The Neandertal lower right deciduous second molar from Trou de l'Abîme at Couvin, Belgium

A human lower right deciduous second molar was discovered in 1984 at the entrance of Trou de l'Abîme at Couvin (Belgium). In subsequent years the interpretation of this fossil remained difficult for various reasons: (1) the lack of taxonomically diagnostic elements which would support its attribution to either Homo (sapiens) neanderthalensis or H. s. sapiens; (2) the absence of any reliable chronostratigraphic interpretation of the sedimentary sequence of the site; (3) the contradiction between archaeological interpretations, which attributed the lithic industry to a transitional facies between the Middle and Early Upper Palaeolithic, and the radiocarbon date of 46,820 ± 3,290 BP obtained from animal bone remains associated with the tooth and the flint tools.Thanks to recent progress regarding these three aspects, the tooth from Trou de l'Abîme may now be studied in detail. Analyses of the morphology and enamel thickness of the fossil yielded diagnostic characters consistent with an attribution to Neandertals. Re-examination of the lithic industry of Couvin shows that it corresponds to the late Middle Palaeolithic rather than a transitional facies. Furthermore, a new analysis of the site stratigraphy indicates that the unit situated above the archaeological layer in which the tooth was found is probably a palaeosol of brown soil type. Comparison with the regional cave sequences as well as with the reference sequence from the Belgian loess belt tends to show that the most recent palaeosol of this type is dated between 42,000 and 40,000 BP. This is consistent with both a recently obtained AMS result at 44,500 BP and the published conventional date.     

华南晚更新世晚期人类行为复杂化的个案——江西万年吊桶环遗址的发现

吊桶环遗址位于江西万年县境内的大源盆地,是一处坐落在盆地西南边缘的孤立小山顶山的岩厦遗址。岩厦内发现晚更新世晚期以来文化堆积厚达4 m以上。1993-1999年期间曾经过三次发掘,出土了数以千计的石制品,包括石片石器、砾石石器及局部经过磨制加工的石制品,数量众多的动物骨骼遗存。尤为重要的是时代早,数量较多,类型复杂的骨、角及蚌制品的发现,如鹿角斧、骨鱼镖及穿孔蚌壳刀等。与此同时,还有多处用火与居住活动遗迹的发现。这些新发现清楚地记录了晚更新世人类在岩厦内活动的历史,为认识华南地区晚更新世晚期人类的\"行为现代性\"或\"复杂化\"进程提供了重要的新证据。     

Cyrtinoides Yudina and Rzhonsnitskaya, 1985, an aberrant Middle Devonian ambocoeliid brachiopod genus from China

Here we redescribe and reillustrate specimens of an ambocoeliid brachiopod previously described as Echinocoelia guangsiensis Sun, 1992 from the late Eifelian–earliest Givetian Mingtang Formation of the Liujing section in Guangxi Autonomous Region. The internal structure of the species, and especially the presence of a spondylium with tichorhinum in the ventral valve indicates that the species represents the aberrant genus Cyrtinoides Yudina and Rzhonsnitskaya, 1985. It seems probable that the anterior part of the tichorhinum in Cyrtinoides accommodated the diductor attachments. Geographic distribution of Cyrtinoides is restricted to the Northern Hemisphere and shows a disjunct pattern. This genus has not hitherto been identified from China.     

中国境内与巨猿伴生的偶蹄类化石

1956年在广西大新黑洞发现了第一个具有明确地点和层位的巨猿化石地点。此后在广西的柳城和武鸣、湖北建始、广西巴马、重庆巫山、广西田东和崇左、贵州毕节及海南昌江也陆续发现了有明确地点和层位的巨猿化石地点。其中田东有么会洞和吹风洞两个地点,崇左有三合大洞、泊岳山、缺缺洞、百孔洞、岩亮洞和合江洞等地点群。这些地点均分布在长江以南,在31°N以南、19°N以北、105°E以东、110°E以西的范围内。与巨猿伴生的大哺乳动物中,种类及标本数量占有显著比例的偶蹄类总计有30个种类,可以归入5个科。其中具有代表性的偶蹄类是最后河马齿河猪(Hippopotamodon ultimus)、小猪(Sus xiaozhu)、裴氏猪(S.peii)、麂属(Muntiacus sp.)、凤岐祖鹿(Cervavitus fenqii)、黑鹿亚属(Cervus (Rusa))及广西巨羊(Megalovis guangxiensis)。如果在新的化石地点找到这些代表性种类,就有可能发现新的巨猿化石,突破巨猿现有的分布范围。在上述30个种类中从新近纪延续下来的属有河马齿河猪、猪、丘齿鼷鹿(Dorcabune)、麝(Mo...     

丹江口库区水牛洼旧石器遗址发掘简报

水牛洼遗址位于湖北省丹江口市均县镇关门岩村,是汉水流域一处同时具有旧石器早期与晚期文化层的重要遗址。2010年3~4月间,吉林大学边疆考古研究中心对该遗址进行了发掘,揭露面积675m2,共获石制品301件,类型包括石核、石片、断块及工具等。地貌和地层对比显示,遗址年代大致为中更新世至晚更新世晚期。遗址可分为上、下两个文化层。上文化层出土石制品246件,属晚更新世;下文化层出土石制品55件,处于中更新世。下文化层石制品特点显示了中国南方砾石石器工业的特点,而上文化层却出现了中国北方石片石器工业的文化因素。     

百色盆地高岭坡遗址的石制品

高岭坡旧石器遗址位于百色市田东县境内的林逢镇檀河村,文化层为右江南岸第4级阶地的砖红壤层。本文材料为1986~1995年发掘和采集的、由中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所收藏的834件石制品。石制品类型有石核、石片、工具、备料和断块;石片和断块占较大比例;工具既有手斧、手镐和砍砸器等重型工具,也有刮削器、凹缺器、石锥和鸟喙状器等轻型工具。两个类群在原料和毛坯选择上有明显差异。工具均采用锤击法,主要从较平的一面向较凸的另一面进行单向加工,辅以交互和错向加工。拼合石片以及大量细小石片、断块等的存在显示,该遗址为一处石器制造场所。     

山东沂源猿人化石

本文记述了山东省沂源县骑子鞍山出土的一件人类头盖骨残片和七枚牙齿化石。它们的形态特征与北京猿人相似,在分类系统上应属直立人,与人类化石伴生的哺乳动物群的性质与周口店动物群相同,地质时代为中更新世。     

广西百色百峰遗址发现的石制品

百峰遗址位于广西百色市田阳县境内,地处百色盆地右江南岸第四级阶地,地理坐标为23°45.399'N, 106°43.636'E, 是右江民族博物馆在2009年文物普查时新发现的一处旧石器时代遗址。共采集石制品27件。类型有石核、石片、手镐、砍砸器和刮削器, 其中手镐数量最多;原料来源于遗址附近第4级阶地的砾石层, 类别有石英岩、硅质岩、石英、粉砂岩和角砾岩5种, 以石英岩为主; 石制品以大型和中型为主; 剥片和修理方法主要为锤击法;石核剥片技术表现出剥片者对剥片过程的控制意识。根据地貌和地层推测该遗址年代为中更新世早期。     

云南西冲组的一种细小植物—兼论华南中泥盆世晚期植物组合

研究我国云南中泥盆世晚期西冲组的一种细小植物Psilophyton striatum sp.nov.,它具有二歧分叉光滑轴和生殖枝,生殖枝由三次等二歧分叉枝系和族生孢子囊组成,枝系末端对生两对直立孢子囊,根据对已有材料的分析,宜将华南中泥盆世晚期植物组合改名为Lepidodendropsis arborescense-Minarodendron cathaysiense Eocladoxylon minutum(LME)组合,它以石松类植物为主,共生有“真蕨植物”和三枝蕨类,分为小形树状植物和地面植物两个生态系统,同时,与世界上同期植物群进行了对比。     

云南西冲组的一种细小植物—兼论华南中泥盆世晚期植物组合

研究我国云南中泥盆世晚期西冲组的一种细小植物Psilophyton striatum sp.nov.,它具有二歧分叉光滑轴和生殖枝,生殖枝由三次等二歧分叉枝系和族生孢子囊组成,枝系末端对生两对直立孢子囊,根据对已有材料的分析,宜将华南中泥盆世晚期植物组合改名为Lepidodendropsis arborescense-Minarodendron cathaysiense Eocladoxylon minutum(LME)组合,它以石松类植物为主,共生有“真蕨植物”和三枝蕨类,分为小形树状植物和地面植物两个生态系统,同时,与世界上同期植物群进行了对比。     

Landscape-scale variation in hominin tool use: Evidence from the Developed Oldowan

The relationship between artifact manufacture, use, and discard in the Developed Oldowan is complex. Here we use digital-image-analysis techniques to investigate the intensity of reduction in single-platform cores of the Developed Oldowan of the Okote Member, Koobi Fora Formation. Data suggest that this method provides a more accurate measure of reduction intensity than previous applications of a unifacial-scraper model. Assemblages of single-platform cores excavated from extensive lateral exposures of the Okote Member provide insights into the relationship between raw-material availability and discard patterns. Variation in reduction intensity suggests that tools are not always discarded in patterns that would be predicted by the availability of raw material. Further, it appears that hominin transport decisions involved an assessment of the potential use-life of certain forms. Many aspects of Developed Oldowan technology conform to previously developed models of curated technologies.     

辽宁庙后山遗址研究的新进展

本文简要介绍了中国东北已知最早的古人类遗址——辽宁省本溪市庙后山遗址的研究成果, 同时对新出土的少量石制品及哺乳动物化石进行了描述。庙后山石制品在技术和类型上与北京人石器工业十分接近。观察分析表明, 庙后山动物群由北京周口店动物群的基本成员组成, 时代为中更新世, 可追溯到距今50万年。     

丹江口库区彭家河旧石器遗址发掘简报

丹江口库区彭家河旧石器遗址位于湖北省丹江口市土台乡彭家河村三组,埋藏于汉水右岸第三级基座阶地的红色黏土层中。2006年11月—2007年1月对该遗址进行抢救性发掘,揭露面积600m2,出土石制品184件,砾石80件。石制品类型包括石器、石核、石片和断块等。石制品总体以大型居多,但也存在少量小型石片和碎屑。古人类选择阶地底部河卵石为原料进行剥片和加工石器;石器以大型为主,手镐和砍砸器是主要类型;古人类多在砾石或石核一端采用锤击法打制石器。石器面貌具有中国南方旧石器主工业的鲜明特点。发掘显示彭家河遗址为原地埋藏,地貌和地层对比显示该遗址形成于中更新世。     

北京凤凰山化石地点发掘简报

北京凤凰山地点位于周口店北京猿人遗址以北8km处, 是一处含哺乳动物化石与灰烬的洞穴-裂隙堆积。该地点包括两个化石层,上层为洞外的冲积物, 由棕红色黏土组成, 靠下部发现有零星的、破碎的化石, 可鉴定出似鸡骨山狐(Vulpes cf.chikushanensis)和羚羊(Antelopinae)两种类型; 下层含有灰烬层, 出土了较为丰富的哺乳动物化石, 可鉴定的哺乳动物化石包括鬣狗(Hyaenidae)、三门马(Equus sameniensis)、犀(Rhinocerotidae)、李氏野猪(Sus lydekkeri)、肿骨大角鹿(Megaloceros pachyosteus)、葛氏斑鹿(Cervus(Sika)grayi)、水牛(Bubalus sp.), 共7种。动物群与周口店第一地点和南京人化石地点的动物群相似, 指示该地点化石层的时代可能为中更新世。部分骨骼表面痕迹与灰烬层的发现显示该地点可能不排除有古人类活动痕迹的存在。     

中国旧石器时代早、中期石器技术多样性研究的新进展

关于中国石器技术发展轨迹和特点,其中一种观点认为,在更新世大部分时间内,中国石器技术以第1模式为主。本文结合近年的考古发现和研究成果,对中更新世早期至距今约4万年的中国石器技术面貌进行了简要总结。这段时间内的中国石器技术呈现出明显的多样性和复杂性,尤其自晚更新世以来,多种石器技术体系并存,其中包括以手斧、手镐和薄刃斧等大型工具为特色的阿舍利技术体系、以盘状石核和各类小型工具为特征的小型石片石器技术体系、以勒瓦娄哇石核和尖状器为特点的莫斯特技术体系、以及以基纳型刮削器为主的莫斯特技术体系,后两者具有明显的旧石器时代中期技术特点。多种石器技术体系共存,这一现象反映了技术发展的区域性和该阶段人群构成的多样性,这为探讨古人类环境适应行为以及区域间人群扩散交流提供了重要信息。     

Ages for hominin occupation in Lushi Basin, middle of South Luo River, central China

A newly discovered Paleolithic site in loess deposits in the Lushi Basin, South Luo River, central China, is dated using pedostratigraphic analysis, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and magnetostratigraphic analysis. This region is regarded as an important place for hominin occupation and settlement during the early to middle Pleistocene. Results indicate that the archaeological site dates from 600 ka to 620 ka, reinforcing the view that Homo erectus had occupied a large area of eastern Asia by 620 ka. The lithic assemblages of Lushi Basin is a flake and core technology, typical for this time period in north-central China. It may be compared with that at the Zhoukoudian locality 1 in north China and some sites in the Luonan Basin, and provides important data for understanding the behavior and stone tool technology of early Chinese hominins.