East Asia’s Advanced Material Culture of 45,000 Years Ago

A group of researchers from China, Australia, France, Spain, and Germany has uncovered ancient objects in East Asia that are 45,000 years old. This recent study has now been published in Nature Ecology and Evolution.

The scientists previously studied excavated archaeological objects found at the Shiyu site in Shanxi Province of North China.

“Our new study identified an Initial Upper Paleolithic archaeological assemblage from the Shiyu site of North China dating to 45,000 years ago that includes blade technology, tanged and hafted projectile points, long-distance obsidian transfer, and the use of a perforated graphite disk,” explained Associate Professor Yang Shixia.

She is the main author of the study and works at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

The findings revealed much about cultural and technological advancements. Researchers also discovered a human skull fragment that had been lost over time. This discovery shows how Homo sapiens migrated to East Asia approximately 45,000 years ago, as reported by Phys.org.

The cultural layer at Shiyu dates back to 45,800 to 43,200 years ago

Scientists examined three animal bones found during the original 1963 dig, and they found signs that humans had modified them, such as by cutting. Using precise radiocarbon methods, they determined that the primary cultural layer at Shiyu dates back to around 45,800 to 43,200 years ago.

Through comprehensive scientific investigations of the Shiyu archaeological site, they discovered an advanced culture from 45,000 years ago. This includes Levallois points, moving obsidian from far off places, a graphite disk with holes, and well-shaped bone points.

🗞️ Initial Upper Palaeolithic material culture by 45,000 years ago at Shiyu in northern China

The geographic expansion of Homo sapiens populations into southeastern Europe occurred by ∼47,000 years ago (∼47 ka), marked by Initial Upper Palaeolithic (IUP) technology. H. sapiens… pic.twitter.com/dPVHZhroLt

— The Boring Mates (@theboringmates) January 18, 2024

When they looked at the old animal bones and studied the wear on the stone tools, researchers discovered that ancient humans at Shiyu were skilled “horse hunters.”

Moreover, they had tools with pointed ends and handles, which allowed them to hunt and target specific adult horses.

Ancient tools in Shiyu from 45,000 years ago

Exploring Shiyu allows us to study the lives of adept hunters in northern China even as far back as 45,000 years ago. The people of this area had a highly developed set of tools, including end-scrapers, awls, and tools from earlier times. These included Middle Paleolithic Levallois points, tanged tools, denticulates, and borers.

The unique collection of stone tools, along with the shaped graphite disk and bone tools, reveals that these early people had a diverse culture.

Moreover, bringing obsidian from places hundreds of kilometers away suggests they were skilled at obtaining resources from distant locations, showcasing advanced abilities in migration and resource acquisition.

Shiyu shows proof of a cultural blending process called creolization. This happens when various societies and relocated peoples come into contact, mixing traditional traits with new ideas, according to Phys.org.