山东日照黄泥梁旧石器时代遗址发掘简报

黄泥梁旧石器时代遗址埋藏于山东省日照市丝山东麓的黄土台地中,2006年发现,2011、2012年进行复查和试掘,2013年正式发掘,发掘面积约50 m2。遗址文化层厚约1.2m,位于地表下3-4m处,经光释光测定,文化层的年代为54-59 kaBP。本次发掘出土有编号的石制品1876件,包括石核、石片、石锤、工具、断块等,此外还有大量的碎屑类石制品。石料主要为脉石英和安山岩两种,大多就地取材。石制品类型以石片、断块为主,石核有一定比例,石锤上的打击痕迹明显,工具数量较少,以简单加工的刮削器为主。石制品的剥片、加工技术均为硬锤直接打击法。初步分析表明黄泥梁遗址为一处原地埋藏的石器制作场所。     

河南登封方家沟遗址发掘简报

方家沟遗址位于河南省登封市方家沟村,2014~2015年北京大学考古文博学院和郑州市文物考古研究院对该遗址进行两次发掘,发现大量石制品和动物化石以及原地埋藏的遗迹现象。石制品类型包括备料、石核、石片、断块、碎屑、石锤、石砧、工具等,整体面貌属于华北常见的石片石器工业。古人类在自然沟内短期活动形成的遗迹(G1)蕴含了空间利用方式的信息,对于进一步研究嵩山东麓MIS3阶段人类活动与行为特点具有重要意义。     

泥河湾盆地板井子遗址锯齿刃器实验研究

锯齿刃器是中国旧石器时代存在的一种重要器物类型,然而,其模糊的类型学鉴定标准使得该器物的研究在国内学术界没有得到足够的重视。板井子遗址是河北泥河湾盆地晚更新世早期的一处重要旧石器遗址,出土较多锯齿刃器。本文通过实验研究,证明板井子遗址的锯齿刃器齿凹的大小与石锤修理部位面积大小呈正相关关系,且遗址中有一部分锯齿刃器是用修理部位面积较小的带尖石锤打制而成,并在遗址标本中找出尖端有散漫坑疤的带尖石锤。本文复原了锯齿刃器的制作工艺流程,证明锯齿刃器是一个稳定的加工过程,需要特殊的石锤来加工,并对其功能进行讨论。     

洛南花石浪龙牙洞1995年出土石制品的拼合研究

本文是对洛南花石浪龙牙洞遗址洞内部分1995年发掘出土的18608件石制品的拼合研究结果。在纳入研究的18499件标本中(不含石料、石锤、石砧和烧石等标本108件)共获得94个拼合组,涉及212件石制品,拼合率约1．15％。分析结果显示拼合研究不但可以帮助我们更深刻地理解龙牙洞遗址石制品的平面及垂直分布规律,还是准确地判断遗址埋藏过程的有效手段。拼合研究在恢复早期人类石器制作技术上具有独到的优势,石核—石片拼合组合以及石片之间的拼合关系可以更清楚地显示早期人类所采用的剥片技术,但以拼合石制品在洞穴中的分布距离判断具体的剥片方法有局限性。     

许昌人遗址研究的新收获及展望

许昌人遗址位于河南省许昌市灵井镇,2005-2017年发掘,揭露面积500余平方米,2007、2014年在9号探方出土包括2颗"许昌人"头骨在内的5个古人类个体,大量的石制品和21种哺乳动物化石。头骨具有东亚古人类、欧洲尼安德特人和早期现代人的镶嵌特征,可能代表一种新型的古老型人类。石制品研究显示,石核类型多样,且以小型双锥形盘状石核为特色;小型工具类型分异明显、加工精细,显示出不同于旧石器时代早期遗址中的工具技术,而与西方旧石器时代中期遗址工具技术上的特点较为一致。此外,遗址出土7件软锤工具,以动物长骨或鹿角为原料,用以修理石质工具。软锤工具的发现,对于认识中国旧石器时代技术的发展有重要意义。通过对遗址形成过程的分析,"许昌人"生活时期的沉积环境经历了三个阶段:下部灰绿色滨湖相粉砂堆积所指示的水流动力相对较弱的沉积环境,中部综红色粉砂堆积所指示的水流动力相对较强的沉积环境,以及上部浅棕红色粉砂堆积所指示的相对冷湿、水动力仍然较强的沉积环境。尽管存在水动力强弱上的相对变化,但水动力总体上并不大,以低能量水流为主,文化遗物属于原地埋藏。今后将开展人类艺术行为能力、古人用软锤和压制法制作石器的技术、动物埋藏学和年代学等方面的深入研究。     

黑龙江齐齐哈尔洪河遗址出土的骨器

骨器研究是近年来动物考古学研究的重要课题之一,自1930年梁思永发现昂昂溪遗址的骨质工具以来,骨器正在成为学界研究嫩江流域史前经济形态的重要依据。2013、2014、2015和2017年黑龙江省文物考古研究所对洪河遗址进行了全面发掘,主要遗存归属于新石器时代晚期和青铜时代,除陶器、石制品和青铜器等,还出土了大量骨器,器类丰富,更有多种以往未曾见过的器类。本文通过对该遗址四个年度出土的343件骨制品进行全面介绍和梳理,分析该遗址骨器制作的工艺水平和生产变化,为进一步探讨该遗址乃至嫩江流域史前的生业模式提供重要线索。     

泥河湾盆地三棵树旧石器遗址2008年试掘报告

三棵树旧石器遗址发现于河北省阳原县东谷坨村东北部。2008年秋,该遗址经过小规模试掘, 出土251件石制品及一些碎骨和牙化石。石制品包括石核、石片、工具和断块、碎片等; 工具有刮削器、尖状器、端刮器、凹缺器、锯齿刃器、雕刻器、石锥、石钻、鸟喙状器等。石制品以小中型为主, 其原料主要为石英砂岩、石英、燧石、白云岩、玄武岩等, 全部为就地取材。三棵树遗址与后沟遗址同处泥河湾层上部, 处于后沟遗址下部和马梁遗址上部, 时代属于中更新世中后期。该遗址的发现有助于探讨我国华北小石器文化发展脉络以及探索细石器文化传统渊源。     

贵州清水苑大洞遗址发掘简报

清水苑大洞位于贵州省惠水县摆金镇,遗址发现于1998年9月,因发现丰富石制品、骨制品、灰烬层和哺乳动物化石等遗物而为学术界所关注。2013年9至11月,中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所和贵州省文物考古研究所联合对清水苑大洞进行考古发掘,发掘区分A、B两区,揭露面积分别为4 m~2和6 m~2。A区揭露地层厚度约90cm,堆积物为灰白-灰黄色-灰黑色砂质黏土,共出土石制品2398件、动物化石及碎骨2000余件。石制品组合以小型石片工业为体,类型包括石核、石器、各类废片、石锤、磨石等,此外还有5件砸击品。石制品原料大多取自围岩内的燧石,剥片以硬锤锤击法为主,石制品以小型居多;刮削器为石器的主要类型,另有少量凹缺器;石器修理多以锤击法向片状毛坯的背面修理为主。~(14)C测年显示遗址形成于距今约11-14 ka BP,为旧-新石器时代过渡期。该遗址的发掘和研究对于探讨更新世末期古人类在贵州中部低海拔地区的适应生存方式具有重要意义。     

贵州清水苑大洞遗址发掘简报北大核心CSCD

清水苑大洞位于贵州省惠水县摆金镇,遗址发现于1998年9月,因发现丰富石制品、骨制品、灰烬层和哺乳动物化石等遗物而为学术界所关注。2013年9至11月,中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所和贵州省文物考古研究所联合对清水苑大洞进行考古发掘,发掘区分A、B两区,揭露面积分别为4 m^2和6 m^2。A区揭露地层厚度约90cm,堆积物为灰白-灰黄色-灰黑色砂质黏土,共出土石制品2398件、动物化石及碎骨2000余件。石制品组合以小型石片工业为体,类型包括石核、石器、各类废片、石锤、磨石等,此外还有5件砸击品。石制品原料大多取自围岩内的燧石,剥片以硬锤锤击法为主,石制品以小型居多;刮削器为石器的主要类型,另有少量凹缺器;石器修理多以锤击法向片状毛坯的背面修理为主。^(14)C测年显示遗址形成于距今约11-14 ka BP,为旧-新石器时代过渡期。该遗址的发掘和研究对于探讨更新世末期古人类在贵州中部低海拔地区的适应生存方式具有重要意义。     

山西青磁窑遗址发现的新材料

青磁窑遗址是山西重要的旧石器时代早期遗址之一。1976—1977年经过两次发掘,发表了初步研究报告。1984年和1987年,再次在遗址中发现了53件石制品,类型包括石核、石片和石器;石片占多数,其中有疤台面和修理台面石片是该遗址中以前未发现过的,从而丰富了青磁窑遗址的文化内涵。     

王府井东方广场遗址石制品研究

王府井东方广场遗址出土石制品共计1098件,主要来自下文化层。除石锤、石砧和人工石块外,其他石制品的原料几乎全部为黑色燧石。石制品普遍较小,主要为小型和微型。石核数量很少,但石片占石制品总数的一半还多。碎屑在探方中的几个区域密集分布。石器加工精致,刃缘大部分都比较平齐且其上的修疤排列均匀、整齐,尤其表现在端刮器上。原料、类型与技术特点表明,东方广场遗址石制品组合属于中国旧石器时代晚期的以石片为主要特征的文化系列。这一文化系列与周口店北京猿人遗址、周口店第15地点、许家窑遗址等有较多的相似性,推测东方广场石制品组合是由中国旧石器时代早期和中期石器工业演变而来。     

Analysis of the fuel wood used in Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age copper mining sites of the Schwaz and Brixlegg area (Tyrol,Austria)

Charcoal analysis was carried out as part of an interdisciplinary project focusing on the copper mining history of the former mining area of Schwaz and Brixlegg, a region pivotal as a copper source in prehistoric Europe. The goal was to use remains of carbonised wood to investigate environmental implications of prehistoric mining, as well as to gain new insight about the ancient mining technique of fire-setting. Charcoal samples from seven copper mining sites (Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age) were analysed. The results reveal a strong preference for coniferous wood as fuel in fire-setting, but not in ore smelting/roasting processes. Species composition at the ore-processing sites indicates moderate forest degradation processes caused by human intervention.     

青铜时代中晚期辽西地区农业活动特征

辽西地区城子山遗址和夏家店遗址农作物种子遗存研究显示, 城子山地区青铜时代中期以旱作农业种植为主, 粟的栽培要明显高于黍。青铜时代晚期的夏家店地区属半农半牧区, 存在黍与粟为主的旱作农业种植, 但黍的栽培比例要远高于青铜时代中期的城子山地区。干旱化可能是导致夏家店地区青铜时代晚期黍栽培比例升高的主要原因。城子山和夏家店地区农业种植结构在青铜时代晚期可能已有所不同, 但这2个地区农业种植的差异究竟从何时开始, 仍是一个需要继续深入研究的问题。     

青铜时代中晚期辽西地区农业活动特征

辽西地区城子山遗址和夏家店遗址农作物种子遗存研究显示,城子山地区青铜时代中期以旱作农业种植为主.粟的栽培比例要明显高于黍.青铜时代晚期的夏家店地区属半农半牧区,存在黍与粟为主的旱作农业种植,但黍的栽培比例要远高于青铜时代中期的城子山地区.干旱化可能是导致夏家店地区青铜时代晚期黍栽培比例升高的主要原因.城子山和夏家店地区农业种植结构在青铜时代晚期可能已有所不同,但这2个地区农业种植的差异究竟从何时开始,仍是一个需要继续深入研究的问题.     

Characteristics of hammer stones and anvils used by wild bearded capuchin monkeys (Cebus libidinosus) to crack open palm nuts

Capuchins living in Boa Vista (Piauì, Brazil) crack open hard palm nuts on hard, level surfaces (anvils) using stones (hammers) as percussive tools. This activity leaves diagnostic physical remains: distinctive shallow depressions (pits) on the surface of the anvil, cracked shells, and stone hammers on the anvil. To initiate comparison of percussive stone tool use and interpretation of the artifacts it produces across capuchins, chimpanzees, and hominins, we describe a sample of the anvils and hammer stones used by capuchin monkeys at our site. Anvils (boulders and logs) were located predominantly in the transition zone between the flat open woodland and ridges, in locations that offered some overhead coverage, and with a tree nearby, but not necessarily near palm trees. Anvils contained shallow, hemispherical pits with smooth interiors. Hammers represent a diverse assemblage of ancient rocks that are much harder than the prevailing sedimentary rock out of which they eroded. Hard stones large enough to serve as hammers were more abundant on the anvils than in the surrounding area, indicating that capuchins transport them to the anvils. Capuchins use hammers weighing on average more than 1 kg, a weight that is equivalent to 25-40% of the average body weight for adult males and females. Our findings indicate that capuchins select stones to use as hammers and transport stones and nuts to anvil sites. Wild capuchins provide a new reference point for interpreting early percussive stone tool use in hominins, and a point of comparison with chimpanzees cracking nuts.     

Environmental impact of early palaeometallurgy: pollen and geochemical analysis

Interdisciplinary research was carried out in mid-level mountain areas in France with the aim of documenting historical mining and smelting activities by means of pollen and geochemical analyses. These investigations were made on cores collected in French peatlands in the Morvan (northern Massif Central), at Mont Lozère (southern Massif Central) and in the Basque Country (Pyrénées). Different periods of mining were recognised from Prehistory to modern times through the presence of anthropogenic lead in peat. Some of these were already known from archaeological dates or historical archives, especially for mediaeval and modern periods. However prehistoric ancient mining activities, as early as the Middle Bronze Age (ca. 1700 b.c.), were also discovered. They had all led to modifications in plant cover, probably related in part to forest clearance necessary to supply energy for mining and smelting.     

三峡地区枣子坪旧石器遗址

枣子坪旧石器遗址埋藏于三峡地区长江右岸的第Ⅱ级基座阶地内。2000和2002年经历了两次抢救性发掘,揭露面积1000m2,出土石制品101件。石制品类型包括石器、石核、石片、石锤和断块等。古人类选取河卵石为原料进行剥片和加工石器;石器以中型为主,毛坯多为完整石片,刮削器是石器的主要类型;石器加工较简单,多数单向加工,且以正向为主。石器工业具有中国南方旧石器时代主工业鲜明特点,同时蕴含了向长宽等比小型化发展的趋势。地貌和地层对比显示,该遗址可能与井水湾遗址同时,属旧石器时代中期。     

百色大梅遗址第一地点发掘简报

大梅遗址位于百色右江区东南的右江北岸,最初发现于1982年。该遗址包括三个地点,分别位于Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ级河流阶地上。2005年8月至2006年1月,广西文物保护与考古研究所对该遗址进行抢救性考古发掘,其中第一地点(A区)发掘面积1100m~2,第二地点(包括B、C、E区)发掘面积1900m~2,第三地点(D区)发掘面1000m~2,总揭露面积4000m~2。该点出土石制品314件,包括砾石、石核、石片、石锤、石器等。石制品原料以石英岩为主,剥片和修理主要采用锤击法,工具多用砾石直接加工而成,类型有砍砸器、手镐、刮削器、尖状器等,刮削器数量最多。根据地层和出土石制品的特征推断,第一地点的时代应为旧石器时代晚期。     

New data on the use of stone tools by chimpanzees in Guinea and Liberia

Two types of use of “hammers” for cracking nuts by wild-living chimpanzees have been distinguished: (1) Relatively small stones are used by the chimpanzee community at Bossou in Guinea to crack the nuts of oil palms growing on abandoned farmland, while no nuts of wild tree species are cracked. (2) Larger hammer stones (and, at some sites, wooden clubs) are used in a more sophisticated manner to crack the nuts of wild trees, but not of oil palms, in an area ranging from south-east Sierra Leone through Liberia to the south-west of the Ivory Coast. The first author (1986) has proposed that Type I has been copied by the chimpanzees, under pressure of food shortage, from the local human population. New data now indicate that, at Bossou, while habitat deterioration has continued, the number of hammer and anvil stones per utilized oil palm tree has approximately tripled in the last six years. The quantity of food obtained from oil palm nut kernels, however, amounts to only a few percent of the total diet. For the rest these apes depend to a large extent on many other agricultural products cultivated at Bossou which they are allowed freely to consume, including even cassava (manioc) roots and sweet potatoes dug by them from the ground. Some factors determining the chosen size of hammers were analyzed. Two abnormal hammers were found whose wear suggested a tentative, human-like manner of use. No evidence has been found to indicate the use of stone tools by chimpanzees in the adjoining chimpanzee-inhabited areas around the range of the Bossou community. Type II stone tool use was found, however, in a primary forest on a mountain≈13 km west of Bossou. This is especially intriguing because the site is separated by a wide belt of drier rain forest from the belt of very humid rain forest in the south where all the other known Type II sites are located. More research on the geographical distribution of the use of stone tools by chimpanzees and on the underlying ecological factors is recommended.     

Molecular analysis of ancient caries

An 84 base pair sequence of the Streptococcus mutans virulence factor, known as dextranase, has been obtained from 10 individuals from the Bronze Age to the Modern Era in Europe and from before and after the colonization in America. Modern samples show four polymorphic sites that have not been found in the ancient samples studied so far. The nucleotide and haplotype diversity of this region have increased over time, which could be reflecting the footprint of a population expansion. While this segment has apparently evolved according to neutral evolution, we have been able to detect one site that is under positive selection pressure both in present and past populations. This study is a first step to study the evolution of this microorganism, analysed using direct evidence obtained from ancient remains.