Ostrich eggshell beads and fragments collected from SDG site reflect primordial art and a kind of symbolic behavior of modern humans. Based on stratigraphic data and OSL dating, these ostrich eggshell beads are probably in Early Holocene ( 10 ka BP). Two different prehistoric manufacturing pathways are usually used in the manufacture of ostrich eggshell beads in Upper Paleolithic. According to statistic analysis of the characteristics of ostrich eggshell beads, Pathway 1 is identified from these collections. In pathway 1, blanks are drilled prior to being trimmed to rough discs. They exhibit great potential for the study of the origin of primordial art and the development of ancient cultures and provide important data for studying behavioral options adopted by hominids in SDG area. In addition, they bear important implications for the origin of modern humans in East Asia.
SDG site, ostrich eggshell beads, experiments, primordial art, HoloceneIt has been commonly accepted that appearance of primordial art means that abstract thinking is conceptualized, changing the structure of thinking activity to real concept [1] . Diversified development of abstract thinking creativity makes the formalization of applied tools slip the leash of function attribute, and produces many cultural carriers of prehistoric aesthetic consciousness, including ornament, engraving, carving, sculpturing, painting, and drawing, is an unique human behavior and is closely associated with modern human's physical evolution and cognitional development. The discovery of shell beads (82 ka BP) from the Grotte des Pigeons site in North Africa [2] and red ochre pieces (77 ka BP) with geometric engravings in from the Blombos Cave site in South Africa [3] , has been taken as archaeological evidence of the oldest human artistic activity and the earliest record of modern human behavior. Nowadays, the issue of primordial art origins, especially in East Asia, is currently a hot research topic in academic world. Paleolithic archaeologists are eagerly searching for new material and dating evidence to solve this research question.
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