The development of Upper Palaeolithic China: new results from the Shuidonggou site

• Published in: Antiquity Vol. 87; no. 336; pp. 368 - 383
• Main Authors: Li, Feng, Gao, Xing, Chen, Fuyou, Pei, Shuwen, Zhang, Yue, Zhang, Xiaoling, Liu, Decheng, Zhang, Shuangquan, Guan, Ying, Wang, Huimin, Kuhn, Steven L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.06.2013; Portland Press
• Subjects: Archaeological dating; Archaeological sites; Archaeology; Asia; Business; Carbon dating; China; Discovery and exploration; Dwellings, Prehistoric; Far East; Lithic industry; lithic technology; Methodology and general studies; Occupations; Oxygen Isotope Stage 3; Palaeolithic and mesolithic; Paleolithic Age; Prehistoric dwellings; Prehistoric economies; Prehistoric technology; Prehistory and protohistory; Research article; Sand & gravel; Shuidonggou; Shuidonggou Locality 2; Stratigraphy; Typology, technology and attribute analysis; Upper Paleolithic period; Upper Palaeolithic; Isotope stage 3; Asia; China; Eurasia; Shuidonggou Locality 2; lithic technology; Oxygen Isotope Stage 3; China; Technology; Hearth; Lithic industry; Stratigraphy; Finds study; Typology
• ISSN: 0003-598X; 1745-1744
• DOI: 10.1017/S0003598X00049000

The Shuidonggou site cluster in northern China contains 12 different early prehistoric sequences with great potential to cast light on the transition to Upper Palaeolithic behaviour in East Asia. Here researchers present the latest results from Locality 2, reporting seven occupation levels with hearths, animal bone and diverse industries. Although previously compared with European Upper Palaeolithic sequences, the new work proposes a different trajectory of development. Distinctive macroblade technology arrived in the area, possibly from Mongolia or Siberia, about 41000–34000 years ago. This industry subsequently disappeared, to be replaced by flake technologies.