Excavation report of the Shigou site C area in the Nihewan Basin, Hebei Province

doi:10.16359/j.1000-3193/AAS.2024.0008

Abstract

Abstract:

The Nihewan Basin, which spans more than 9000 square kilometers in northwestern Hebei Province and northern Shanxi Province, is located in the Sanggan River Basin. A large number of Paleolithic archaeological sites have been discovered with an extensive time span and continuous chronological sequence. Many important Lower Paleolithic sites have also been discovered in the Yangyuan Basin that is located in the upper reaches of the Sanggan River, and one, Shigou is important for studying early hominin behavior and evolution of the Pleistocene in northern China.

This site, located near Cenjiawan village, Datianwa Township, Yangyuan Countywas discovered in 1996, with Locality C excavated in 2013 by researchers from Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and the Hebei Normal University’s Institute of Nihewan Archaeology (INA). The excavation of Locality C revealed an 8 m² area containing 51 pebbles, 249 lithic artifacts, and a few animal fossil fragments. Dolomite (n=98, 39.36%), chert (n=77, 30.92%), andesite porphyrite (n=68, 27.31%), and quartz (n=6, 2.41%) were the raw materials. Cores (n=6, 2.41%), whole flakes (n=68, 27.31%), flake fragments (n=54, 21.69%), chunks (n=100, 40.16%), chips (n=8, 3.21%), utilized flakes (n=5, 2.01%), scrapers (n=7, 2.81%), and chopper (n=1, 0.40%) were the different types found in this lithicassemblage. The majority of artifacts were small, with minor weathering and abrasion. Direct hard hammer percussion was the primary flaking technique, with only one bipolar flakediscovered. Used flakes, scrapers and choppers were among the tools. The latter wererelatively simple and rough in retouching, with no standard repair shape and style, reflecting typical characteristics of northern ’s flake tool industry.

The Shigou site provides important clues and a foundation for restoring ancient environments in the Nihewan Basin’s eastern end. The excavation of Locality C is critical for studying the stone industry of the early Pleistocene site in the Nihewan Basin and for exploring ancient human survival strategies.

Key words: Nihewan Basin, Early Pleistocene, early Paleolithic Age, Shigou Site

CLC Number:

K871.11

ZHAO Yunxiao, TONG Guang, TU Hua, ZHAO Hailong. Excavation report of the Shigou site C area in the Nihewan Basin, Hebei Province[J]. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 2024, 43(01): 122-131.

Figures/Tables 5

Fig.1 Geographical location of Shigou Site, distribution of A-E excavation localities and stratigraphic profile of C Locality

Fig.2 Statistic on the stage of weathering degree and abrasion degree of stone artifacts

Tab.1 Typological statistic of stone artifacts

类型Type		数量n	占比%
石核		6	2.41%
石片	完整石片	68	27.31%
	不完整石片	54	21.69%
断块		100	40.16%
碎屑		8	3.21%
石器类	使用石片	5	2.01%
	刮削器	7	2.81%
	砍砸器	1	0.40%
总计		249	100.00%

Fig.3 Cores and complete flakes

Fig.4 Tools

References 21

[1]	袁宝印, 夏正楷, 牛平山. 泥河湾裂谷与古人类[M]. 北京: 地质出版社, 2011
[2]	谢飞, 李珺, 刘连强. 泥河湾旧石器文化[M]. 石家庄: 花山文艺出版社, 2006
[3]	河北省文物研究所. 河北省考古文集[M]. 北京: 东方出版社,1998
[4]	卫奇. 泥河湾盆地半山早更新世旧石器遗址初探[J]. 人类学学报, 1994, 13(3): 223-238
[5]	陈淳, 沈辰, 陈万勇, 等. 河北阳原小长梁遗址1998年发掘报告[J]. 人类学学报, 1999, 18(3): 225-239
[6]	卫奇. 东谷坨旧石器初步观察[J]. 人类学学报, 1985, 4(4): 289-300
[7]	侯亚梅, 卫奇, 冯兴无, 等. 泥河湾盆地东谷坨遗址再发掘[J]. 第四纪研究, 1999, 19(2): 139-147
[8]	裴树文, 贾真秀, 马东东, 等. 泥河湾盆地麻地沟E5旧石器地点的遗址成因与石器技术[J]. 人类学学报, 2016, 35(4): 493-508
[9]	贾真秀, 裴树文, 马宁, 等. 泥河湾盆地麻地沟E6和E7旧石器地点发掘简报[J]. 人类学学报, 2016, 35(3): 343-358
[10]	陈曦, 赵海龙, 张贝, 等. 泥河湾盆地石沟遗址B区发掘报告[J]. 第四纪研究, 2017, 37(4): 895-907
[11]	Shea J. Artifact abrasion, fluvial processes, and “Living Floors” from the early Paleolithic site of ’Ubeidiya (Jordan Valley, Israel)[J]. Geoarchaeology, 1999, 14(2): 191-207 doi: 10.1002/(ISSN)1520-6548 URL
[12]	Sahnouni M. The Lower Paleolithic of the Maghreb: Excavations and Analysis at Ain Hanech, Algeria[M]. Oxford: BAR International Series, 1998, 689, 1-386
[13]	裴树文. 旧石器时代石制品室内观测项目探讨[A].见:董为(主编).第十四届中国古脊椎动物学学术年会论文集[C]. 北京: 海洋出版社, 2014, 181-194
[14]	张森水. 中国旧石器文化[M]. 天津: 天津科学技术出版社,1987
[15]	陈全家. 吉林镇赉丹岱大坎子发现的旧石器[J]. 北方文物, 2001, 2: 1-7
[16]	Toth N. The stone technologies of early hominids at Koobi Fora, Kenya: an experimental approach[D]. University of California, Berkeley, 1982
[17]	Toth N. The Oldowan reassessed: a close look at early stone artifacts[J]. Journal of Archaeological Science, 1985, 12(2): 101-120 doi: 10.1016/0305-4403(85)90056-1 URL
[18]	de la Torre I, Mora R, Domı́nguez-Rodrigo M, et al. The Oldowan industry of Peninj and its bearing on the reconstruction of the technological skills of Lower Pleistocene hominids[J]. Journal of Human Evolution, 2003, 44(2): 203-224 pmid: 12662943
[19]	Jiangzuo Q, Zhao H, Chen X. The first complete cranium of Homotherium (Machairodontinae, Felidae) from the Nihewan Basin (northern China)[J]. The Anatomical Record, 2022, 305: 1-11 doi: 10.1002/ar.v305.1 URL
[20]	Clark G. World Prehistory: In New Perspective[M]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1961
[21]	张森水. 中国北方旧石器工业的区域渐进与文化交流[J]. 人类学学报, 1990, 9(4): 322-333