A team of Chinese archaeologists has unveiled a world-class find in the center of the country: Paleolithic site dating between 50,000 and 70,000 years ago. This discovery, located in Lizhe County, Sichuan Province, and known as Mengxihe, has been classified as one of the most important discoveries in China from 2023 to the present, because it offers an unprecedented perspective on the lives of early humans in the Asian region. According to experts, the volume of information recovered It promises to redefine key aspects of local and global prehistory.
The first traces of the amazing site were found in 2019, after it was exposed to floods Stone tools, ebony and animal fossils. Since then, the Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology of Sichuan Province and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have led large-scale excavations.
A critical factor for preservation was the location of the Paleolithic layer below the present level of the Mengxi River, in a buried and waterlogged environment, which allowed for the exceptional preservation of organic material, which is unusual for sites of this Paleolithic era. These are very ancient items, and cannot be found in these conditions in other parts of the world.
Investigations revealed A wide range of more than 105,000 toolsmeticulously crafted in stone, wood and bone, plus more 60,000 organic traces including seeds, fruits and spores. This body of evidence demonstrated a remarkably diverse and complex diet for human groups that inhabited the place more than 50,000 years ago.
The richness of the fauna of the site is reflected in the remains of more than 30 species of animalsIncluding elephants, rhinos, bears, cattle, deer, monkeys, fish, turtles, snakes, frogs, birds, porcupines and bamboo rats, according to researchers. Meanwhile, the plant remains correspond to more than 30 families of seeds and fruitsincluded Sambucus thunbergianaThis may indicate that ancient humans “could have used herbs to treat wounds,” said Cheng Zixuan, one of the institute’s archaeologists.
In addition, experts confirmed The presence of fire And a field Advanced cutting, carving and polishing techniques With some remains found at the archaeological site. This level of technological sophistication indicates a cultural sophistication that challenges some perceptions about the capabilities of Paleolithic societies. In this way, you can get a greater understanding of what human development was like in the area and what characteristics the inhabitants had thousands of years ago.
According to archaeologists, the Mingxihe finds not only deepen understanding of the daily life of these ancestors, but also provide “valuable data” for reconstructing and Analysis of the “environment and climate of the time” in which prehistoric humans lived. This discovery provides a comprehensive view of the interactions between early settlers and their habitats in the late Pleistocene. Therefore, this site strengthens China’s position as a major player in the study of the origins of humanity today.