Prehistoric tools in China change how we view human evolution

Excavations at the Xigou site in central China found advanced stone tools dated to about 160,000–72,000 years ago, including a reported hafted (composite) tool that the study describes as the earliest such evidence in East Asia.

Archaeologists working at the Xigou site in the Danjiangkou Reservoir Region of central China have uncovered complex stone tools dated to roughly 160,000–72,000 years ago. The assemblage includes a reported hafted stone tool, described as the earliest composite tool found in East Asia. Researchers say the finds point to a richer technological record in the region than earlier narratives suggested. The study reporting the discovery was published in Nature Communications and involves authors from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology and other institutions. Key findings: - Excavations at Xigou produced stone tools dated to about 160,000–72,000 years ago. - The site yielded a hafted (composite) stone tool, reported as the earliest evidence of composite tools in East Asia. - Analyses identify prepared-core methods, retouched tools, small flakes, and some large cutting tools within the assemblage. - The timing of the tools overlaps with the presence of several large-brained hominins in China, including Homo longi and Homo juluensis, and possibly Homo sapiens. - The study’s authors include Shixia Yang, Jian-Ping Yue, and Michael Petraglia, and the paper appears in Nature Communications. Summary: The reported discoveries at Xigou challenge the long-standing view that early toolmakers in East Asia relied mainly on simpler, conservative stone traditions and suggest a more diverse technological landscape comparable to developments in Africa and Europe. Undetermined at this time.