Abstract: The microblade technology first emerged in North China during the Upper Paleolithic period, and finally disappeared with termination of the Paleolithic epoch. How were the lithic products of this technology, ten types altogether, abandoned in sites or elsewhere? Which factors did influence the process of their abandonment? And how were they expressed in the archaeological record? This research starts from the general theory about archaeological abandonment, and then it explores the influential factors which include subsistence strategies of prehistoric hunter2gatherers and their decision-making process. After that, it turns to analyze empirically archaeological materials, from a site (Jijitan Site) to a region (North China). The analysis suggests that the abandonment process of Jijitan Site represented by the T2 lower layer was very fast, and indicates that people would plan to come back soon. As for North China, the sites with microblade products show diverse abandonment patterns, including the forms of fast abandonment but anticipated to return (e. g.,Jijitan Site), and planned abandonment but not anticipated to return (e. g.,Tingsijian Site). Moreover, some sites were frequently visited but never used as sleeping places (e.g.,Mengjiaquan Site) ,some sites were rapidly abandoned locations or field camps (e.g.,Shizitan Site) ,and some sites were probably used as hunting stations (Dagang Site). The abandonment of microblade products no doubt relates to the lifeways of its users. Therefore, microblades were the most impossible to be abandoned in sites among all products.

Key words: Microblade technology; Abandonment; Cultural process; Subsistence strategy