The open-air site of Tolbor 16 (Northern Mongolia): Preliminary results and perspectives

Zwyns, Nicolas; Gladyshev, S.A.; Gunchinsuren, Byambaa; Bolorbat, Tsedendorj; Flas, Damien; Dogandžić, Tamara; Tabarev, Andrei V.; Gillam, J. Christopher; Khatsenovich, Arina M.; McPherron, Shannon P.; Odsuren, Davaakhuu; Paine, Cleantha H.; Purevjal, Khovor-Erdene; Stewart, John R.

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2014.05.043

Cited by 49 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…At Kamenka, platform abrasion is often associated with smaller platforms and a high frequency of ventral lips, features suggested to be consistent with a marginal percussion technique by soft-stone hammer [18]. High frequencies of blade platform abrasion are also observed at sites in northern Mongolia, such as Tolbor 16 [19]. However, this form of platform modification can be observed on fewer than 1% of blades at SDG 1.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 84%

“…Although the occasional use of soft stone hammer and marginal percussion has been suggested based upon the study of the 1980 collection [20], abrasion on the exterior edges of platforms and lipping of the internal edges are nearly absent in the 1963 collection. This is an important difference from the quasi-contemporaneous assemblages in northern Mongolia and the Transbaikal region, where soft hammer percussion was frequently used [18,19].…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 90%

“…Assemblages with these characteristics are distributed broadly across Eurasia, from the eastern Mediterranean to northeast Asia. In northeast Asia, IUP assemblages have been documented in Siberia, Mongolia, as well as northern China, with particular "hot spots" in the areas surrounding Baikal lake, in northern Mongolia, and in the Siberian Altai [16][17][18][19][20][21]. Our main aim here is to examine the intra-assemblage variation in the collection from the 1963 excavation at Shuidonggou locality 1 (SDG 1) in northern China, in an effort to situate the site and assemblage within the range of IUP variability in northeast Asia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intra-assemblage variation in the macro-blade assemblage from the 1963 excavation at Shuidonggou locality 1, northern China, in the context of regional variation

Kuhn

Chen

et al. 2020

PLoS ONE

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The emergence of the Upper Paleolithic and regional variability in early Upper Paleolithic industries are prominent topics in Paleolithic archaeology, with special relevance to the dispersal and differentiation of early modern human cultures across Eurasia. The so-called Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) has been considered a key element in the emergence of the Upper Paleolithic in northern Asia. Here, we examine the intra-assemblage variation in the collection from the 1963 excavation at Shuidonggou locality 1, a major IUP site in northern China. We combine technological and quantitative attribute analyses to investigate the variety of core reduction sequences and tool manufacture behaviors at the site. A range of core reduction sequences have been documented at Shuidonggou locality 1, including both simple core reduction and prepared core reduction yielding laminar (blade-like) products. The simple core reduction component may due to mixed non-IUP assemblages from different archaeological layers. Among the laminar core reduction sequences, the main strategy involves asymmetrical exploitation of the broad face of core blank, producing blades and elongate flakes, and resembling a recurrent Levallois blade method sensu lato. We compare Shuidonggou laminar blank production with that of IUP assemblages in the Siberian Altai, northern Mongolia, and the Transbaikal region. The comparison demonstrates a general consistency to the basic blank production in IUP assemblages across northern Asia, with some regional variation. The results suggest a multi-directional model of diffusion of the IUP in northeast Asia.

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Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intra-assemblage variation in the macro-blade assemblage from the 1963 excavation at Shuidonggou locality 1, northern China, in the context of regional variation

Kuhn

Chen

et al. 2020

PLoS ONE

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“…The distribution of this lithic industry was limited to the northern part of North China. Sites in Mongolia and the Siberian Altai contain similar lithic technology, and they are generally earlier (Derevianko 2011;Li, Kuhn et al 2014;Li, Chen et al 2016;Zwyns et al 2014). For this reason, researchers have proposed that the macro-blade industry appeared in Shuidonggou as a result of technological diffusion (Brantingham et al 2001;Peng, Wang and Gao 2014) or population dispersal from Mongolia and/or the Altai (Li, Kuhn et al 2014;Li, Chen et al 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

History, Chronology and Techno-Typology of the Upper Paleolithic Sequence in the Shuidonggou Area, Northern China

et al. 2019

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The timing and behavioral markers of the Upper Paleolithic in different parts of the world are of great importance to research on modern human dispersals. The pattern of behavioral developments in the Upper Paleolithic in northern China differs in important ways from the patterns observed in West Eurasia, Africa, and South Asia. Shuidonggou (SDG), a cluster of Paleolithic sites in northern China, contains several of the most important Upper Paleolithic sites in the region. Various localities yield evidence of three major cultural components dated by 14 C, uranium-series, and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) methods to between roughly 46 ka and 10 ka. The oldest component, blade assemblages with western Eurasian early Upper Paleolithic characteristics, appears to be intrusive from Siberia and/or Mongolia, beginning at least 41 ka (e.g., SDG 1 and SDG 9). Advanced core and flake assemblages may mark the appearance of an indigenous Late Paleolithic of North China beginning at around 33 ka (e.g., SDG 2 and SDG 8). Finally, around 10.5 ka, microblade technology arrived in the area (SDG 12), although we are not sure of its origins at present. Other typical Upper Paleolithic cultural remains, such as bone tools and body decorations, have been found at various localities in the SDG area as well (e.g., ostrich eggshell beads from SDG 2, 7, and 8). Information from this cluster of occupations increases our understanding of cultural variability, adaptation, and demographic dynamics of modern humans in Late Pleistocene northern Asia.

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“…The Yumidong assemblage is more similar to the regions of mainland Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) and even the archipelago (Philippines, Indonesia) where lithic technocomplex chronologically attributed to the "Upper Paleolithic period" for the most part shows persistence and continuity with the Lower Paleolithic methods with very heavy, angular and massive stone tools made on pebbles, cobbles and other blanks. Moreover, the Levallois and blade/bladelet phenomenon is unknown in the prehistory of Central-South China and Southeast Asia while it is well known in Western Europe, but also in Arabia (Armitage et al, 2011), Africa (Van Peer et al, 2003Nicoll, 2009;Soriano et al, 2010) and even in Asia (Zwyns, 2012;Zwyns et al, 2014), until northern China (Bordes, 1968;Derevianko and Petrin, 1995;Jaubert et al, 1997;Bo€ eda et al, 2012;Pei et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent discovery of a unique Paleolithic industry from the Yumidong Cave site in the Three Gorges region of Yangtze River, southwest China

Wei¹,

Huang

Boëda

et al. 2017

Quaternary International

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a b s t r a c tThe Three Gorges of Yangtze River, southwest China, abundant in human and faunal fossils, and lithic artifacts, represents an important site complex for understanding hominin dispersion and adaptations during the Pleistocene. The Yumidong Cave is a newly-discovered Paleolithic site in this region which yielded a large number of animal fossils and lithic artifacts. UeTh dating in conjunction with biostratigraphic analysis indicated that the archaeological remains were deposited during a long sequence from ca. 400 to 8 ka (Middle Pleistocene to Holocene). Lithic technological analysis indicated an original material shaped on massive limestone blocks with chaîne op eratoire consisted of selection, shaping and retouching. The volumetric structures of selected blanks are regrouped into three categories: structures with bevel(s), trihedral structure and convergent ones. The outline of cutting-edge is predonimated by denticulate ones, followed by saw-like ones, rostrum, convergent with a denticulate edge and beaked ones. Despite showing nothing in common with Europe, Africa, the Near East and even the Indian Subcontinent and northern China, the lithic assemblage of the Yumidong Cave exhibits a strong coherence and presents more similarity to mainland Southeast Asia with heavy, angular and massive stone tools made on pebble, cobble and without the Levallois, Discoid, and blade/bladelet phenomenon. The lithic assemblage of Yumidong Cave may represent material clues of a potential local technological center of origin in unique technical world of Central-South China and its uniqueness would be understandable as the result of a successful adaptation of hominids to a specific environment. Yumidong lithic material deconstructs the existing paradigm for a long period of time and presents new ideas and new facts for the technic evolution in South China.

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The open-air site of Tolbor 16 (Northern Mongolia): Preliminary results and perspectives

Cited by 49 publications

References 41 publications

Intra-assemblage variation in the macro-blade assemblage from the 1963 excavation at Shuidonggou locality 1, northern China, in the context of regional variation

Intra-assemblage variation in the macro-blade assemblage from the 1963 excavation at Shuidonggou locality 1, northern China, in the context of regional variation

History, Chronology and Techno-Typology of the Upper Paleolithic Sequence in the Shuidonggou Area, Northern China

Recent discovery of a unique Paleolithic industry from the Yumidong Cave site in the Three Gorges region of Yangtze River, southwest China

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