Ancient teeth could rewrite the history of human occupation

The discovery of several artifacts made of stone, bone and antlers at the Chuandong archaeological site in southwest China may indicate that prehistoric human activity in the region dates back more than 55,000 years. Archaeologists have discovered a new layer of soil at the site, increasing knowledge about China's past.

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Archaeologists found several bones at the site

• The Quandong Archaeological Site was first discovered in 1978.
• Researchers believe that it was inhabited at the end of the Middle Paleolithic, the end of the Paleolithic and the Neolithic.
• The site has already undergone excavations on three occasions.
• In the last, which lasted two years, more than 100,000 animal bones, 10,000 pieces of clay, and 2,500 pieces made of bones or horns were discovered.
• The information is from archeology.

Human occupation in the China region

A fossil of a human molar dating back approximately 50,000 to 60,000 years was also discovered. This means that modern humans may have arrived in the area earlier than previously thought.

In addition, archaeologists found three graves approximately 10,000 years old, containing human bones and other bone artefacts, including fish hooks.

Excavations at the site were carried out by researchers from the Guizhou Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archeology and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The findings were released shortly after another study found that artifacts found at the Xiu archaeological site in northeastern China date back to approximately 45,000 years ago. This makes these bone and rock fragments the oldest evidence of the presence of “modern humans” (Homo sapiens) in Central Asia. Learn more about the topic by clicking here.