In the ongoing archaeological excavations at the Piluo site in Daocheng county, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, more than 3,000 stone tools have been unearthed, shedding light on an ancient Paleolithic era that dates back over 200,000 years. This significant discovery, reported by Sichuan TV, adds to the rich tapestry of human history and the evolution of stone tool technology during prehistoric times.
Situated at an altitude of approximately 3,750 meters in the southeastern foothills of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, the Piluo site has already yielded more than 15,000 stone artifacts, including hand axes and thin-blade axes, since archaeological excavations commenced in April 2021. The latest phase of excavations, initiated in July, spans an area of approximately 150 square meters, providing archaeologists with invaluable materials to gain insights into the site’s stratigraphic accumulation, artifact distribution, and stone tool manufacturing techniques across different regions.
Tan Peiyang, the deputy director of the Old Stone Age archaeology research institute at the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, highlighted the variability in layers discovered during this year’s excavation. Some areas revealed layers less than a meter thick, while others presented layers as substantial as seven to eight meters. This variability allowed the team to construct a chronological framework spanning from 200,000 years ago to tens of thousands of years ago, providing a comprehensive view of the site’s history.
The Piluo site stands out not only for its historical layers but also for presenting a continuous cultural sequence that showcases the development of stone tool technology during the Paleolithic era. A particularly noteworthy find is the “Acheulean technology deposits,” comprising hand axes, thin-blade axes, picks, and stone knives. This designation makes the Piluo site the world’s highest-altitude Acheulean technology site, indicating the early human capacity to adapt to high-altitude environments as early as 200,000 years ago.
Tan Peiyang explained the significance of Acheulean hand axes, emphasizing that they represent the earliest standardized tools in human history. Characterized by a symmetrical, teardrop-shaped design, these artifacts served practical purposes while also exhibiting aesthetic qualities, marking a significant milestone in early human cognitive development.
In addition to the Piluo site, systematic surveys of the surrounding areas led to the discovery of multiple Paleolithic sites, with the highest located at elevations exceeding 4,300 meters. To facilitate the dissemination of these remarkable discoveries, the Piluo site is set to open an archaeological pavilion in June 2024, integrating excavation, exhibition, and research functions.
These extraordinary findings at the Piluo site were recognized as one of China’s top 10 archaeological revelations of 2021 by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, underscoring their significance in enhancing our understanding of early human history and technological advancement.
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