Research On Paleolithic Artifacts Discoverde In Benxi,LiaoNing Province And Related Problems

Since the1980s, the discovery of paleolithic in Benxi,Liaoning Provice began withMiaohoushan Site.However in the next20years, there was not any new achievements. In2011,paleolithic archaeology investigation team composed by Jilin University FrontierArchaeology Centre and Liaoning Archaeological Institute reshaped a new situation forpaleolithic research in the region.This paper is the study on paleolithic of Benxi area andrelated problems. Full-text can be divided into seven parts:1.PrefaceFirstly,the discovery processed of Miaohoushan Site,research situation and researchresults must be introduced.Secondly,author introduced the results of paleolithicarchaeology investigation in2011in Benxi,Liaoning Province.During13days’investigation,19paleolithic sites and total784artfacts had been found in the aera.Thisinvestigation not only increased fresh material for paleolithic archaeological research,butalso found new tool type.More important was that confirmed two Industries:Big FlakeIndustry and Blade Industry,which diversed Industry types in Liaoning Province.Inaddition,it was important to explor survival strategies of ancients and environmentalchanges.2.Location and Geological landformThis part mainly introduced the location, administrative division and geologicallandform of this region.There had12sites in Benxi County and7sites in HuanrenCounty.Excepted for Miaohoushan Site,the other sites located on river terrace.All thesites,no matter on river terrace or in cave,were located on the palce where werehigh,vision widely,near the river,exposed to the sun and backed on the mountains.Thesepalces were perfect sites ancients would like to choose.Abundant artfacts found in theregion were the evidences of ancients had been living here for a long time.3. General situation of sitesIn this section,the author tried to introduce general situation of sites found in theregion,including site location,the age,grading and particular case of every site.Accordingto the age of these sites,there had two stages:Lower Paleolithic and Middle-UpperPaleolithic.There were some requirements to deduce the age of sites,for instancegeological landform and layer of site, rate of weathering,assembles and technology. There were3characteristics of artfacts in the region:1)All the sites located near by river;2)Because of lack of Ⅱ level terrace,mostly sites located on Ⅲ level terrace;3)The age of paleolithic sites spaned from Lower Paleolithic to Middle-UpperPaleolithic.At the same time,the quantity of artfacts was huge and the type of artfacts isplantiful.4.Artifacts IndustryIn this section,the author classified and described the artifacts according to differentindustries,summaried industrial characteristics and explored different technologicalprocess of artifacts.Firstly, industrial characteristics of2stages were summarized respectively.Secondly,the author compared these characteristics,thereby general characteristics of theBig Flake Inductry can be summarized and the variation tendencies would befound.Thirdly, the characteristics of the Blade Industry can be summarized afterclassifing,discrbing and researching.5.Strategies adapt to environmentThe ancients existed and worked in the region had been living at least from LowerPaleolithic.In the4million years’ time,the ways they lived and worked have beenkeeping the astonishing consistency. With the low productivity and activity,theenvironment was the key to know the panorama of production and life. The author fromthe following5points discussed the adaption of human beings: range of activity,exploitation of raw material,relationship between raw material and industrial tradition,production technologies and tool assembles.6.Relations Between Surrounding Artfacts IndustriesCompared with surrounding Artfacts Industries,the author analyzed thedifference,relationship and mutual communication.There were2points of understandingcould be summarized:1. The Artfacts Industries of region and its surrounding areasdeveloped neck and neck;2. With regional characteristics.7.ConclusionsIn this part,there were5points of view must be emphasized. 1) comprehensive arrangement to the paleolithic sites ever found in the region;2)Division into2industrial types: Big Flake and Blade Industry;3)Big Flake Industry was dominant, Blade Industry was secondary;4)Ancients living here were harmonious with environment;5)Compared with surrounding industry types,2characteristics could be found.