Spatial analysis of intra-site use at a Late Paleolithic site at Shuidonggou,Northwest China

Intra-site spatial analysis provides an alternative perspective for understanding the functions of a site, and the occupational organization of early human living and activities associated with it. We examined features and cultural remains recovered from Locality 2 at Shuidonggou, a Late Paleolithic site, focusing on early occupants’ survival behaviors and settlement patterns, as indicated by evidence regarding the functional organization of the site. Three-dimensional data from unearthed remains (including lithic assemblages, faunal remains, ornaments, etc) were used to reconstruct intra-site use patterns of Cultural Layer 2, which yielded seven earth-pit hearths and tens of thousands of artifacts and bones. We discuss the population size and group composition, as well as the functions of the living spaces, based on the analysis of the hearth patterns and the ostrich eggshell ornaments surround the hearths. In conclusion, Cultural Layer 2 of SDG Locality 2 appears to have functioned as a base camp for ancient foragers, where occupants produced tools, as well as preparing and consuming food.     

声学多普勒流速剖面仪在水洞沟水库测量中的应用

简要介绍了ADP的工作原理、后处理软件.通过对水洞沟实测数据的分析可知,利用ADP进行断面测量可快捷、准确地了解断面的各种情况(如水深、流速、流量等),极大地提高了测验效率.     

Analysis of sedimentary-geomorphologic variation and the living environment of hominids at the Shuidonggou Paleolithic site

Shuidonggou is one of the most important Upper Paleolithic sites in North China. Due to the presence of rich human remains, animal fossils, abundant sporopollen and unique geological sequence, it is the type site for Late Pleistocene to Holocene human occupation and environmental change in the Ningxia-lnner Mongolia region. Many scholars suggest that the site should be named the ＂Shuidong- gou Formation＂ of Late Pleistocene in North China. Dating results indicate that ancient human activities at the site took place 30-24 ka （Marine Isotope Stage [MIS] 3）. The climate at that time was warmer and moister than present day, and adequate precipitation led to the formation of water pack depressions where broad-leaf trees and sparse forest vegetations, as well as herbivorous animals flourished, making the area suitable for early human hunting, gathering and survival. The Neolithic human occupation happened 9-5 ka at the site, while similar environmental conditions with MIS3 occurred. The absence of human activity record in the region during the Last Glacial Maximum （MIS2） suggests that the environment was too harsh for humans to live there.     

Progress in the stratigraphy and geochronology of the Shuidonggou site, Ningxia, North China

In the past years we carried out further stratigraphy division in field and it is found that rich stone artifacts can be found in fluvial-shallow lake-alluvial sediments on the terrace Ⅱ of Biangou River, inShuidonggou site, Ningxia and they are SDG1, 2 and 7. More luminescence and AMS ^14C dating in laboratory show that Paleolithic culture develops during the Upper Paleolithic period with ages of 35--20 ka. The Paleolithic culture of SDG 1 is a little earlier than that of SDG 2 similar to SDG 7. The sandy sediments on terrace Ⅱ of Biangou River deposits in the past 72--18 ka, corresponding to Last Glacial. SDG2 has a stable sedimentary environment, resulting in the continuous stratigraphy, thickest deposits and rich environment and culture information, which can be regarded as the important and classic paleoanthropological section of Late Pleistocene in this region.