甘棠箐遗址出土近千件木质材料，其中35件被鉴定为人工加工的木器。图为遗址出土的部分木器。 本文配图均由中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所提供 甘棠箐先民用木器挖掘植物根茎示意图。 温暖潮湿，周围水草丰沛，林木茂盛，动物种类繁多——这是位于云南省的甘棠箐遗址30万年前的模 样。在这块理想的栖居地，古人类不仅狩猎，还采集松子、榛子等植物果实并用木质工具挖掘地下植物 根茎等作为食物。 数十万年过去，由中国科学家主导的多学科团队对甘棠箐遗址发掘出土的35件保存完好的、年代约为距 今30万年的木器以及与木器伴生的文化遗存包括大量石制品、骨角器、动物化石、植物遗存和用火遗迹 进行研究。研究表明，该遗址出土的木器和鹿角"软锤"刷新了东亚地区同类工具的最早纪录，在世界范 围内的旧石器时代遗址中也实属罕见。这一成果日前在线发表于国际学术期刊《科学》。 古老的植物遗存是如何被保存下来的？ 甘棠箐遗址位于云南省，坐落于抚仙湖南约5公里的一处自南向北流淌的小溪西侧的坡地上，海拔1836 米。遗址发现于1984年，1989年做过首次考古发掘，出土大量石制品和动物化石及木质材料。2014— 2015年和2018—2019年两个野外考古季 ...

Core Findings - The research team at the Gantangqing site published a significant archaeological discovery in the journal "Science," revealing 35 well-preserved wooden artifacts dating back approximately 300,000 years, along with associated cultural relics including stone tools, bone and antler artifacts, animal fossils, plant remains, and evidence of fire [1][2]. Archaeological Significance - The wooden artifacts are the earliest known in East Asia, primarily used for digging edible plant roots, termed "digging sticks." The site also yielded small scrapers that reflect the distinctive characteristics of East Asian Paleolithic culture [1][2]. - The discovery fills a gap in the study of wooden artifacts from the Paleolithic era in China and has significant implications for understanding the origins, processing techniques, functions, and evolutionary development of wooden tools [2]. Cultural Insights - The findings challenge the long-held "East Asian bamboo and wood tool hypothesis," which suggested that ancient humans in East Asia primarily relied on bamboo and wood tools, with simple stone tools serving mainly to create these wooden implements. The evidence from Gantangqing supports the notion that early humans indeed manufactured and utilized wooden tools [2]. - The stone tools found at the site, while traditional in form, contain new information that can reshape the understanding of East Asian Paleolithic cultural traditions and the technological capabilities of ancient humans [3]. Technological Advancements - The stone tools, mostly small and simple in appearance, were previously thought to indicate a lack of technological sophistication. However, some specimens show fine repair marks, indicating a level of detailed craftsmanship. The discovery of soft hammer materials, the earliest known in East Asia, suggests that the region's early inhabitants were not technologically inferior to their Western counterparts [5]. - The characteristics of the stone tools reflect the constraints imposed by the availability of quality raw materials, leading to refined processing techniques and the development of wooden materials, indicating a different evolutionary path compared to Western prehistoric populations [5]. Dietary Insights - The Gantangqing site provides rare evidence of plant-based food resources utilized by early humans, including a variety of nuts and fruits, revealing a broad spectrum of plant materials in their diet. This highlights the unique resource utilization strategies of Southeast Asian ancient populations living in tropical and subtropical environments [6]. - The research underscores the diversity of survival strategies among Paleolithic humans, with East Asian populations relying significantly on plant resources, contrasting with the hunting of large mammals that dominated in temperate regions like Europe [6].