Abstract: This paper reports some results of the Paleolithic survey in May to June 2004, conducted in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Northwest China by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and the Xinjiang Institute of Culture Relics and Archaeology. A total of 24 localities were discovered and more than 500 lithic artifacts were collected. Most of the collected artifacts come from ground surface, a few sites preserve primary deposits. Among these newly discovered localities, Luotuoshi is the most important one. Tens of thousands of stone artifacts were exposed on an area about 10000m2, including Levallois cores, flakes and large blades. Based on lithic typology and technology, these sites and artifacts represent at least two lithic industries, the Initial Upper Paleolithic industry and the Microblade industry. But some bifaces and Levallois productions express typical Middle Paleolithic features in Central Asia and Altai region. According to the preliminary typological investigation, the newly discovered assemblages indicate possible acculturation and dispersal scenario.The result of this reconnaissance indicates that the Xinjiang region, at least its north and central parts, has great potential for studying human technology, adaptation, migration and interaction during the Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic times.

Key words: Paleolithic; Xinjiang; Reconnaissance; Blades; Levallois