Abstract: There are many Upper Paleolithic sites in the Nihewan basin. Microblade technologies, characterized by wedge-shaped cores and conical cores, along with their cultural connotations, make the Nihewan basin a key area for study of microblade technology in North China. In July, 2002, the Erdaoliang site was discovered by the authors in the north margin of the Cenjiawan Platform in the eastern part of Nihewan basin. The site was excavated by the same archaeological team. The excavation exposed an area of 31 m2. More than 2000 archaeological remains, including stone artifacts, animal fossils, and bone artifacts, were unearthed from the site. The site was buried in the upper part of the 3rd terrace of the right bank of the Sanggan River. The stratigraphic profile consists mainly of alluvial deposits, which are capped by loess. The archaeological layer, probably disturbed by gentle river flow, has a total thickness of 0.2 m. Lithic raw materials were locally available from ancient riverbeds or the floodplain of the Sanggan River, and chert is the predominant raw material type. The flaking techniques can be classified as both direct and indirect percussion. Cores and flakes were made by direct percussion, while the boat-shaped cores and microblades were manufactured by indirect percussion. Three retouched tools are identified, namely burins, scrapers, and backed knives. Judging from the characteristics of the lithic assemblage, the cultural tradition of Erdaoliang site can be assigned to microblade technology. 14C dating of a bone fragment yielded an age of 18085±235 BP, which places the site in the Upper Paleolithic. The lithic technology of Erdaoliang site is the first discovery of microblade technology charactersied by boat-shaped cores in the Nihewan basin. Furthermore, it can be deduced that the analysis of the Erdaoliang archaeological remains will have great significance for study of different microblade technology traditions, early human dispersal, and technological exchange in the Nihewan basin in North China

Key words: Nihewan basin; Erdaoliang site; Upper Paleolithic; Microblade technology; Boat shaped cores