An unexpected discovery that took place on the site of Longtanin the Chinese province of Yunnanleft archaeologists from all over the world speechless: A series of stone tools dating back to 50,000-60,000 years agosurprisingly similar to those associated with Neanderthal Europeans during the glacial age.
These tools, called Quinaare characterized by Thick scrapers with sharp edges and repeated retouching signsa real “technological signature” that has always been attributed to Neanderthal. Yet, until today, no trace of this technology had ever been detected in the East, at approximately 8,000 kilometers away from the European areas in which these tools were known.
The similarities with Neanderthalian technology
The excavations, conducted in 2019 and 2020, led to light Not only the finished toolsbut also The nuclei from which they were obtained and the Courture splinters produced during sharpening. Thanks to dating through optical luminescencewhich measures the time spent from the last exposure to the sunlight of the grains of sand, the antiquity of the artifacts has been confirmed: Between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago.
These tools recall those used in the middle Paleolithic, a fundamental phase for human evolution, in which various species such as Homo sapiens, Neanderthal, Denisovian And perhaps other hominins experienced new technologies and adapted to different environments, interacting and crossing among them. Until recently, it was thought that Eastern Asia had skipped this phase, but Longan’s discovery changes the cards on the table.
Who has made these tools?
The great enigma remains The identity of the producers. Longan’s website It contains no human remains or traces of DNAso there is no direct test. However, the analogies with European Neanderthalian tools are too evident to be ignored.
According to the scholar Hélène Monod of the University Rovira the virgils in Spain, i Raschietti quina analyzed contain Traces of bones, horns, meat and soft plantssuggesting a use similar to that made by the Neanderthals: To work leather, harder meat and materials such as woodwith continuous touches and recycles over time.
A possible explanation is that Neanderthals have arrived in Chinaovercoming the borders known to the mountains of the upper. Alternatively, a hypothesizes are assumed cultural convergence: another population, like i Denisoviancould have developed a similar technology independently, or perhaps learn the method from other groups through cultural transfer.
Why had these tools have not been found in Eastern Asia so far? One response may be in the fact that Archaeologists have focused on Europe for a long timewhere prehistoric sites are more numerous and documented. But there is also a question of cultural bias: for decades, scholars have ignored finds that did not fall within the classic definitions based on European standards.
Second Ben Marwickco-author of the study published on Pnasfuture investigations will have to focus on the deeper layers of Longan. If you find previous versions of the Quina tools, it could mean that This technology has been developed locally. If, on the other hand, different tools emerge, the introduction of these techniques by external groups will be more likely.
In any case, as Marwick explains, Anyone who has created these tools has shown flexibility and inventiveness, adapting technology to the environment in continuous change. This discovery opens a new chapter in understanding human movements and interactions during the Paleolithic.
