolization—a blending of inherited traits and novel innovations through contact between societies and relocated peoples. This dynamic interplay complicates our traditional understanding of Homo sapiens’ global expansion, revealing a tapestry of cultural complexity in East Asia, woven by the skilled inhabitants of Shiyu over 45,000 years ago.
Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences