中国科学院发表最新Science论文

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of 35 well-preserved wooden tools at the Gantangqing site in Yunnan, China, dating back approximately 300,000 years, indicates that wooden tools played a significant role in the survival and adaptation of early humans in East Asia during the Middle Pleistocene [2][8]. Group 1: Discovery and Significance - The Gantangqing site is the first Middle Pleistocene open-air site discovered in Yuxi, Yunnan, providing valuable materials for comparative studies of early Paleolithic culture in China [4]. - The wooden tools found at the site fill a gap in the study of wooden artifacts from the Paleolithic era in China, highlighting their importance in early human culture [4][12]. Group 2: Tool Characteristics and Usage - The 35 wooden tools include digging sticks and small handheld pointed tools, showcasing a complexity that contrasts with the seemingly "primitive" stone tool assemblages of early East Asian Paleolithic [6][7]. - Evidence of human processing is found on some tools, including wear patterns and soil residues containing plant starch grains, confirming their primary function for digging underground plant food [7][12]. Group 3: Broader Implications - This research suggests that wooden tools were crucial for early human survival strategies in tropical and subtropical environments, revealing unique resource utilization strategies [12]. - The findings challenge previous notions that early wooden tools were primarily hunting implements, indicating a broader range of uses, particularly in plant-based food processing [12].