目前,具有阿舍利技术因素的工具组合已发现于包括百色盆地和洛南盆地在内的多个地区,其不同于奥杜威文化所代表的石核-石片技术体系,反映出中更新世以来中国境内古人类技术演化存在的多样性和复杂性。薄刃斧作为阿舍利技术体系中富有特征性的工具类型,为我们研究遗址的文化属性提供了重要依据。本文对丹江口库区调查发现的薄刃斧标本进行了分析,结果表明,在技术、形态以及所占石制品比例等方面,丹江口库区薄刃斧既表现出与旧大陆西部典型薄刃斧的一致性,同时也具有一定程度的变异性,这种变异性可能主要受到原料、生态环境、遗址性质和人群规模等因素的影响。
Currently, toolkits containing Acheulean technological elements have been found in several regions of China, including the Bose and Luonan Basins. Compared with the core and flake technology of the Oldowan, this is a new complex showing the enhancement of the technological and cognitive abilities of early humans. This implies the potential diversity and complexity of human evolution in the Middle Pleistocene of China. This paper focuses on the detailed analysis of 18 cleavers retrieved from the Danjiangkou Reservoir Region. Danjiangkou Reservoir Region is located at the southern edge of the Qinling Mountains which is considered to be the boundary between North and South China, and it is fed by the Han River, the largest tributary of the Yangtze River. During Pleistocene times, this area had a relatively stable subtropical environment with abundant plant and animal resources suitable for hominid subsistence. Comprehensive chronological analyses indicate that LCTs in this region have persisted for a long period, from the late Early Pleistocene to the Late Pleistocene. Raw materials for making cleavers are cobbles from the nearby river banks. In total, three local raw materials were employed. Quartz phyllite accounts for 50%, trachyte for 44%, and quartz for 6% of the cleavers in this sample. These different proportions indicate a clear preference for certain raw materials that corresponds with the quality of each rock type. The cobbles in this region are generally well-rolled oval shapes. The size of pebbles and cobbles in the gravels varies, with lengths concentrated in 2-15 cm range, which has a big influence on the flaking methods. The minimum and maximum length of cleavers in the sample is 128.73mm and 235.70mm, and the average length is 179.07mm.Different kinds of blanks were exploited by these hominids to make cleavers. Large flakes and cobbles were equally used, 50% respectively. Among the large flake blanks, free hand percussion, bipolar technique and throwing technique are recognized, showing that various