In a bid to secure global recognition for its archaeological significance, China’s Nihewan Site, known for its remarkable findings dating back to 2 million years ago, is applying for inclusion in the tentative list of China’s World Cultural Heritage Sites. The move, as reported by various media outlets, puts the site on a path towards potential consideration for the coveted UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.
The Nihewan Site was first uncovered in 1921 and has since gained international renown for its rich yield of stone tools and fossils of ancient animals and plants, all hailing from the Quaternary Period, which began around 2.58 million years ago and continues to the present day. The site’s significance lies in its unique findings, which contest the widely accepted hypothesis that Africa alone is the birthplace of human ancestry. The wealth of discoveries at Nihewan positions it on par with eastern Africa’s Olduvai Gorge, colloquially referred to as “the cradle of mankind.”
To date, archaeologists have unearthed over 300 Paleolithic-era sites within Nihewan, with more than 50 of these sites featuring relics dating back over 1 million years. These excavations have led to the discovery of numerous ancient human fossils, animal fossils, and a wide array of stone tools.
Notably, among the numerous archaeological findings, the Majuangou site within Nihewan holds special significance. An ancient scraper, discovered lodged in an elephant’s rib, has been identified as the oldest confirmed artifact of ancient human culture to date. This discovery has effectively pushed back the timeline of Asia’s early civilization by roughly 2 million years, shedding light on the earliest human presence in Northeast Asia.
The Nihewan Site serves as an invaluable resource in tracing the timeline of human evolution and provides substantial evidence supporting multiple theories regarding humanity’s origins. Furthermore, the site offers an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the prehistory of China’s early ancestors and trace the evolutionary roots of Chinese civilization.
The announcement to seek World Cultural Heritage status for the Nihewan Site was made at the first Archaeological Science Conference held in Yangyuan. The conference, a collaborative effort by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the National Center for Archaeology, the Hebei Culture Relics Bureau, and China Science Publishing and Media Ltd., gathered representatives and experts from over 70 archaeological research and publishing institutions and universities across the nation.
This esteemed gathering of scholars and experts engaged in comprehensive discussions on the future development of archaeological disciplines. Key topics included human origins, the roots of civilization, the integration of crafts and technology, and the burgeoning field of deep-sea archaeology. As it stands, the Nihewan Site and its application for World Cultural Heritage status represent a significant stride in the ongoing exploration and understanding of human history and evolution.
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