Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 2004, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (03): 213-223.

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Large mammal fossils from the Tianyuan cave, a human fossil site of end-pleistocene age recently discovered near Zhoukoudian

TONG Hao-wen; LIU Jin-yi; ZHANG Shuang-quan   

  • Online:2004-09-15 Published:2004-09-15

Abstract: Tianyuan Cave is a human fossil-bearing site found recently outside of the core area of prehistoric localitiesin Zhoukoudian area. The newly discovered site is also very rich in large mammal fos-sils, most of which are cervids. Until now, all the mammal fossils recovered here can be included into the living forms except a broken tooth of Crocuta. The geologic age of the new site can be correlated with that of the Upper Cave at Zhoukoudian. Some elements of the mammal fauna have become disap-peared from this region nowadays, they are Martes sp., Ursus thibetanus, Moschus moschiferus, Cervus nippon, Bos sp. and Capricornis sp. The fossil evidence of all these mammal species mentioned above may represent the latest records of their existence in Beijing area. But some elements are the first records of their appearance in Beijing area, such as Arctonyx collaris and Capricornis sp., both of them are oriental animals.

Key words: Tianyuan Cave; Zhoukoudian; End-Pleistocene; Large mammal