水洞沟旧石器考古研究的新进展与新认识

水洞沟遗址在中国旧石器考古学研究中倍受关注的同时也倍受争议。争议的核心是其旧石器遗存的技术特点、文化属性、来龙去脉和与西方旧石器文化的关系。争议缘起于对核心遗址——第1地点地层、时代和文化演替了解与认识的局限性与模糊性。本文在近年来对遗址区系统调查和多个地点系统发掘与研究的基础上, 对水洞沟遗址群的旧石器时代文化及相关问题提出一系列新的认识,包括水洞沟是一个由多处地点构成的大型露天遗址群; 先民生存活动不局限在一个时期, 文化遗存至少分属7个时段, 据此可建立4万年来区域人群演化序列; 遗址保留的人类文化遗产丰富多样, 除不同技术体系的石制品, 还有骨器、装饰品、复杂用火遗存, 以及对居址复杂利用、对石料热处理和采食植物性食材的诸多信息, 反映古人群具有很强的生存能力和特定的行为方式; 该地区在旧石器时代晚期不同时段存在不同技术体系的考古学文化组合, 出现过勒瓦娄哇+石叶的技术体系与小石片技术体系的交替, 反映末次冰期期间东北亚人群复杂、能动的适应、迁徙、交流过程; 该地区的勒瓦娄哇+石叶的技术体系与本土传统石器工业不存在渊源关系, 应是从西方—西北方向迁移过来的古人群的遗留, 其出现的时间可能早于原先的认定, 而且在消失后没有对本土文化产生明显的影响; 石叶技术组合固然代表一支来自西方的早期现代人群的迁徙和扩散, 但移居者没有对本土人群实现整体替代, 反而被后者取代; 后者在石器技术上保持固有的传统, 但文化遗存中出现小型精制石器、装饰品、石料热处理等早期现代人的行为表征, 反映出这里的现代人起源与扩散模式不是简单的外来移民替代,相反, 本土人群连续演化是主旋律。因而, "连续进化附带杂 交"理论在该地区有着更坚实的考古学基础。

Research at Shuidonggou: New Advance and New Perceptions

Shuidonggou (SDG) has been a hotspot for Paleolithic research in China since 1923 when stone tools and animal fossils were discovered at some localities and lively discussions and debates have been generated on the site for almost a century. Issues central to the discussion include technical characteristics of the lithic assemblages, the source of the unique SDG lithic technology characterized by Levallois cores and blades and its impact on Late Paleolithic tradition in North China, and its relationship with western Eurasian Paleolithic industries. To certain extent, debates and different viewpoints on the SDG industry are the results and consequences of limited investigations and vague understanding on its key site-SDG Locality 1.
Since 2002, a series of investigations have been conducted at the site by the authors and colleagues,?including?field?survey?in?surrounding?areas,?excavations?at?Localities?2,?3,?4,?5,?6,?8,? 9, 12, and systematic sampling, geological sampling and analysis on key sections, chronometric studies, and systematic analysis on the unearthed materials. As the result, numerous data has been obtained and rich information has been collected, and tens of site reports and research papers have been published. New research achievements and new perceptions on the SDG site can be summarized and presented as the follows:
Shuidonggou is a large-scale open-air site complex of Paleolithic age, consisting of tens of localities in the area. Human occupation at the site occurred several times during the time span of 40-10 ka BP and left discrete cultural horizons at various localities as the result. Therefore, there is no single SDG Paleolithic Industry, but a Paleolithic cultural sequence in the region instead. Adaptation capability, strategies and behavior of ancient humans lived in the region were expressed in rich artifacts and cultural traits in varied forms, including stone implements of ?different ?technological? categories,? bone? tools,? ornaments,? evidence ?of ?varied ?kinds ?of ?fire ?use,? heat treatment, complex utilization of living space, and use of plant food resources. A variety of? Late? Paleolithic? assemblage? can? be? identified? in? the? area,? and? Levalloisian-blade? and? simple? core-flake techno-complexes took place by turn, which reflects the complicated and dynamic adaptation, migration, and interaction in Northeast Asia during the Last Glaciation. No direct connection can be established between the Levalloisian-blade techno-complex and traditional core-flake ?industry ?in? North ?China,? as ?the ?former ?should ?be ?the ?remains ?of ?people? migrated ?from? the West. Levalloisian-blade technology appeared in the area earlier than the date previously suggested, and it did not leave obvious impact on the local Paleolithic industries. There is no doubt that groups of early modern human possessing blade technology dispersed to this area from the West during a certain period of time, however, they failed to replace the local population totally, and instead, the history happened in reverse. Indigenous people, who took the place of the blade producers, retained their tradition in stone tool manufacture, meanwhile adopted some? modern? behaviors? reflected? by? curated? stone? tools,? ornaments,? heat? treatment,? etc.? These? phenomena indicate that modern human origin and dispersal should not be a simple replacement scenario, to the opposite, continuity of local populations occurred as the mainstream. Thus, Continuity with Hybridization hypothesis has more archaeological support in this area.