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.