New Archeological Evidence for the Earliest Hominin Presence in China

摘要: Although China is literally at the end of Eurasia, there increasing evidence that some earliest records hominins outside Africa are from China. Recent work three archeological sites in southern provide artifactual this region near beginning Pleistocene. Renzidong Anhui Province a cave site dated to approximately 2.6 Ma. It contains large mammalian fauna and 59 specimens have been identified as stone artifacts. Longgudong, Hubei Province, Matuyama Epoch by paleomagnetic studies. has yielded fauna, including Gigantopithecus well 592 artifacts stratigraphic context bone Longgupo, Wushan County well-known attributed Early 26 second hominoid considered authorities belong species Homo others be small ape related Lufengpithecus. The identity many Pleistocene fossils their phylogenetic relationship with other hominoids, topic considerable discussion debate. resolution these issues better understanding place early human evolution will come continued field new discoveries.