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New evidence on the subsistence of Middle Paleolithic from Tongtian cave, Northwestern China

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Abstract

This paper presents taphonomic and zooarchaeological analysis of the late Middle Paleolithic occupation layers at Tongtian cave in Xinjiang, northwestern China. The taphonomic history reflects that human and animals shared the cave and human occupations were short in duration. Hominids subsisted mainly on large game, but hunting target was comparatively broader with inclusion of small fauna. The subsistence strategy was suitable for small populations living with a higher mobility in the high-elevation mountainous environment. This work suggests a “broader-diet” strategy in the Middle Paleolithic before the emergence of modern humans, which is yet different with the broad-spectrum economy in the (late) Upper Paleolithic, and reveals an adaptive variety in northwestern China.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank He Jianing, Wang Youping, Shang Yuping, Duo Sijiang, Ming De, Li Yulong, Feng Yue, Li Wencheng, Lin Yi, Liu Tuo, Zou Guannan, Chen Peng, Zhu Zhiyong, Hu Haoyue, Han Yishen, Zhang Xinrong, Jiang Yuhang, Zhi Yushi, Guo Yuanzhe, Ling Liangyou, Cheng Zhihan, Ran Zhiyu, Li Fuxian and Yu Zhiping et al. for participating the excavations at Tongtian cave. Thanks also go to Wu Xiaohong and Pan Yan for radiocarbon dating, to Hu Haoyue for making the geographic map, to Yang Yingliang and Zhang Zhiyan for infrared spectrum test, and to He Jianing for providing microcope camera.We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers, the editors, Rowan Flad, Zhang Shuangquan and Zhang Yue for the valuable comment.

Funding

This work was supported by Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21VXJ006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Qu Tongli

  2. Archaeological Institute of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China

    Yu Jianjun

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  1. Qu Tongli
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Contributions

Qu Tongli conducted zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis, wrote the paper and prepared the Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7; Tables 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Yu Jianjun directed excavations at Tongtian cave, and prepared the Figs. 2, 3 and Table 1.

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Correspondence to Yu Jianjun.

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Tongli, Q., Jianjun, Y. New evidence on the subsistence of Middle Paleolithic from Tongtian cave, Northwestern China. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 16, 88 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-024-01987-6

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