距今1.4万年 海南发现30处旧石器地点

Core Viewpoint - A joint archaeological team has discovered 30 new Paleolithic sites in the Nanhou River basin during a special survey in 2024, with at least 8 sites showing original stratigraphy [1][3]. Group 1: Survey Findings - The survey focused on the Nanhou River site, with the main excavation site designated as BN1 and other sites numbered from BN2 to BN30 based on their discovery order [3]. - A total of 1,191 stone artifacts were collected during the survey, primarily from the first and second terraces along the river's meandering bends, with some artifacts found at higher terraces [3]. Group 2: Material Characteristics - The stone artifacts varied in raw materials, including sandstone, tuff, mudstone, limestone, gravel, sedimentary rock, gneiss, quartzite, and quartz, with sandstone and limestone being the most common [5]. - Differences in the raw materials were noted due to the varying bedrock in the upstream and downstream areas of the Nanhou River, affecting the types and abundance of materials found at different sites [5]. Group 3: Cultural Significance - The artifacts exhibit characteristics typical of the southern Chinese gravel industry while also reflecting features of the Peace Culture, which represents a transitional phase from hunter-gatherer societies to settled communities in Southeast Asia during the Middle to Early Neolithic periods [5]. - The cultural profile of the artifacts from the surveyed sites aligns with those from the BN1 excavation, with known dating extending back to 14,000 years ago, making this the largest and most culturally rich Paleolithic site group discovered in Hainan [7]. - Some surveyed sites retain original stratigraphy, providing a crucial information base for future systematic archaeological excavations and research in the basin, which could shed light on cultural interactions between southern China and Southeast Asia [7].