Preliminary study on the living environment of hominids at the Donggutuo site, Nihewan Basin |
| |
Authors: | ShuWen Pei XiaoLi Li DeCheng Liu Ning Ma Fei Peng |
| |
Institution: | 1 Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China;
2 Joint Laboratory of Human Evolution and Archaeometry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044, China;
3 Beijing Museum of Natural History, Beijing 100050, China;
4 Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China |
| |
Abstract: | 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. |
| |
Keywords: | Early Pleistocene living environment human activities Donggutuo site Nihewan Basin |
本文献已被 CNKI 维普 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
| 点击此处可从《中国科学通报(英文版)》浏览原始摘要信息 |
| 点击此处可从《中国科学通报(英文版)》下载免费的PDF全文 |
|