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    15 February 2019, Volume 38 Issue 01
    A general study review of site formation processes for Paleolithic open-air sites
    PEI Shuwen
    2019, 38(01):  1-18.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2019.0010
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    The study of site formation processes is an important field of research in archaeological geology or geoarchaeology, which enables to explore the formation and depositional processes of early human sites. Understanding of formation processes bears great significance on the interpretation of site integrity and early human adaptive behavior. However, new developments on the study of site formation processes have not received enough attention in paleoanthropological research in China. To a certain extent, this shortcoming has reduced the impact of Chinese paleoanthropological and paleolithic research in the international area. Considering the special relevance of open-air sites in preserving early human fossils and archaeological remains, this paper aims to highlight the importance of geoarchaeology as starting point in any archaeological research, and presents a state of the art on the research in open-air site formation processes. Concepts and models developed by Glynn Isaac to classify eastern African assemblages are discussed. After evaluating the taphonomic proxies and spatial patterns as foundations for research in site formation processes, the key features of assemblages (i.e. edge damage, technological composition, artifact size distribution, refitted data, artifact density, cluster analysis, digital elevation model, fabric analysis, etc.) retrieved during archaeological research, as well as their scientific significance, are discussed in this paper. Alongside, a review and discussion of the history and current status of the studies of site formation processes in Chinese paleoanthropological research are also proposed by the author in the current paper.

    A study of microblade cores from the Fenglin Paleolithic site in Jilin Province, Northeast China
    TIAN Chuan, XU Ting, GUAN Ying, GAO Xing
    2019, 38(01):  19-32.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2017.0063
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    The Fenglin site is a Late Paleolithic open air site, located in the southeast of Jilin Province, China. This site has been systematically investigated and excavated in 2016 by a joint team from the Jilin Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology under Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Fusong Cultural Relics Management Office. A large number of lithic artifacts has been unearthed. These include blades, microblades, microblade cores, scrapers, flakes, etc. Obsidian dominates the raw materials. Two types of wedged-shaped microblade cores were recognized, and each type shows different stages of core reduction. Microblade technology was widespread in Northeast Asia during the Late Paleolithic, and the production and utilization of microblade tools obviously made a noticeable impact on hunter-gatherers’ migrations and adaptations in the region. Analysis of lithic typology and technology from sites like Fenglin can contribute to a better understanding of human prehistory in Northeast Asia, addressing major shifts in subsistence strategies, settlement patterns and other aspects of social life.

    A preliminary research on the bone, antler and tooth artifacts from the Yumidong site in Chongqing
    HE Cunding
    2019, 38(01):  33-49.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2017.0085
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    In the Paleolithic age with the hunter-gatherer economy, ancient humans lived with and depended on animals for survival under the same environment. Ancient humans further developed and utilized meat resources to produce bone-horn-tooth tools, which were kinds of by-products of animals. The Yumidong site, discovered newly in Wushan county of Chongqing, is a Paleolithic cave site special for its cultural feature. Bone-horn-tooth tools from the site are quite characteristic. In this paper, the author mainly preliminarily studied typology of bone-horn-tooth tools from the site and recorded relevant materials into bone tools (n=104), bone flakes(n=2), bone chunks(n=5),tooth tools (n=6) and antler tools (n=3) in detail. At the same time, the author tried to analyze manufacturing technology of the bone-horn-tooth tools and human behaviors from a chaÎne opératoire, indicating simplicity, flexibility, efficiency, and survival strategy of ancient human. At last, the author discussed the age of the excavated bone-horn-tooth tools and behavioral modernity of ancient humans, showing that the age of bone-horn-tooth tools from the Yumidong site ranged from middle Pleistocene to early Holocene. There was the continuous or discontinuous development between simple tools and formal tools, but it is necessary to reconsider standards for judging Behavioral Modernity of ancient humans in China.

    Discussion on the measuring methods of retouched degree on flake tools
    LI Yulong
    2019, 38(01):  50-59.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2017.0058
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    Research on flake tools in Paleolithic archeology involves many aspects, and the measurement of the degree of retouch is one of the most important. At present, many Western scholars have proposed different measurement methods. This paper attempts not only to introduce these methods but also to compare and classify them. According to the utility of the “reduction rate of the raw-material”, these measurement methods can be divided into two different groups, the methods using the reduction rate and the methods do not. According to the existing problems in the measurement of degree of retouch on flake tools, it is proposed that this attribute should be measured quantitatively on the basis of the type of retouch, its production process, and the intended use of the tool.

    Intellectual capacity or performance?: A review of cultural elaboration differences between Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans
    ZHANG Meng
    2019, 38(01):  60-76.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2017.0069
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    The debate about possible differences in cultural elaboration between Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans is of long standing. As archaeologists have hoped for a definitive answer, two opposite hypotheses have been proposed: intellectual capacity (the Neanderthals did not possess cultural elaboration) vs. performance (the Neanderthals did not need a high degree of cultural elaboration for their survival). In this paper, I will evaluate each argument in turn, especially focusing on artworks and related symbolic evidence. There are several weaknesses in the hypothesis of differential intellectual capacity, especially considering the evidence of the genetic contributions of Neanderthals to the modern human gene pool and the abilities reflected in the so-called “transitional industries”. Physical evidence for differences in brain structure relating to intellectual capacity has not been found. It is necessary to evaluate the hypothesis of performance with the assumption that there is no intellectual difference between Neanderthals and early anatomically modern humans. I attempt to provide a reasonable explanation based on differences in demography and the range of social interactions, which also could explain the demise of Neanderthals in Europe.

    An analysis of body composition and physical features of Li people
    LI Yonglan, ZHENG Lianbin, JIN Dan
    2019, 38(01):  77-87.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2017.0020
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    There are some reports about physical anthropology studies of Li minority nationality published in 1982 and 1988 separately, and there are some research findings about molecular anthropology in recent years. However, it is still a lack of studies about body composition and physical anthropology data of Li minority nationality. Anthropometry of 607 cases spread in 5 stockaded villages in Wuzhishan city of Hainan Province of Li minority nationality adults (308 males and 299 females) were measured in November 2014. The study finds out that Li minority nationality are thin and muscular. The body fat percentage of Li minority nationality male increases with age mainly due to the increase of trunk fat percentage and has little relationship with limbs fat percentage. The decline in lean body mass of male is due to decrease of bone mass, torso and limbs muscle. With the growth of age, body fat percentage of Li minority nationality female increases linearly, total body muscle mass decreases linearly. Gradually increasing in body fat percentage is due to increase of trunk fat percentage and limb fat percentage. Decrease of total body muscle mass is caused by decrease of while left lower limb muscle and trunk muscle mass.Li minority nationality men and women are brachycephaly, hypsicephalic type, metriocephalic type, euryprosopy, mesorrhiny, medium length of trunk, medium chest circumference, broad shoulder breadth, medium distance between iliac crests, mesatiskelic type. Comparing with the head facial data of Li minority nationality in 30 years ago, the values of head breadth and face breadth in this paper are bigger, faces are rounder and broader, and faces are wider while red lips are thinner, and morphological facial height values are smaller, the nose breadth values of males of Li minority nationality is smaller.

    Research on six behavioral traits of lateral functional dominance in the Muya, Ersu, Bajia and Kongge peoples in China
    WEI Yu, ZHANG Xinghua, YAN Shi, WANG Zishan
    2019, 38(01):  88-97.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2017.0037
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    Six behavioral traits of lateral functional dominance(hand clasping, handedness, arm folding, foot preference, leg folding and stride type) were investigated in the Ersu, Muya, Kongge and Bajia of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. The results were as follows. A preference for the right side versus the left side in four ethnic groups except for arm folding of the Ersu, Muya and Bajia. There was no sexual difference in four ethnic groups, but there were differences between Muya, Ersu and Bajia in hand clasping, and in arm folding between the Muya and Kongge. There was a higher correlation among the six behavioral traits in the Bajia.

    Application of the Regional Model Life Tables in Paleodemography
    LI Nan
    2019, 38(01):  98-106.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2018.0029
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    As a summary of normal life tables, model life tables reflect many universal phenomena and internal disciplines of demography and thus play an important role in modern demographic analysis. In this article, Coale-Demeny’s regional model life tables are introduced into the paleodemographical research. Take Dadianzi cemetery for example, we first adjust the distribution of age at death,especially the death number of the infant and the old, in light of archaeological context and anthropological studies. Then, we use the adjusted data to reconstruct the abridged life table of this site, according to which the average life expectancy is lowered to 24.12 years old. Correspondingly, age-specific mortality shows the typical U-shaped curve, which is more reasonable than before from the perspective of demography. Considering the limitation of traditional life table method in paleodemography, we should be fully aware that it is essential to evaluate the size and representativeness of a sample before the subsequent demographic analysis.Regional model life tables can be used as a refence in the process of adjusting the biased raw data, which will promote the development of paleodemography in the future.

    The relationship between tooth wear and diet of the Gurugyam people in Tibet
    ZHANG Yajun, TONG Tao, LI Linhui, Trinle Tsering
    2019, 38(01):  107-118.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2019.0008
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    The Gurugyam cemetery, located in Gar County of the Ali region in Tibet, is the largest and most concentrated of graves within the Ali region. The Archaeological Institute of CASS, along with the Tibetan Institute for Conservation and Research of Cultural Relics, conducted excavations from 2012 to 2014. Together they cleaned up 11 tombs, including eight from the 3rd to 4th centuries AD, and three from the 7th to 9th centuries. From the eight tombs of the 3rd to 4th centuries, human teeth samples found were examined for tooth wear. The average tooth wear for each tooth was calculated, and the index of front-post tooth wear difference was compared with ancient group’s models of different livelihoods. Analysis showed that the average tooth wear for the Gurugyam population, who possess a priority for animal husbandry over barley and grain planting, is close to the stock farmers. It is speculated from tooth wear analysis, that there were enough animal resources in their diet, which is consistent with the results from carbon and nitrogen isotopes analysis.

    The discovery and discussion of rice remains from the Archaeological Site of Dongyang, Huaxian County, Shaanxi Province
    XIA Xiumin, YIN Yupeng, XU Weihong, WU Yan
    2019, 38(01):  119-131.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2017.0075
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    The origin and spread of rice has always been a hot topic in academia. However, it is still unclear regarding the time when rice was first introduced into the middle reaches of the Yellow River and then spread to the Guanzhong area, which should be studied further. Located in Guanzhong area and excavated in 2014, Dongyang site is a transitional site from the Early Yangshao Period to the Middle Yangshao Period, dating from ca. 5900 to 5600 cal. BP. Based on the analysis of the plant remains from the Dongyang site, we attempt to explore the cultivation and utilization of rice, and analyze the reason for its emergence and diffusion process along Guangzhong area. Phytoliths and macroremains studies indicate the earliest dating rice remains in Guanzhong area so far. Furthermore, it reveals that ancient people of the Dongyang site who mainly grow millets, had already begun to cultivate slight rice. Mixed rice and millets farming pattern also formed at that time. Under the combination of various factors, rice was introduced into Guanzhong area. In addition, by summarizing the prehistoric rice remains from the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, it can be concluded that rice was imported at least 5800 years ago. The rice was then made great development from the Late Yangshao to the Longshan Period, and nearly disappeared there by the end of Longshan Period. Our study may refresh the earliest record of rice remains in the semi-arid and semi-humid region of Northern China and provide the basic data for further studying the origin and spread of rice.

    Starch grain analysis of the grooved basin from the Lingjiatan site, Hanshan county, Anhui Province
    SUN Qingli, SHUO Zhi, WU Yan, YANG Yimin
    2019, 38(01):  132-147.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2018.0036
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    The function of the grooved basin in the Neolithic Period in China is diverse, and starch grain analysis provides important information. In this study, 18 potsherds, excavated at Lingjiatan Site(5500~5300BP) in Anhui Province, were examined for starch grain analysis. The results show that ancient starch grains mainly came from Coix lacryma-jobi L., unidentified Poaceae and Triticeae tribe, followed by Quercus L., other root and tuber plants; the starch grains of Vigna sp., Dioscorea opposita Thunb. and Nelumbo nucifera. were also found. Thus, the ancient people gathered multiple plant foods that were available in their environment. Furthermore, a large number of broken and gelatinized damaged starch grains show that these special potteries were used to grind and cook plants. The statistical results further indicate that the subsistence did not change significantly in different period. However, the ancient people had consciously reduced the consumption of Coix lacryma-jobi L. and unidentified Poaceae, but they gradually increased the exploitation of Triticeae tribe, Quercus L., Vigna sp. and root and tuber plants. The analysis of processed starch grains show that the plant processing method was mainly by grinding/pounding and sometimes by cooking. This reflects a lack of change in the function of these grooved basins over time.

    The survival environment of Mammuthus-Coelodonta Fauna in Qinggang, Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China
    JIANG Haitao, ZHAO Keliang, WANG Yuan, ZHOU Xinying, LI Xiaoqiang, DING Jinyou, YANG Shuai
    2019, 38(01):  148-156.  doi:10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2017.0074
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    The megafaunal extinction in the Late Pleistocene has been hot discussed in the scientific fields, however, there have not yet reached consistent point of the impact of environmental change and the climate dynamics background during the mass extinction process. Northeast China, keeping abundant Mammuthus-Coelodonta fauna fossil in its wide distributing lacustrine sediments of Late Pleistocene, is very profit to the study of the environmental change and the process of the megafaunal extinction. Recently, a serial of fossil megafaunal fossil of the Late Pleistocene has been unearthed in Qinggang County, Heilongjiang Province, which mainly includes Mammuthus primigenius, Coelodonta antiquitatis and so on. In this study, basing on 17 pollen data from Yingxiancun section located in Qinggang County, we reconstructed the vegetation environment of Mammuthus-Coelodonta fauna in the area. Our study shows that the Late Pleistocene Mammuthus-Coelodonta fanua unearthed in the lacustrine sediment was living in an environment dominated by Artemisia, Asteraceae, Gramineae, Cyperaceae with a few of Picea. The pollen assemblages reveal that the area was covered by wide distributed meadow with few conifer forests during the Late Pleistocene that indicate the vast Mammoth steppe, which was wide spread in the upper latitude of Eurasian, had also extended to the central part of Northeast China during the Late Pleistocene.