Abstract: The Shuidonggou Locality 12 (SDG12) was an Upper Paleolithic culture dominated by microblade technology. The cultural layer embedded in the middle2upper part of the floodplain stratum belonged to the second terrace ( T2) of the Biangou River , and chronological data shows that this stratum deposit dates between 47ka211ka BP, which belonged to the upper Late Pleistocene. The cultural layer , reformed slightly by flow and belonged to a sedentary deposit, dates about 11 ka BP (close to the interface of the Pleistocene and Holocene). Pollen from the site showed vegetation composed mainly of Ephedra, Compositae, Zygophyllum, Artemisia and Gramineae indicative of an arid to semi-arid climate. Vegetative cover was of a dry steppe landscape, and the climate was relatively warm and humid during the SDG12 cultural layer formation. There were swamp-growth plants, and temperate zone broadleaf and hardwood trees such as Betula, Quercus and Ulmus. Understanding human activity in the context of certain paleoenvironments at the SDG12 site will clarify the development of the Shuidonggou culture, especially with regards to the study of the North China microblade culture.

Key words: Shuidonggou; Locality 12; Ash layer; Microblade; Paleoenvironment; Stratum