Abstract: This paper is extracted from the author' s PhD dissertation on the lithic industry of the Donggutuo site in the Nihewan basin of North China, which is a fluvio-lacustrine deposit of the Lower Pleistocene. Previous work at the site in the 1980s and 1990s included continuous, systematic excava- tions and basic studies of the abundant cultural remains. The study has applies statistical analysis and a more detailed analysis of the technology and typology to the complete sample of lithic material from the 1980s excavations. It is concluded that Donggutuo site was a small tool-manufacturing locality where small elongated flakes and other various small tools, mostly made on small flakes, were pro- duced, which represent a Lower Paleolithic small-tool tradition of North China. The noticeable and dis- tinct new category of “Donggutuo (DGT)Core” is further proposed in the present paper.
As a new discovered category the naming and preliminary study of the “Donggutuo Core” are introduced with detail based on the new method of observation and statistic. The close relationship between “Donggutuo Core” and Upper paleolithic wedge-prepared core is outlined and the further research work about it has been kept in good consideration. It is evaluated that the “Donggutuo Core (DGT Core)” is significant and inspired in research of Lower Paleolithic in North China.
To summary the concept of the “Donggutuo Core(DGT Core)”, a new typologically named category it could be defined asfollows: “DGT Core” is a sort of prepared core discovered from Donggutuo site of Lower Pleistocene in the Nihewan basin of Northern China, which was wedge-prepared for producing small elongated flakes. Considering “cha?ne opératoire” the selection and design of the whole body of the “DGT Core”, its trimming work on the platform, sides and initiated knapping on the ends indicate a very close relationship with Upper Paleolithic wedge-shaped microlithic core in China, Northeast Asia and North America. It extends the beginning of microlithic tradition much earlier than previously recognized in Northern China. It is said that “Donggutuo Core” might become a new crucial clue in exploring the source of northern China' s small tool industry and origin of the microlithic cultural tradition.

Key words: Lower Pleistocene; “Donggutuo Core”; Small tool; Microlithic