Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Technology diffusion and population migration reflected in blade technologies in northern China in the Late Pleistocene

  • Review
  • Special Topic: Climate changes and human adaptation
  • Published:
Science China Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In recent years, the origin and evolution of modern human behaviors have become a common topic of research in Paleolithic archaeology. One important part of modern human behavior, blade technology, was once thought to be unique to modern humans. Recent studies have suggested that variations in blade technology do not fully correspond to modern populations. However, the standardization, diversity, discontinuity in terms of time distribution, and differences in spatial distribution of blade technology give it an important role in discussions of modes of adaptation, diffusion of technology, and population migration of hominins. By categorizing the major blade assemblages in China, we show that there were two blade reduction methods in northern China: the Levallois method and the prismatic method. Dating back 30000–40000 years, the Levallois and prismatic blade method combined to form the characteristics of the early stage of the Upper Paleolithic. Artifacts bearing such characteristics are located in Northwest China, Northeast China, and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The unearthed blades are similar in technological organization and are connected geographically with those discovered in Siberia and Mongolia, which also indicates a distinct border from those discovered in northern China. This fact is suggestive of population immigration. About 25000–29000 years ago, a combination of prismatic blades and microblades was developed in the hinterland of China; however whether it can be regarded as the representative of population migration or only a technological adaption remains undetermined. We suggest that the system of production of different blades should be distinguished in the study of blade assemblages and that different blade methods should not be integrated into a single technical system to discuss technology diffusion and population dispersal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • An J Y. 2006. Distribution of the blade industry in North China area (in Chinese). In: Zhong K, Gao X, eds. Collection of Paleolithic Studies: In Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Discovery of Shuidonggou site. Beijing: Cultural Relics Publishing House. 39–49

    Google Scholar 

  • An Z M, Yin Z S, Li B Y. 1965. Pilot excavation of Xiaonanhai Paleolithic Cave sites in Anyang City, Henan Province (in Chinese). Acta Archaeol Sin, 1: 1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Aubert M, Brumm A, Ramli M, Sutikna T, Saptomo E W, Hakin B, Morwood M J, van den Bergh G D, Kinsley L, Dosseto A. 2014. Pleistocene cave art from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Nature, 514: 223–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bae K. 2010. Origin and patterns of the Upper Paleolithic industries in the Korean Peninsula and movement of modern humans in East Asia. Quat Int, 211: 103–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bar-Yosef O, Kuhn S L. 1999. The Big Deal about blades: Laminar technologies and human evolution. Am Anthropol, 101: 322–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bird D W, O’Connell J F. 2006. Behavioral ecology and archaeology. J Archaeol Res, 14: 143–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boëda E. 1988. Le concept laminaire: Rupture et filiation avec le concept Levallois. In: Otte M, ed. L’Homme de Néandertal, Vol. 8. La Mutation. Liege: Etudes et Recherches Archéologiques de l’Université de Liege. 41–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Boëda E. 1995. Levallois: Volumetric construction, methods, a technique. In: Dibble H, Bar-Yosef O, eds. The Definition and Interpretation of Levallois Technology. Monographs in World Archaeology, No. 23. Madison: Prehistory Press. 41–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Boëda E, Hou Y M, Forestier H, Sarel J, Wang H M. 2013. Levallois and non-Levallois blade production at Shuidonggou in Ningxia, North China. Quat Int, 295: 191–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bordaz J. 1970. Tools of the Old and New Stone Age. New York: Dover Publications. 50–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Bordes F. 1968. The Old Stone Age. New York: McGraw-Hill. 15–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Brantingham P J, Kaivoshapkin A I, Li J Z, Tserendagva Y. 2001. The Initial Upper Paleolithic in Northeast Asia. Curr Anthropol, 42: 735–747

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brantingham P J, Kuhn S L. 2001. Constraints on Levallois core technology: A mathematical model. J Archaeol Sci, 28: 747–761

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brantingham P J, Gao X. 2006. Peopling of the northern Tibetan Plateau. World Archaeol, 38: 387–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brantingham P J, Gao X, Olsen J W, Ma H Z, Rhode D, Zhang H Y, Madsen D B. 2007. A short chronology for the peopling of the Tibetan Plateau. In: Madsen D B, Chen F H, Gao X, eds. Late Quaternary Climate Change and Human Adaptation in Arid China. Developments in Quaternary Sciences, Vol 9. Amsterdam: Elsevier. 129–150

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Brown K S, Marean C W, Herries A I R, Jacobs Z, Tribolo C, Braun D, Roberts D, Meyer M C, Bernatchez J. 2009. Fire as an engineering tool of Early Modern Humans. Science, 325: 859–862

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen C, An J Y, Chen H. 2010. Analysis of the Xiaonanhai lithic assemblage, excavated in 1978. Quat Int, 211: 75–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen F Y, Li F, Wang H M, Pei S W, Feng X W, Zhang S Q, Zhang Y, Liu D C, Zhang X L, Guan Y, Gao X. 2012. A preliminary report on excavations at Shuidonggou Locality 2 in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, North China. Acta Anthropol Sin, 31: 317–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen S Q. 2013. The modernization of the prehistoric times: The cultural and ecological investigation of the origin of Chinese agriculture (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Q J, Wang C X. 2008. New discoveries and studies of paleolithic sites in the Northeast China during recent years (in Chinese). In: Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, ed. Archaeology Research (7). Beijing: Science Press. 183–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Q J, Wang C X, Fang Q, Zhao H L. 2006. Paleolithic artifacts from Shirengou site, Helong County, Yanbian City (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 25: 106–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Q J, Zhang Y. 2004. The Palaeoliths from Beishan site, Hunchun County, Yanbian City, Jilin Province (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 23: 138–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Q J, Zhao H L, Wang C X. 2009. A Report on the excavation at the Xishan Paleolithic site, Xintunzi County, Fusong City (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 28: 147–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Q J, Zhao H L, Fang Q, Wang C X. 2010. A preliminary excavation of the Shirengou Paleolithic site, Helong County, Yanbian City in 2005 (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 29: 105–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen C, Shen C, Chen W Y, Tang Y J. 1999. Lithic analysis of the Xiaochangliang industry (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 21: 23–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Conard N J. 1990. Laminar lithic assemblages from the Last Interglacial Complex in Northwestern Europe. J Anthropol Res, 46: 243–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conard N J. 2009. A female figurine from the basal Aurignacian of Hohle Fels Cave in southwestern Germany. Nature, 459: 248–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conard N J, Malina M, Munzel S C. 2009. New flutes document the earliest musical tradition in southwestern Germany. Nature, 460: 737–740

    Google Scholar 

  • Delagnes A. 2000. Balde production during the Middle Paleolithic in Northwestern Europe. Acta Anthropol Sin, 19(Suppl): 181–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Delagnes A, Meignen L. 2006. Diversity of lithic production systems during the Middle Paleolithic in France: Are there any chronological trends? In: Hovers E, Kuhn S L, eds. Transitions Before the Transition: Evolution and Stability in the Middle Paleolithic and Middle Stone Age. New York: Springer. 85–107

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Deng C. 2012. Search for Eastern Levallois technology (in Chinese). China Cultural Relic News, CN11-0170, 2012-01-06

    Google Scholar 

  • Derevianko A P. 2011. The Upper Paleolithic in Africa and Eurasia and the Origin of Anatomically Modern Humans. Novosibirsk: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Derevianko A P, Gao X, Olsen J W, Rybin E P. 2012. The Paleolithic of Dzungaria (Xinjiang, Northwest China) Based on Materials from the Luotuoshi site. Archaeol Ethnol Anthropol Eurasia, 40: 2–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derevianko A P, Shimkin D B, Powers W R. 1998. The Paleolithic of Siberia: New Discoveries and Interpretations. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press. 274–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Derevianko A P, Shunkov M V, Agadjanian A K, Baryshikov G F, Malaeva E M, Ulianov V A, Kulik N A, Postnov A V, Anoikin A A. 2003. Paleoenvironment and Paleolithic Humans of the Mountainous Altai. Novosibirsk: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Du S S. 2005. Blade remains in northern China (in Chinese). J Nat Museum China, 3: 82–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Eren M I, Greenspan A, Sampson C G. 2008. Are Upper Paleolithic blade cores more productive than Middle Paleolithic discoidal cores? A replication experiment. J Hum Evol, 55: 952–961

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foley R, Lahr M M. 1997. Mode 3 Technologies and the evolution of modern humans. Cambridge Archaeol J, 7: 3–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gai P. 1991. Microblade tradition around the Northern Pacific rim: A Chinese perspective. In: the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, ed. Selected papers from the XIII International Union for Quaternary Research Congress by investigators from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Beijing: Beijing Science and Technology Press. 21–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao X. 2014. Archaeological evidence for evolutionary continuity of Pleistocene humans in China and East Asia and related discussions (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 33: 237–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Huang W B, Xu Z G, Ma Z B, Olsen J W. 2003. 120–150 ka human tooth and ivory engravings from Xinglongdong Cave, Three Gorges Region, South China. Chin Sci Bull, 49: 175–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Li J Z, Madsen D B, Elston R G, Bettinger R L. 2002. New 14C dates for Shuidonggou and related discussions (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 21: 211–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Yuan B Y, Pei S W, Wang H M, Chen F Y, Feng X W. 2008a. Analysis of sedimentary-geomorphologic variation and the living environment of hominids at the Shuidonggou Paleolithic site. Chin Sci Bull, 53: 2025–2032

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Wang H M, Guan Y. 2013a. Research at Shuidonggou: New advance and new perceptions (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 32: 121–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Wang H M, Pei S W, Chen F Y. 2013b). Shuidonggou: Archaeological Excavations and Research Reports for year 2003–2007 (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Zhang X L, Yang D Y, Shen C, Wu X Z. 2010. Revisiting the origin of modern humans in China and its implications for global human evolution. Sci China Earth Sci, 53: 1927–1940

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao X, Zhou Z Y, Guan Y. 2008b. Human cultural remains and adaptation strategies in the Tibetan Plateau margin region in the late Pleistocene (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 28: 969–977

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao X X. 2011. Study on lithics unearthed from Xishi site (in Chinese). Master Dissertation. Beijing: Peking University

    Google Scholar 

  • Gladyshev S A, Olsen J W, Tabarev A V, et al. 2010. Chronology and preiodization of Upper Paleolithic sites in Mongolia. Archaeol Ethnol Anthropol Eurasia, 38: 33–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gladyshev S A, Olsen J W, Tabarev A V, Jull A J T. 2012. The Upper Paleolithic of Mongolia: Recent finds and new perspectives. Quat Int, 281: 36–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goebel T. 1999. Pleistocene human colonization of Siberia and peopling of the Americas: An ecological approach. Evol Anthropol, 8: 208–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goebel T. 2002. The “microblade adaptation” and recolonization of Siberia during the Late Upper Pleistocene. In: Elston R, Kuhn S L, eds. Thinking Small: Global Perspectives on Microlithization. Archeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association, Number 12. Arlington: American Anthropological Association. 117–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Graf K E. 2009. “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”: Evaluating the radiocarbon chronology of the middle and late Upper Paleolithic in the Enisei River valley, south-central Siberia. J Archaeol Sci, 36: 694–707

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan Y, Gao X, Li F, Pei S W, Chen F Y, Zhou Z Y. 2012. Modern Human behaviors during the late stage of MIS3 and the broad spectrum revolution: Evidence from a Shuidongguo Late Paleolithic site. Chin Sci Bull, 57: 379–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henshilwood C S, d’Errico F, Vanhaeren M, van Niekerk K, Jacobs Z. 2004. Middle Stone Age shell beads from South Africa. Science, 304: 404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henshilwood C S, d’Errico F, Yates R, Jacobs Z, Tribolo C, Duller G A T, Mercier N, Sealy J C, Valladas H, Watts I, Wintle A G. 2002. Emergence of modern human behavior: Middle Stone Age engravings from South Africa. Science, 295: 1278–1280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang W W. 1985. On the stone industry of Xiaozhangliang (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 4: 301–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Inizan M. 2012. Pressure debitage in the Old World: Forerunners, researchers, geopolitics-handing on the baton. In: Desrosiers P, ed. The Emergence of Pressure Blade Making: From Origin to Modern Experimentation. New York: Springer. 11–42

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Inizan M L, Roche H, Tixier J. 1999. Technology of Knapped Stone. Meudon: CREP. 30–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia L P. 1978. Tradition, origin and distribution of Chinese microblade (in Chinese). Vertebrata Palasiat, 16: 137–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia L P, Gai P, Li Y X. 1964. New materials from the Shuidonggou Locality 1 (in Chinese). Vertebrata Palasiat, 8: 75–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia L P, Gai P, You Y Z. 1972. Excavation report of Shiyu Paleolithic site in Shanxi Province (in Chinese). Acta Archaeol Sin, 1: 39–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson C R, McBrearty S. 2010. 500000 year old blades from the Kapthurin Formation, Kenya. J Hum Evol, 58: 193–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kato S. 2006. The blade technique of China (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 25: 343–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Keates S G. 2007. Microblade technology in Siberia and neighbouring regions: An overview. In: Kuzmin Y V, Keates S G, Shen C, eds. Origin and Spread of Microblade Technology in Northern Asia and North America. Burnaby: Archaeology Press of Simon Fraser University. 125–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski J K. 2001. Origin and evolution of blade technologies in the middle and early Upper Palaeolithic. Mediterr Archaeol Archaeometry, 1: 3–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause J, Fu Q M, Good J M, Viola B, Shunkov M V, Derevianko A P, Pääbo S. 2010. The complete mitochondrial DNA genome of an unknown hominin from southern Siberia. Nature, 464: 894–897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn S L. 2004. Evolutionary perspectives on technology and technological change. World Archaeol, 36: 561–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn S L. 2003. In what sense is the Levantine Initial Upper Paleolithic a “transitional” industry? In: Zilhão J, d’Errico F, eds. The Chronology of the Aurignacian and of the Transitional Technocomplexes: Dating, Stratigraphies, Cultural Implications. Trabalhos de Arqueologia 33. Lisboa: Instituto Português de Arqueologia. 61–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn S L. 1995. Mousterian Lithic Technology: An Ecological Perspective. Princeton: Princeton University Press

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn S L, Zwyns N. 2014. Rethinking the initial Upper Paleolithic. Quat Int, 347: 29–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuzmin Y V. 2007a. Geoarchaeological aspects of the origin and spread of microblade technology in Northern and Central Asia. In: Kuzmin Y V, Keates S G, Shen C, eds. Origin and Spread of Microblade Technology in Northern Asia and North America. Burnaby: Archaeology Press of Simon Fraser University. 115–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuzmin Y V. 2007b. Chronological framework of the Siberian Paleolithic: Recent achievements and future directions. Radiocarbon, 49: 757–766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyman R L, O’Brien M J. 1998. The goals of evolutionary archaeology: History and explanation. Curr Anthropol, 39: 615–652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li F. 2012. A discussion of how blades are defined (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 31: 41–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Li F, Chen F Y, Gao X. 2014a. “Modern behaviors” of ancient populations at Shuidonggou Locality 2 and their implications. Quat Int, 347: 66–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li F, Kuhn S L, Gao X, Chen F Y. 2013a. Re-examination of the dates of large blade technology in China: A comparison of Shuidonggou Locality 1 and Locality 2. J Hum Evol, 64: 161–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li F, Kuhn S L, Olsen J W, Chen F Y, Gao X. 2014b. Disparate stone age technologies evolution in North China: Lithic technological variability and relations between populations during MIS 3. J Anthropol Res, 70: 35–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li F, Gao X, Chen F Y, Pei S W, Zhang Y, Zhang X L, Liu D C, Zhang S Q, Guan Y, Wang H M, Kuhn S L. 2013b. The development of Upper Paleolithic China: New results from the Shuidonggou site. Antiquity, 87: 368–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li X. 2008. Study on unearthed stone artifacts from Helongdadong Paleolithic site in Chongshan (2007) (in Chinese). Master Dissertation. Changchun: Jilin University

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y X. 1993. On the division of the Upper Paleolithic industries of China (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 12: 214–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Y X. 1999. On the progressiveness of the stone artifacts from the Xiaochangliang site at Yangyuan, Hebei (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 18: 241–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu D C, Pei S W. 2013. Geological, stratigraphic and environmental background (in Chinese). In: Gao X, Pei S W, Wang H M, et al., eds. Shuidonggou: Archaeological Excavations and Research Reports for year 2003–2007. Beijing: Science Press. 12–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu D C, Wang X L, Gao X, Xia Z K, Pei S W, Chen F Y, Wang H M. 2009. Progress in the stratigraphy and geochronology of the Shuidonggou site, Ningxia, North China. Chin Sci Bull, 54: 3880–3886

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J Z. 1991. Study on direct flaking technique for blades (in Chinese). Prehist Stud (1990–1991), 225–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Madsen D B, Li J Z, Brantingham P J, et al. 2001. Dating Shuidonggou and the Upper Palaeolithic blade industry in North China. Antiquity, 75: 706–716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meignen L. 2000. Early Middle Palaeolithic blade technology in Southwestern Asia. Acta Anthropol Sin, 19(Suppl): 170–180

    Google Scholar 

  • McBrearty S, Brooks A S. 2000. The revolution that wasn’t: A new interpretation of the origin of modern human behavior. J Hum Evol, 39: 453–563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan C, Barton L, Yi M J, Bettinger R L, Gao X, Peng F. 2014. Redating Shuidonggou locality 1 and implications for the Initial Upper Paleolithic in East Asia. Radiocarbon, 56: 165–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagatomo T, Shitaoka Y, Namioka H, Sagawa M, Wei Q. 2009. OSL dating of the strata at Paleolithic sites in the Nihewan Basin, China (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 28: 276–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Nian X M, Gao X, Xie F, Mei H J, Zhou L P. 2014b. Chronology of the Youfang site and its implications for the emergence of microblade technology in North China. Quat Int, 347: 113–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nian X M, Gao X, Zhou L P. 2014a. Chronological studies of Shuidonggou (SDG) Locality 1 and their significance for Archaeology. Quat Int, 347: 5–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ningxia Museum, Ningxia Bureau of geological survey team. 1987. Excavation report of Shuidonggou in year 1980 (in Chinese). Acta Archaeol Sin, 43–449

    Google Scholar 

  • Ningxia Provincial Institute of cultural relics and Archaeology. 2003. Shuidonggou: Excavation Report of Year 1980 (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Pei S W, Gao X, Wang H M, Kuman K, Bae C J, Chen F Y, Guan Y, Zhang Y, Zhang X L, Peng F, Li X L. 2012. The Shuidonggou site complex: New excavations and implications for the earliest Late Paleolithic in North China. J Archaeol Sci, 39: 3610–3626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pelegrin J. 1995. Technologie lithique-Le Châtelperronien de Roc-de- Combe (Lot) et de la Côte (Dordogne). Cahiers du Quaternaire 20. Paris: CNRS

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng F. 2012. Study on Chinese Paleolithic blade remain: Example of materials concerning Shuidonggou and Xinjiang (in Chinese). Doctoral Dissertation. Beijing: Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng F, Gao X, Pei S W. 2013. Shuidonggou Locality 9 (in Chinese). In: Gao X, Pei S W, Wang H M, et al., eds. Shuidonggou: Archaeological Excavations and Research Reports for year 2003–2007. Beijing: Science Press. 146–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng F, Gao X, Wang H M, Chen F Y, Liu D C, Pei S W. 2012. An engraved artifact from Shuidonggou, an Early Late Paleolithic site in Northwest China. Chin Sci Bull, 57: 4594–4599

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng F, Wang H M, Gao X. 2014. Blade production of Shuidonggou Locality1 (Northwest China): A technological perspective. Quat Int, 347: 12–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reich D, Green R E, Kircher M, Krause J, Patterson N, Durand E Y, Viola B, Briggs A W, Stenzel U, Johnson P L F, Maricic T, Good J M, Marques-Bonet T, Alkan C, Fu Q M, Mallick S, Li H, Meyer M, Eichler E E, Stoneking M, Richards M, Talamo S, Shunkov M V, Derevianko A P, Hublin J, Kelso J, Slatkin M, Pääbo S. 2010. Genetic history of an archaic hominin group from Denisova Cave in Siberia. Nature, 468: 1053–1060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schick K, Toth N. 1993. Making Silent Stones Speak: Human Evolution and the Dawn of Technology. New York: Simon and Schuster. 293–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Seong C. 2009. Emergence of a blade industry and evolution of Late Paleolithic technology in the Republic of Korea. J Anthropol Res, 65: 417–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sherratt A. 1997. Climatic Cycles and Behavioral Revolutions. Antiquity, 71: 271–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shennan S. 2008. Evolution in Archaeology. Annu Rev Anthropol, 37: 75–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shimelmitz R. Barkai R, Gopher A. 2011. Systematic blade production at late Lower Paleolithic (400–200 kyr) Qesem Cave, Israel. J Hum Evol, 61: 458–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tixier J. 1967. Procédés d’analyse et questions de terminologie dans l’étude des ensembles industriels du Paléolithique récent et de l’Epipaléolithique du Nord-Ouest. In: Bishop W W, Clark J D, eds. Background to evolution in Africa. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. 771–820

    Google Scholar 

  • Tostevin G. 2007. Social intimacy, artefact visibility, and acculturation models of Neanderthal-modern human interaction. In: Mellars P, Boyle K, Bar-Yosef O, et al., eds. Rethinking the Human Revolution: New Behavioural and Biological Perspectives on the Origin and Dispersal of Modern Humans. Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research. 341–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanhaeren M, d’Errico F, Stringer C, James S L, Todd J A, Mienis H K. 2006. Middle Paleolithic Shell Beads in Israel and Algeria. Science, 312: 1785–1788

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C X. 2006. Study on stone artifacts unearthed from Jinsitai Cave site (in Chinese). Master Dissertation. Changchun: Jilin University

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang H M, Mei H J, Song Y H, Yi M J. 2013. Shuidonggou Locality 12 (in Chinese). In: Gao X, Pei S W, Wang H M, et al., eds. Shuidonggou: Archaeological Excavations and Research Reports for year 2003–2007. Beijing: Science Press. 157–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X K, Wei J, Chen Q J, Tang Z W, Wang C X. 2010. A preliminary study on the excavation of the Jinsitai Cave site (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 29: 15–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y P, Qu T L. 2014. New evidence and perspectives on the Upper Paleolithic of the central plain in China. Quat Int, 347: 176–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y P, Wang S Z. 2014. New achievements and perspectives on Paleolithic archaeology during the MIS 3 along the eastern foot of Songshan Mountain, Henan Province (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 33: 304–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei Z Y, Gan Z G. 1981. New Paleolithic artifacts discovered in Huma Shibazhan (in Chinese). Qiushi, 118–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins J, Chazan M. 2012. Blade production ~500 thousand years ago at Kathu Pan 1, South Africa: Support for a multiple origins hypothesis for early Middle Pleistocene blade technologies. J Archaeol Sci, 39: 1883–1900

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie F, Cheng S Q. 1989. Report on the excavation of microliths site at Youfang, Yangyuan County, Hebei Province (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 8: 59–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie F, Li J, Liu L Q. 2006. Nihewan Paleolithic Culture (in Chinese). Shijiazhuang: Huashan Art Publishing House

    Google Scholar 

  • Yi M J, Gao X, Li F, Chen F Y. 2016. Rethinking the origin of micronblade technology: A chronological and ecological perspective. Quat Int, 40: 130–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yi M J, Gao X, Wang H M, Pei S W, Chen F Y. 2015. A study on cores unearthed from the Shuidonggou Locality 12 in 2007 (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 34: 166–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao H L. 2011. An experimental study of flaking microblade (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 30: 22–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S S. 1990. Regional industrial gradual advance and cultural exchange of Paleolithic in north China (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 9: 322–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S S. 1960. New material of artifacts discovered in South Central Inner Mongolia (in Chinese). Vertebrata Palasiat, 2: 129–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang S S. 1959. Paleolithic artifacts discovered in south central Shanxi and northwestern Inner Mongolia (in Chinese). Vertebrata Palasiat, 1: 31–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X L, Yu H L, Gao X. 2006. New findings and dates of the Shibazhan Paleolithic site, Heilongjian Province (in Chinese). Acta Anthropol Sin, 25: 115–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Z Y, Guan Y, Gao X, Wang C X. 2013. Heat treatment and associated early modern human behaviors in the Late Paleolithic at the Shuidonggou site. Chin Sci Bull, 58: 1801–1810

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100044, China

    Feng Li, FuYou Chen & Xing Gao

  2. Inner Mongolia Museum, Hohhot, 010010, China

    YingHua Wang

Authors
  1. Feng Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. FuYou Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. YingHua Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xing Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Feng Li or FuYou Chen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, F., Chen, F., Wang, Y. et al. Technology diffusion and population migration reflected in blade technologies in northern China in the Late Pleistocene. Sci. China Earth Sci. 59, 1540–1553 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-016-5305-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-016-5305-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation