More than ten thousands of bone fragments were recovered from the Lingjing site, Henan Province during 2005 and 2006. In this paper, through the quantification and statistical analyses of the skeletal elements of the ...More than ten thousands of bone fragments were recovered from the Lingjing site, Henan Province during 2005 and 2006. In this paper, through the quantification and statistical analyses of the skeletal elements of the two predominant species in this assemblage, aurochs (Bos primigenius) and horse (Equus caballus), the differential influences and weights of a variety of taphonomic agencies in the formation of the assemblage are assessed respectively. Compared to the natural agencies, hominid hunting and the subsequent disarticulation, slaughtering, and their transport of the bone elements of the prey species are the main factors accounting for the formation of the present assemblage. More importantly, this study initiatively identifies hominid's differential treatment of the bones of aurochs and horse in the Paleolithic record of East Asia and demonstrably suggests that hominids at the site have already practiced sophisticated hunting techniques and subsistence strategies and may be quite familiar with the ecological and anatomical characteristics and nutritional values of the large-sized prey animals and can accordingly take different processing and handling strategies at the hunting site.展开更多
This paper presents the results of a detailed study of mortality profiles of the large herbivores from the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) bone assemblage of the Lingjing Xuchang Man Site, Henan Province. Based on the analys...This paper presents the results of a detailed study of mortality profiles of the large herbivores from the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) bone assemblage of the Lingjing Xuchang Man Site, Henan Province. Based on the analysis of the crown heights of fossil teeth from this assemblage, we come to a conclusion that aurochs (Bos primigenius) and horse (Equus caballus) are the major prey species in this assemblage and the age structures of these animals can be best described as the "prime-dominated pattern". This study confirmed the well-established notions at many Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites across Eurasia and Africa that MSA/MP foragers were fully effective in hunting aggressive prey species, particularly aurochs and horse. This find indicates that the hunting behaviors and subsistence strategies were not significantly different between MP and UP (the Upper Palaeolithic) humans in East Asia and hence suggests the early emergence of the modern human behaviors in this area.展开更多
During 2007-2008 excavations at the Lingjing site near Xuchang,Henan Province,dated back to around 100-80 ka ago,a large quantity of mammalian fossil remains were recovered along with a remarkable cluster of Early Mod...During 2007-2008 excavations at the Lingjing site near Xuchang,Henan Province,dated back to around 100-80 ka ago,a large quantity of mammalian fossil remains were recovered along with a remarkable cluster of Early Modern Human(EMH) skull fragments in situ.Observably some of those animal bones were probably modified into tools.A use-wear analysis was carried out to examine the functions of modified bone tools.The results suggest that Lingjing bone tools were used for drilling,penetrating,and scraping animal substances,and that some might have been hafted during the use.This study confirms that early existence ofintentionally-modified bone tools at human occupations of the early Late Pleistocene in northern China.This discovery suggests making and use of bone tools were inevitably a part of early human behaviors and cultural development,as such of stone tools.展开更多
More than ten thousand bone fragments were recovered from the Lingjing site, Henan Province, during 2005 and 2006. A taphonomic analysis of the faunal remains strongly indicates that hominids have a dominant role in t...More than ten thousand bone fragments were recovered from the Lingjing site, Henan Province, during 2005 and 2006. A taphonomic analysis of the faunal remains strongly indicates that hominids have a dominant role in the accumulation and modification of the assemblage. Based on the taphonomic and zooarcheological characteristics of the animal remains, including species richness, mortality patterns, skeletal element profiles, and bone surface-modifications, and on the local ecology, we suggest that the Lingjing site is a Middle Paleolithic kill-butchery site rather than a home base for early humans. The presence of large numbers of stone artifacts may therefore signify a strong sense of planning and farsightedness in the subsistence strategies of early human groups. The Lingjing site is presently the only taphonomically-identified, Middle Paleolithic kill-butchery site known in North China.展开更多
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant Nos. KZCX2-YW-Q1-04 and KZCX2-EW-QN110)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA05130302)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40602006 and 40872115)
文摘More than ten thousands of bone fragments were recovered from the Lingjing site, Henan Province during 2005 and 2006. In this paper, through the quantification and statistical analyses of the skeletal elements of the two predominant species in this assemblage, aurochs (Bos primigenius) and horse (Equus caballus), the differential influences and weights of a variety of taphonomic agencies in the formation of the assemblage are assessed respectively. Compared to the natural agencies, hominid hunting and the subsequent disarticulation, slaughtering, and their transport of the bone elements of the prey species are the main factors accounting for the formation of the present assemblage. More importantly, this study initiatively identifies hominid's differential treatment of the bones of aurochs and horse in the Paleolithic record of East Asia and demonstrably suggests that hominids at the site have already practiced sophisticated hunting techniques and subsistence strategies and may be quite familiar with the ecological and anatomical characteristics and nutritional values of the large-sized prey animals and can accordingly take different processing and handling strategies at the hunting site.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB 806400)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40602006 and 40872115)
文摘This paper presents the results of a detailed study of mortality profiles of the large herbivores from the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) bone assemblage of the Lingjing Xuchang Man Site, Henan Province. Based on the analysis of the crown heights of fossil teeth from this assemblage, we come to a conclusion that aurochs (Bos primigenius) and horse (Equus caballus) are the major prey species in this assemblage and the age structures of these animals can be best described as the "prime-dominated pattern". This study confirmed the well-established notions at many Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites across Eurasia and Africa that MSA/MP foragers were fully effective in hunting aggressive prey species, particularly aurochs and horse. This find indicates that the hunting behaviors and subsistence strategies were not significantly different between MP and UP (the Upper Palaeolithic) humans in East Asia and hence suggests the early emergence of the modern human behaviors in this area.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(40872115)CAS/SAFEA International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teamsthe Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (111-2-09)
文摘During 2007-2008 excavations at the Lingjing site near Xuchang,Henan Province,dated back to around 100-80 ka ago,a large quantity of mammalian fossil remains were recovered along with a remarkable cluster of Early Modern Human(EMH) skull fragments in situ.Observably some of those animal bones were probably modified into tools.A use-wear analysis was carried out to examine the functions of modified bone tools.The results suggest that Lingjing bone tools were used for drilling,penetrating,and scraping animal substances,and that some might have been hafted during the use.This study confirms that early existence ofintentionally-modified bone tools at human occupations of the early Late Pleistocene in northern China.This discovery suggests making and use of bone tools were inevitably a part of early human behaviors and cultural development,as such of stone tools.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-EW-QN110)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA05130302)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40602006 and 40872115)
文摘More than ten thousand bone fragments were recovered from the Lingjing site, Henan Province, during 2005 and 2006. A taphonomic analysis of the faunal remains strongly indicates that hominids have a dominant role in the accumulation and modification of the assemblage. Based on the taphonomic and zooarcheological characteristics of the animal remains, including species richness, mortality patterns, skeletal element profiles, and bone surface-modifications, and on the local ecology, we suggest that the Lingjing site is a Middle Paleolithic kill-butchery site rather than a home base for early humans. The presence of large numbers of stone artifacts may therefore signify a strong sense of planning and farsightedness in the subsistence strategies of early human groups. The Lingjing site is presently the only taphonomically-identified, Middle Paleolithic kill-butchery site known in North China.
