Flint knapping strategies at Cenjiawan, an Early Paleolithic site in the Nihewan Basin, North China

Guan, Ying; Wang, Fagang; Xie, Fei; Pei, Soo‐Chang; Zhou, Zhengyu; Gao, Xing

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.07.008

Cited by 17 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…1.1 Ma [ 59 ]. According to published information, and recent observations by one of us (SXY), the lithic assemblage at CJW is dominated by FHHP, with less frequent bipolar products [ 58 , 60 – 63 ], thus similar to DGT. The lithic refitting study at CJW demonstrated multidirectional flaking methods and the continuous rotation of cores and the removal of flakes, with efficient and maximum utilization of the small irregular clasts [ 58 , 62 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The lithic assemblages of Donggutuo, Nihewan basin: Knapping skills of Early Pleistocene hominins in North China

et al. 2017

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Donggutuo (DGT) is one of the richest archaeological localities in the Nihewan Basin of North China, thereby providing key information about the technological behaviours of early hominins in eastern Asia. Although DGT has been subject of multiple excavations and technological studies over the past several decades, few detailed studies on the lithic assemblages have been published. Here we summarize and describe the DGT lithic assemblages, examining stone tool reduction methods and technological skills. DGT dates to ca. 1.1 Ma, close to the onset of the mid-Pleistocene climate transition (MPT), indicating that occupations at DGT coincided with increased environmental instability. During this time interval, the DGT knappers began to apply innovative flaking methods, using free hand hard hammer percussion (FHHP) to manufacture pre-determined core shapes, small flakes and finely retouched tools, while occasionally using the bipolar technique, in contrast to the earlier and nearby Nihewan site of Xiaochangliang (XCL). Evidence for some degree of planning and predetermination in lithic reduction at DGT parallels technological developments in African Oldowan sites, suggesting that innovations in early industries may be situational, sometimes corresponding with adaptations to changes in environments and local conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The lithic assemblages of Donggutuo, Nihewan basin: Knapping skills of Early Pleistocene hominins in North China

et al. 2017

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“…During the MPT, one of the earliest, and perhaps most significant innovations in stone tool‐making occurred at Donggutuo, with the manufacture of wedge‐shaped cores to produce particular flake shapes, including small blade‐like forms . Moreover, well‐controlled and skilled core flaking strategies are apparent at Cenjiawan given observations of refitted core–flake sets, demonstrating flexible planning in the knapping process . These innovations may be a response to more variable environments in the high latitudes during the MPT (Figure d) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Between 1.1 and 1.0 Ma, significant developments in core–flake reduction methods and tool production techniques are evidenced, including at Donggutuo, Cenjiawan, and Huojiadi. Donggutuo and Cenjiawan each contained a large number of excavated lithic artifacts (Table ) and refitted pieces, allowing for detailed assessments of technological behaviors . At Donggutuo, small flakes ( n = 584) were recovered with some showing platform preparation .…”

Section: The Pleistocene Archeological Recordmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Paleolithic in the Nihewan Basin, China: Evolutionary history of an Early to Late Pleistocene record in Eastern Asia

Yang

Deng

Zhu

et al. 2019

Evolutionary Anthropology

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The Nihewan Basin of China preserves one of the most important successions of Paleolithic archeological sites in Eurasia. Stratified archeological sites and mammalian fossils, first reported in the 1920s, continue to be recovered in large‐scale excavation projects. Here, we review key findings from archeological excavations in the Nihewan Basin ranging from ~1.66 Ma to 11.7 ka. We place particular emphasis on changes in stone tool technology over the long term. Though Pleistocene lithic industries from East Asia are often described as simple in character, re‐evaluation of the stone tool evidence from the Nihewan Basin demonstrates significant, though periodic, innovations and variability in manufacturing techniques through time, indicating adaptive and technological flexibility on the part of hominins. Synthesis of paleoenvironmental and archeological data indicate changes in hominin occupation frequency in the Nihewan Basin, with chronological gaps suggesting that continuous presence in high, seasonal latitudes was not possible prior to the Late Pleistocene.

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“…Two exceptions are the lithic analyses conducted at Donggutuo (DGT) [ 36 ] and Cenjiawan (CJW) [ 37 ], each of which date to ca. 1.1 Ma [ 38 – 41 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Lithic Assemblages of Xiaochangliang, Nihewan Basin: Implications for Early Pleistocene Hominin Behaviour in North China

et al. 2016

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Xiaochangliang (XCL), located in the Nihewan Basin of North China, is a key archaeological locality for understanding the behavioural evolution of early humans. XCL dates to ca. 1.36 Ma, making it one of the earliest sites in Northeast Asia. Although XCL represents the first excavation of an Early Pleistocene site in the Nihewan Basin, identified and excavated in the 1970’s, the lithic assemblages have never been published in full detail. Here we describe the lithic assemblages from XCL, providing information on stone tool reduction techniques and the influence of raw materials on artefact manufacture. The XCL hominins used both bipolar and freehand reduction techniques to manufacture small flakes, some of which show retouch. Bipolar reduction methods at XCL were used more frequently than previously recognized. Comparison of XCL with other Early Pleistocene sites in the Nihewan Basin indicates the variable use of bipolar and freehand reduction methods, thereby indicating a flexible approach in the utilization of raw materials. The stone tools from XCL and the Nihewan sites are classifiable as Mode I lithic assemblages, readily distinguished from bifacial industries manufactured by hominins in Eastern Asia by ca. 800 ka.

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Flint knapping strategies at Cenjiawan, an Early Paleolithic site in the Nihewan Basin, North China

Cited by 17 publications

References 35 publications

The lithic assemblages of Donggutuo, Nihewan basin: Knapping skills of Early Pleistocene hominins in North China

The lithic assemblages of Donggutuo, Nihewan basin: Knapping skills of Early Pleistocene hominins in North China

The Paleolithic in the Nihewan Basin, China: Evolutionary history of an Early to Late Pleistocene record in Eastern Asia

The Lithic Assemblages of Xiaochangliang, Nihewan Basin: Implications for Early Pleistocene Hominin Behaviour in North China

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