Paleolithic Site at Shiyu, China: Evidence of Advanced Material Culture 45,000 Years Ago
A multinational research team has revealed the existence of an advanced material culture at the Shiyu site, Shanxi province, China, about 45,000 years ago. The discovery provides further insight into the evolution of modern humans and Paleolithic tool-making techniques across Eurasia.
Shiyu Ruins - Origin and Excavation Process:
Origin: The Shiyu site is located in Shanxi province, northern China, part of a large cultural area once inhabited by Homo sapiens.
Excavation process: Initially, the Shiyu site was excavated in the 1960s, yielding more than 15,000 artifacts including stone tools, animal remains, and a human skull fragment identified as Homo sapiens. Unfortunately, part of the archaeological collection, including the skull fragment, was lost over the years.
New Research Led by Dr. Shixia Yang:
Led by Dr. Shixia Yang, the team returned to the Shiyu site to re-evaluate the remaining materials using modern radiological techniques to establish a precise timeline.
Dating method: The research team used radioactive dating to accurately determine the age of the cultural layers.
Results: Research results determined that the cultural layer at Shiyu dated from about 45,800 to 43,200 years ago.
Upper Paleolithic Archeology Collection:
The discovery at the Shiyu site revealed an archaeological collection belonging to the Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) period. These relics include:
Laminar technology: Tools are crafted using the laminar technique, creating long and sharp stone blades.
Levallois Point: The points are crafted using the Levallois technique.
Points with hilts and arrows: Tools such as arrows and spear points with hilts, used as hunting weapons.
Obsidian tools: Obsidian tools originated hundreds of kilometers away.
Perforated graphite disc: A perforated graphite disc, which can be a decorative item or cultural symbol.
Significance of Advanced Material Culture:
The development of tool making techniques at Shiyu has many meanings:
Technical advances: The appearance of laminar and Levallois technology at Shiyu represents a significant technical advance in Upper Paleolithic stone tool making.
Material exchange: The discovery of remote obsidian tools suggests the possibility of material exchange between groups of people during this period.
Complex culture: Tools such as perforated graphite discs point to the existence of a complex material culture where aesthetic and symbolic elements also played important roles.
The Role of Homo Sapiens in East Asia:
The discovery at Shiyu supports the hypothesis that modern humans (Homo sapiens) migrated to East Asia and developed advanced material culture earlier than previously thought. These findings put Shiyu on par with other famous sites in Europe and the Middle East.
Early migration: Modern humans may have migrated into East Asia before 50,000 years ago.
Widespread distribution: Advanced techniques such as laminar and Levallois technology indicate the widespread distribution of Homo sapiens and their concurrent evolution.
Other Related Sites in China:
Shiyu is not the only site in China showing signs of advanced material culture. Some other related sites include:
Xiaogushan site: Also in northern China, contains similar stone tools.
Tianyuan site: Where the earliest Homo sapiens remains were found in East Asia.
Zhoukoudian Upper Cave site: Provides evidence of complex culture and burials.
Conclude:
The discovery at the Shiyu site brings a new and more comprehensive view of the evolutionary history and development of modern humans in Asia. Traces of advanced material culture, modern stone tool making techniques, and material exchange suggest that Homo sapiens evolved and spread rapidly across Eurasia over thousands of years. tens of thousands of years ago.
