When flash floods occurred in rivers in southwestern China in 2021 and the waters began to recede, we wondered what such a rare weather phenomenon meant for the region’s distant past, and for the lives of its early Paleolithic human inhabitants. Few could have predicted the impact it would have.
Later, the Mengxichuan ruins in Sichuan province reveal clues about how people lived 50,000 to 70,000 years ago, a key moment in studying the origins and spread of modern humans. Became.
The ancient hunting villages along the river seem to have been a place of active activity. Scientists unearthed tons of tools, animal fossils, and plant remains. However, traces of ancient carvings and cuttings, as well as the use of fire, demonstrate the wisdom and expertise of the inhabitants of this place.
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“They lived next to a small river and were surrounded by an ancient forest of towering trees that was home to elephants, rhinos, deer, and other animals,” said a professor at Peking University’s School of Archeology and Museums. Professor Wang Yuping told local media Sichuan. online.
“Tens of thousands of years have passed. Giant trees have fallen, leaving countless branches and trunks behind, and animals have been reduced to fossilized fragments,” he said.
Zheng Zhexuan, archeology team leader at the Sichuan Provincial Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology, said the site is rich in animal fossils, showing a deep understanding of animal resources and the hunting ability of the people.
Chung said fossils of at least 30 animal species were discovered, including elephants, rhinos, bears, cows, deer, macaques, fish, turtles, snakes, frogs, birds, porcupines and bamboo rats.
“They represent almost all large animal groups, including animals of various sizes, aquatic, terrestrial, aerial, carnivores and herbivores,” he said.
He said the Mengxichuan site is the oldest site in China with abundant carcasses of aquatic animals and one of the earliest sites to reveal clear evidence of carnivores being processed and consumed. added.
Researchers found cut marks on the bear’s toe bones, which could indicate that ancient humans crushed the animal’s bones and ate the marrow inside.
Scientists said the humans at the site were very good hunters, as they were targeting large carnivores such as bears, and giant animals such as elephants and rhinos, which are still very dangerous today.
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Ancient treasure trove unearthed in southwestern China sheds light on a mysterious kingdom
One of the animal bones recovered from the site has more than 10 parallel lines drawn across a surface area approximately 3.5 mm (0.14 inch) wide, and the other bone has an “X” shaped Scars may indicate symbolic behavior that explores art or the spiritual. world.
Plant remains were also an unusual find for archaeologists. It is generally believed that Paleolithic people were hunter-gatherers, but research in this area is limited due to the lack of plant remains.
The research team mainly found seeds and fruits of edible plants in the soil. The specimens include fruits such as peaches and grapes, as well as nuts such as acorns and walnuts, and are the oldest evidence of nuts at a Paleolithic site, Zheng said.
Scientists also discovered a type of elderberry known as Chinese elderberry, and clues pointing to early uses of medicinal plants such as elderberry. ajuga syriata bungeused in Chinese medicine to treat injuries, relax muscles, and promote blood circulation.
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It was previously thought that widespread use of plants began during the transition period between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods.
“However, the large number of plant remains discovered at this site indicates that ancient humans here had deep knowledge and utilization of plant resources, which is indicative of prehistoric humans’ use of plants. “It will significantly rewrite history,” he said.
“The rich animal and plant resources are valuable materials for understanding the environment and climate of the time.”
People at the time made tools primarily from petrified wood (fossil wood turned into stone), but also from the bones of large mammals, the researchers said.
Regarding the use of fire, archaeologists have found charred wood, burnt acorns, and the jawbone of a stegodon (an extinct type of elephant), which were probably exposed to high heat through the use of fire. was.
“Many carved symbols were discovered there, some of them very elaborate, providing valuable material for studying the non-functional behavior of ancient humans. ” he told Sichuan Online.
“If the excavated fish bone fossils were used by humans, it would mean that humans started using aquatic resources tens of thousands of years ago, and humans started using fish only 10,000 years ago. This questions the current thinking.
He said, “If it is confirmed that acorns with signs of being burned in a fire were processed by humans, our previous understanding will be overturned.”