Investigating Early Hominin Tool-making in East Asia: Insights from the Nihewan Basin
Investigating Early Hominin Tool-making in East Asia: Insights from the Nihewan Basin
New research challenges conventional timelines of technological evolution
Unveiling Early Hominin Technological Complexity
A groundbreaking study led by Prof. Pei Shuwen and Prof. Ignacio de la Torre sheds light on the tool-making abilities of hominins in East Asia. Published in PNAS1, the research suggests that hominins in the Nihewan basin of China possessed advanced knapping abilities comparable to Mode 2 technological features as early as 1.1 million years ago (Ma), challenging previous timelines.
Mode 2 Dispersal in East Asia: A Paradigm Shift
Contrary to prior beliefs, the study indicates that Mode 2 hominins entered East Asia significantly earlier than previously thought. This revelation redefines the early dispersals and adaptations of hominins in Eurasia, providing crucial insights into the technological evolution of our ancestors.
Advanced Tool-making Techniques Unveiled
Through meticulous analysis of the Cenjiawan refit sets from the Nihewan basin, the research team uncovered organized flaking techniques aimed at producing slender flakes through core preparation on both striking platforms and flaking surfaces. This standardized operational process, evidenced by numerous refit sets, highlights a deep understanding of flaking mechanisms among early hominins.
Evolution of Core Technologies
Prepared core technologies observed in the Cenjiawan assemblage reveal organized methods for obtaining predetermined flakes, indicative of detailed planning and advanced technological abilities dating back to more than 1.0 Ma. The intentional breakage of slender flakes and subsequent retouching to create specialized tools further demonstrate the cognitive complexity and technical sophistication of early hominins.
Insights into Hominin Behavior
The study also unveils patterns of retouching tools such as points and borers, suggesting standardized tool shapes and complex mental templates among the Cenjiawan toolmakers. The high level of manual precision, fragmented reduction sequences, and organized management of raw materials underscore the sophisticated technical abilities and strategic planning behaviors of Early Pleistocene hominins in East Asia.
Challenging Perceptions of Technological Stasis
Dr. MA Dongdong, the study's first author, emphasizes that the advanced technological behaviors documented at the Cenjiawan site defy the notion of technological simplicity attributed to Mode 1. This discovery prompts a reevaluation of the Lower Paleolithic technology in China and challenges existing perceptions of technological stasis in East Asia.
Rethinking East Asian Paleolithic Assemblages
The authors advocate for assessing Early and Middle Pleistocene assemblages in East Asia based on technological features rather than the presence or absence of specific tool types like handaxes. This approach fosters a more comprehensive understanding of Mode 2 technology and the cultural and biological connections between East Asia and other regions of the Old World.
Ma, D.-D., Pei, S.-W., Xie, F., Ye, Z., Wang, F.-G., Xu, J.-Y., Deng, C.-L., & de la Torre, I. (2024). Earliest Prepared core technology in Eurasia from Nihewan (China): Implications for early human abilities and dispersals in East Asia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 121(11). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2313123121