New Archeological Evidence for the Earliest Hominin Presence in China

Abstract

Although China is literally at the end of Eurasia, there is increasing evidence that some of the earliest records of hominins outside of Africa are from China. Recent work at three archeological sites in southern China provide artifactual evidence of hominins in this region near the beginning of the Pleistocene. Renzidong in Anhui Province is a cave site dated to approximately 2.6 Ma. It contains a large mammalian fauna and 59 specimens that have been identified as stone artifacts. Longgudong, in Hubei Province, is dated to the Matuyama Epoch by paleomagnetic studies. It has yielded a large mammalian fauna, including Gigantopithecus as well as 592 stone artifacts in stratigraphic context and some bone artifacts. Longgupo, in Wushan County is a well-known site attributed to the Early Pleistocene. It has yielded 26 stone artifacts and a large mammalian fauna including Gigantopithecus and a second hominoid that has been considered by some authorities to belong to a species of Homo and by others to be a small ape related to Lufengpithecus. The identity of many Early Pleistocene hominoid fossils from China and their phylogenetic relationship with other hominoids, including Homo is a topic of considerable discussion and debate. The resolution of these issues and a better understanding of the place of China in early human evolution will come from continued field work and new discoveries.