峙峪遗址碎骨的研究

本文对峙峪遗址出土的近七百件碎骨进行了研究,结果表明这些碎骨主要是由于人工打击和动物啃咬造成的。在有人工打击痕迹的碎骨中,存在着打制骨器。在个别碎骨的局部表面有磨光的现象,推测是人类使用的结果。     

河南灵井许昌人遗址动物骨骼表面人工改造痕迹

河南灵井许昌人遗址发掘出土了距今约10—8万年前的古人类头骨化石, 与头骨化石同层发现的还有大量哺乳动物化石及石制品等文化遗物。本文是对该遗址2005—2006年出土动物化石骨骼表面人工改造痕迹的观察分析结果。灵井遗址中13%的动物骨骼表面有人工切割痕的产生, 其中切割痕位于长骨骨干部位的约占此类标本总数的98.45%; 同时,在具切割痕的长骨类化石材料中,属于食草动物上部和中部肢骨的分别为34%和41%, 属于下部肢骨的则仅为25%。此外, 灵井动物群中具敲击痕、火烧痕迹、人工使用痕迹的骨骼标本分别占全部观察例数的4.2%、1%、1.32%。总之, 通过对动物骨骼表面保留的上述人工改造痕迹的观察与统计分析, 并与埋藏学实验及其他考古遗址相关属性的对比, 表明古人类是这一遗址中大量脊椎动物肉食资源的初级获取者和利用者, 他们是导致这一动物群聚集形成的主要埋藏学因素。同时, 许昌人遗址中大量破碎动物骨骼的出现可能也与古人类敲骨取髓的取食行为有着非常紧密的联系。     

甘肃石峡口旧石器遗址第1地点发掘报告

石峡口遗址第1地点位于甘肃省张家川回族自治县川王乡石峡口村,遗址埋藏在清水河右岸一级阶地中。遗址地层分为7层,其中第5、6层中包含丰富的文化遗物,分别命名为第1、2文化层。2015年对该遗址的试掘共发现用火遗迹2处、石制品406件、动物化石201件、古人类牙齿化石1件、串珠装饰品2件以及烧骨、大量的石质碎屑和碎骨等。遗址两个文化层的文化特征基本一致,是一处包含较多细石叶技术产品的遗址。石制品总体以微型、小型居多;原料主要为石英、燧石;细石核类型丰富,除楔形、柱形、锥形外,古人类还直接选用形态不规则的块状毛坯剥离细石叶,显示了熟练的细石叶工艺;普通石片的生产方法主要为硬锤锤击法,偶见砸击法;石器类型包括边刮器、端刮器和两面尖状器等。动物化石比较破碎,经初步鉴定有普氏羚羊、马科、鸵鸟等种类。遗址的年代为17.2~18.5ka cal BP,处于末次盛冰期(LGM),文化时代属于旧石器时代晚期晚段。     

湖北郧西白龙洞古人类遗址初步研究

湖北省郧西县白龙洞遗址经过两次正式发掘,出土了古人类牙齿化石、石制品、骨制品等文化遗物和大量动物化石,是一处重要的古人类遗址.2007年4-5月,作者在该遗址周围进行了地质、地貌调查,并对以往发掘出土的部分动物化石和文化遗物进行了整理.同年9月,作者在白龙洞进行探察和小规模试掘,出土大量动物化石和少量石制品、骨制品等文化遗物.同时还发现可疑燃烧痕迹、动物骨骼表面痕迹以及特殊的动物化石埋藏现象等古人类活动证据.白龙洞发育于上新世沙坪组砾岩、泥晶灰岩和泥灰岩地层中,近水平状节理和裂隙为洞穴发育提供前提条件,垂直渗流为溶蚀的主要方式.白龙洞遗址属原地埋藏,动物群的组合显示中更新世早期的面貌,石英岩岩脉原料可能是导致石器工业组合显示北方石器工业面貌的原因.对遗址分布及埋藏现象的初步分析显示,白龙洞为一处多功能的古人类活动遗址.     

贵州毕节老鸦洞遗址2013年发掘报告

老鸦洞遗址是贵州省毕节市七星关区一处旧石器时代晚期遗址,该遗址上世纪80年代被发现并发掘,出土大量石制品及动物碎骨。为进一步研究该遗址,明确遗址文化及年代性质,2013年7月至8月,发掘队对该遗址进行了再次系统发掘,出土包括石制品、骨制品、古人类牙齿化石、动物化石、植物果核、碳屑在内的标本两千余件,其中,石制品在制作技术上显示了典型的小石片石器传统特征。另有未统计碎骨上万件。碳十四测年结果表明,这些出土物及遗迹记录了旧石器时代晚期距今37000-20000年,以及距今14000年古人类在老鸦洞内生存的历史,是毕节地区旧石器时代晚期最初阶段古人类生存栖息的证据。多个石制品及碳屑、灰烬富集的层位表明了古人类对该洞穴的长时间反复利用,以及末次冰期最盛期期间人类活动的消退现象。     

黄河中游山西吉县冯家坡遗址发掘简报

冯家坡遗址是山西吉县境内黄河中游一级阶地的一处旧石器向新石器时代过渡阶段的遗址。2021年，在面积3 m2、厚约0.15 m的地层中，我们发掘出342件石制品和130件动物骨骼。石制品原料以石英岩为主，其他为燧石、石英、砂岩和变质岩；类型包括石核、石片、断块（片）、碎屑、细石叶和石器；石器类型丰富，中有刮削器，尖状器、石锥、端刮器、砍砸器和研磨石等；另外，还有使用过的石片和断片；打片和加工以锤击法为主，也使用了压制法，未见砸击技术。动物骨骼破碎，且多被钙质裹覆；只能辨识出鹿科和牛科动物的牙齿碎片；有4件碎骨表面尚保留清晰切割痕迹。遗物中较多的碎屑，表明未经较远距离搬运，属于原地埋藏。文化层中动物骨骼AMS 14C测年数据约11.5～10.7 kaBP cal，正好处于新仙女木冰阶后的气候迅速回暖期。     

吉林和龙大洞遗址黑曜岩雕刻器的制作技术与功能

本文通过分析雕刻器技术及制作过程,提出雕刻器的斜棱刃应作为主要使用部位的假设。作者结合我国长白山地区吉林大洞遗址出土的黑曜岩斜刃雕刻器材料,运用微痕观察,发现斜棱刃上存在三种不同特征的痕迹及痕迹组合。随后,通过模拟雕刻器技术打制雕刻器标本,并用其斜棱刃对不同材质的加工对象进行横向"刮刨"的动作,结果产生与考古标本上一致的特征,证实假设成立。根据对部分被加工的骨角器表面情况分析,推测斜刃雕刻器的主体功能是"微加工",达到器物表面逐渐光滑的结果,为探讨磨制骨器技术起源提供了新的思路。     

泥河湾盆地板井子晚更新世遗址古人类对动物资源的消费策略

本文以泥河湾盆地板井子遗址（约90 kaBP）2015年出土的动物骨骼为材料,通过骨骼表面痕迹分析、骨骼单元出现频率研究及长骨破碎方式的统计,辨识自然作用与人类行为对动物骨骼造成的不同影响,讨论深海氧同位素5阶段(MIS 5)中国北方古人类获取、搬运及处理动物资源的综合性策略。研究结果显示：1)遗址出土的动物遗存为古人类活动所遗留,自然营力对动物骨骼有改造作用,但并未影响我们对古人类行为的辨识;2)古人类在捕获马科动物之后,将其完整地带回了遗址并肢解;3)在处理猎物遗骸时,肌肉和骨髓富集的部位是古人类利用的重点。结合河南许昌灵井遗址的动物遗存研究结果,我们认为,在MIS 5阶段前后,中国北方已经出现了可以高效利用动物资源的人类群体;稳定、充沛的能量来源,或是他们应对北半球中高纬度干旱草原环境气候波动的重要生存策略。     

水洞沟遗址第7地点动物化石初步研究

水洞沟遗址第7地点2003~2005年发掘出土动物化石2000余件。初步鉴定包括蒙古野驴(Equus hemionus)、披毛犀(Coelodonta antiquitatis)、普氏原羚(Procapra przewalskii)、水牛(Bubalus sp.)等十多个动物属种。该遗址出土的动物骨骼标本表面少见食肉类啃咬痕迹且未有啮齿类啃咬痕迹及水流磨蚀等现象,表明这一动物骨骼组合应当不是食肉类、啮齿类与水流等自然性营力带入遗址的。遗址动物群中一定比例的具切割痕骨骼标本的出现表明了古人类在动物群富集过程中的主导地位。动物考古学观察表明,处于旧石器时代晚期的该地点古人类主要对遗址附近的大中型食草类动物进行了猎捕与肢解、利用,这与相对更晚阶段的第12地点古人类以小型哺乳动物为主要猎食对象的生存策略形成了较为明显的对比。     

贵州毕节老鸦洞遗址1985年出土的石制品

老鸦洞遗址是贵州省毕节市七星关区一处旧石器时代晚期遗址,该遗址上世纪80年代被发现并发掘,出土大量石制品及动物碎骨。由于种种原因,这批出土材料始终未被系统研究,老鸦洞遗址仅在有限的文献内被简单描述。为进一步研究该遗址,明确遗址文化及年代性质,我们对1985年试掘出土以及1983、1984年采集的部分的石制品进行了类型学及技术学分析,并以此为基础对遗址及所属人群进行了讨论。老鸦洞存在的石器技术属于我国境内典型的旧石器时代晚期小石片石器传统类型,以本地丰富的燧石和石灰岩为主要原料制作生产生活工具,石片形制规整,小型工具如刮削器、端刮器、尖状器等制作精美,在长达三万年的时间跨度中,石器技术无重大改变。这种对本地石料的采集方式,以及以洞穴为主要居住地点,长期在有限空间内活动的特征,表达了云贵高原古人类特有的低流动性生存模式,为探讨云贵高原更新世末期古人类的生存行为及扩散辐射提供了良好证据。     

高原鼢鼠四肢骨的进化适应性分析

通过对比分析了高寒草甸生态系统的高原鼢鼠(Myospalax baileyi)、高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)及根田鼠(Microtus oeconomus)的四肢骨,结果表明,地下啮齿动物高原鼢鼠的四肢骨比地面种类高原鼠兔和根田鼠的对应骨骼粗壮,显示其较强的挖掘能力。与挖掘效率相关的尺骨挖掘动力臂系数,高原鼢鼠为0.3617,而高原鼠兔和根田鼠不到0.17。高原鼢鼠与其他两物种的四肢骨重量分布也明显不同:高原鼢鼠的前肢骨重量超过后肢骨,而高原鼠兔及根田鼠则正好相反;高原鼠兔及根田鼠的桡尺骨重量在四肢骨中最低,而高原鼢鼠的桡尺骨重量在四肢骨中则最高。这些特征反映了地下啮齿动物为了适应地下生活方式,其四肢骨骼系统已经发生了显著变化,这对于研究地下啮齿动物的进化适应性问题具有重要意义。     

The earliest evidence for the use of human bone as a tool

We report on the analysis of three human cranial fragments from a Mousterian context at the site of La Quina (France), which show anthropogenic surface modifications. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses, including SEM observation, demonstrate that the modifications visible on one of these fragments are similar to those produced on bone fragments used experimentally to retouch flakes. The microscopic analysis also identified ancient scraping marks, possibly resulting from the cleaning of the skull prior to its breakage and utilisation of a resulting fragment as a tool. The traces of utilisation and the dimensions of this object are compared to those on a sample of 67 bone retouchers found in the same excavation area and layer. Results show that the tool size, as well as the dimensions and location of the utilised area, fall well within the range of variation observed on faunal shaft fragments from La Quina that were used as retouchers. This skull fragment represents the earliest known use of human bone as a raw material and the first reported use of human bone for this purpose by hominins other than modern humans. The two other skull fragments, which probably come from the same individual, also bear anthropogenic surface modifications in the form of percussion, cut, and scraping marks. The deliberate versus unintentional hypotheses for the unusual choice of the bone are presented in light of contextual information, modifications identified on the two skull fragments not used as tools, and data on bone retouchers from the same layer, the same site, and other Mousterian sites.     

The Exploitation of Ungulate Bones in Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens

Analysis of ungulate bones recovered from a number of Upper and Middle Palaeolithic sites in southern Italy revealed differences in the presence of anatomical elements. There is a lack of clear evidence of carnivore activities, and differences can be attributed to human activity. Indeed, these differences were probably due to different patterns of skeletal exploitation between Homo neanderthalensis and H. sapiens. Small limb bones (carpals, tarsals, sesamoids, long bone epiphyses and especially phalanges) are rarely found in Middle Palaeolithic deposits, but are abundant in the Upper Palaeolithic. The observation of unidentified bone fragments at these sites indicates that during the middle Palaeolithic, marrow extraction regarded essentially the treatment of long bones. First and second phalanges were not frequently used for this practice, but they were often fragmented by H. sapiens. Lack of these bones among the remains of meals of Neanderthal suggests that these bones were probably destroyed by their utilisation as fuel.     

Human activity patterns and skeletal metric indicators in the upper limb

This study investigates skeletal metric traits of long bones of upper limb and the relationship between these traits and human activity in males of a recent, well-documented skeletal sample of Italian population from the Frassetto collection (Department of Experimental Evolutionary Biology, University of Bologna). The study analyzes the impact of some human activities on the skeleton, taking into account the possibility of an assessment of functional stresses caused by these activities on the basis of metric characteristics. The data consist of measurements of linear and angular bone traits, obtained by traditional and new instruments. With the purpose to find out the best indicators of occupational stress among the measured traits and indices, univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were carried out. Then the results obtained previously were used to analyze a sample with unknown occupation. The efficacy of metric stress indicators is discussed.     

Hominin-carnivore interactions during the Chinese Early Paleolithic: taphonomic perspectives from Xujiayao

The ability of archaic Homo sapiens to survive in more northerly latitudes was contingent on securing a regular source of animal fat and protein. We present a taphonomic study that examines how successful these hominins were at acquiring these food sources during the latter part of the Early Paleolithic in Northeast Asia. This study focuses on the long bone midshaft surface modifications observed on the faunal remains from Xujiayao, a middle-late Pleistocene open-air site located at 40 degrees latitude in the western Nihewan Basin, northern China. The faunal assemblage is dominated by equid remains. Analysis of the percussion, tooth, and cut mark frequencies on the long bone midshafts demonstrates that the Xujiayao hominins had primary access to high utility (meat-bearing and marrow-rich) long bones. Investigation of the dual-patterned (tooth-marked and butchery-marked) bone fragments suggests that hominins were under little pressure from competing carnivores to abandon their kills. The lack of significant differences between the size of fragments with only percussion-marks and those with only tooth-marks supports these findings. Fragmentation ratios indicate that forelimbs were more intensively processed than hind limbs. Based on the water rounding and abrasion data, the Xujiayao assemblage is likely of autochthonous origin. Since the age of Xujiayao is still in question, we can only conclude that archaic Homo sapiens were successful predators of large game in Northeast Asia some time during the latter part of the Early Paleolithic.