Abstract: The Huiheshuiba microlithic site is 33 km to the south of Hulun Boir City on the second terrace of the right bank of the Huihe River. In 2003 and 2004 survey and excavation, archaeologists unearthed a number of cultural remains including pottery fragments, animal bones and stone artifacts. Five different functional areas of the Neolithic Age cultural layers at the site were identified, including one living site, two fireplaces, and one pit filled with animal bones and a grave.
Using the southern profile of pit T1 as an example, this pit is located in the northeastern area of the site with its well-preserved deposit 258 cm in thickness and with a cultural layer of 140 cm deep. The stratum can be divided into 7 layers: Layers 1-4 consists of different coloured gray fine sands, 109-140 cm thick; Layer 5 has gray and black fine sands 21-28 cm thick, including Qidan cultural relics of the Liao Dynasty; Layer 6 has dust-coloured powder and fine sands 10-12 cm thick, with earlier cultural relics; and Layer 7 consists of brown-gray power and fine sands 42-78 cm thick with cultural relics of Neolithic Age. The site was dated to 7750 ± 40 BP maximally using AMS of animal bones from the base of the living site (dates provided by the C14 Laboratory of Peking University).
Most of the stone artifacts are diverse and include a number of fine microliths including microlithic cores, microblades and microlithic tools such as delicate arrowheads, scrapers, borers, knifes and carves made on microblades. Round-head scrapers are outstanding among these fine implements. By analyzing raw materials and the formal types and technology of these microliths, we can assess the manufacturing process of these tools, from preparing the cores by peeling off microblades and to repairing these tools with pressure technology. The stone industry at the Huiheshuiba site is different from other sites in the Hulun Boir savanna region, but is similar to some sites in Siberia, Russia, and the People's Republic of Mongolia. Thus, there are still questions to address regarding ancient people's migratory and cultural exchanges.

Key words: Microliths; Huiheshuiba site; Hulun Boir savanna