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Earliest presence of humans in northeast Asia

Author

Listed:
  • R. X. Zhu

    (Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • K. A. Hoffman

    (California Polytechnic State University)

  • R. Potts

    (Human Origins Program, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution)

  • C. L. Deng

    (Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Y. X. Pan

    (Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • B. Guo

    (Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • C. D. Shi

    (Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Z. T. Guo

    (Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • B. Y. Yuan

    (Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Y. M. Hou

    (Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • W. W. Huang

    (Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The timing of the earliest habitation and oldest stone technologies in different regions of the world remains a contentious topic in the study of human evolution1,2,3,4. Here we contribute to this debate with detailed magnetostratigraphic results on two exposed parallel sections of lacustrine sediments at Xiaochangliang in the Nihewan Basin, north China; these results place stringent controls on the age of Palaeolithic stone artifacts that were originally reported over two decades ago5. Our palaeomagnetic findings indicate that the artifact layer resides in a reverse polarity magnetozone bounded by the Olduvai and Jaramillo subchrons. Coupled with an estimated rate of sedimentation, these findings constrain the layer's age to roughly 1.36 million years ago. This result represents the age of the oldest known stone assemblage comprising recognizable types of Palaeolithic tool in east Asia, and the earliest definite occupation in this region as far north as 40° N.

Suggested Citation

  • R. X. Zhu & K. A. Hoffman & R. Potts & C. L. Deng & Y. X. Pan & B. Guo & C. D. Shi & Z. T. Guo & B. Y. Yuan & Y. M. Hou & W. W. Huang, 2001. "Earliest presence of humans in northeast Asia," Nature, Nature, vol. 413(6854), pages 413-417, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:413:y:2001:i:6854:d:10.1038_35096551
    DOI: 10.1038/35096551
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhenyu Qin & Xuefeng Sun, 2023. "Glacial–Interglacial Cycles and Early Human Evolution in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-26, August.
    2. Xiaoqi Guo & Xuefeng Sun & Huayu Lu & Shejiang Wang & Chengqiu Lu, 2023. "Early Hominin Dispersal across the Qinling Mountains, China, during the Mid-Pleistocene Transition," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, October.

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