Recent archaeological findings in East Asia challenge long-held assumptions about technological development among early humans in the region.
A collection of wooden artifacts was uncovered at Gantangqing, a lakeside site, revealing significant insights into the capabilities of early hominins.
Professor Bo Li, the study’s lead author, noted that the Middle Palaeolithic era in Europe saw rapid advancements in stone tool technology, while East Asia appeared stagnant until the arrival of modern humans 40,000 to 45,000 years ago.
However, this discovery suggests a much more dynamic technological landscape in East Asia.
The Gantangqing site yielded 35 wooden artifacts, each demonstrating clear signs of human use, such as whittling marks and intentionally smoothed surfaces.
Using advanced dating techniques, researchers determined that these tools date back between 361,000 and 250,000 years, providing evidence that early hominins were capable of complex tool-making much earlier than previously believed.
The tools primarily consist of pine, with a few hardwood items, and include large digging sticks alongside smaller hook-like implements, likely used for slicing through plant roots.
Such wooden artifacts are rare in the archaeological record due to their tendency to decompose over time.
Professor Li pointed out that while other Pleistocene wooden items have mostly been hunting weapons, the Gantangqing tools point toward a different subsistence strategy.
Unlike the northern temperate environments, where hunting large mammals dominated, Gantangqing suggests a plant-oriented lifestyle for early hominins in subtropical and tropical environments.
The study’s authors suggest that these ancient humans strategically utilized resources available along the lakeshore, indicating a planned approach to gather food.
They speculate that the tools were used for harvesting underground plant parts such as tubers, rhizomes, and corms.
The significance of this assemblage lies in its implication for understanding early hominin diets, highlighting the importance of plant foods in the subtropical ecosystem of the time.
Moreover, the identity of the toolmakers remains a fascinating question.
Professor Li indicates that Denisovans are the most likely candidates for these tools.
Recent fossil discoveries, including the Harbin fossil, as well as Denisovans from the Tibetan Plateau, Penghu, and Laos, reinforce the idea that Denisovans occupied East Asia during the Middle Paleolithic period.
The growing body of evidence positions Denisovans in a complex cultural and technological network, coexisting with Neanderthals.
Li emphasized that Denisovans created sophisticated stone tools, attesting to their intelligence and advanced capabilities.
In understanding the types of plants that may have been harvested in the region, researchers noted the presence of kiwis, nuts, and various tubers among the plant remains found at the site.
This groundbreaking study not only enhances comprehension of early hominins’ technological prowess in East Asia but also enriches the broader narrative of human evolution and adaptation.
image source from：iflscience
