乌兰木伦遗址于2010年发现并进行了首期试掘,在7个文化层位中获得石制品1500余件、动物化石千余件以及人类用火遗迹。初步观察和研究表明,该遗址以石片石器为特点的石制品类型十分丰富,工具组合具有明显的旧石器中期的特点,且与欧洲的莫斯特文化存在不少相似之处;以披毛犀为代表的哺乳动物化石属于华北晚更新世萨拉乌苏动物群;沉积相和哺乳动物、软体动物化石的性质表明当时人类生活于较为温暖、湿润的气候环境中;化石总体比较破碎,一些碎骨化石上可见明显的石器切割痕迹,同时发现有大量骨片,带剥片痕的骨核化石和若干骨器标本以及烧骨,反映出当时人类的肉食、熟食习惯等利用动物骨骼的生活行为方式。经’4c与光释光结合测定乌兰木伦遗址年代为距今70—30ka,属于旧石器时代中期。乌兰木伦遗址的发现、试掘与初步研究,为我国北方旧石器中期文化的研究增添了新的内涵,同时也为现代人起源和中西方文化交流研究提供了新的线索。
The Wulanmulun Site was discovered at left bank of Wulamulun River in Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in North China with location of 39~35. 152'N, 109~45. 659'E and 1281m above sea level. The first period trial excavation was carried out in early summer of 2010. The main part of deposition were divided into 8 layers with depth of about 5 ~ 8m. Among them seven archaeological layers are recognized according to their existence of geological deposition, mammalian fauna and stone artifacts remains. More than 1500 stone artifacts were yielded and appeared general types of core, flake and major flake tools. Single platform core are very popular. Used flakes were obviously needed with longer and rather straight edge accompanied by natural or backed back. Prepared platform can be observed on few numbers of flakes. Lot of debris by flaking on core or retouching work were fund from excavation. Retouched pieces are mostly made on flakes. There are different types of scrapers like all kinds of concave, convex, straight and concave-convex. Denticulate and notch were very much seen and even made into subtypes. Borer, drill, and various types of points were frequently appeared out. End-scraper, bee and burin were sometimes observed. Multiple functional phenomenon are common on one piece of tool. In summary,the lithic assemblage belongs to flake tool and share some similarity with characters of Middle Paleolithic of European Mousterian tradition. Totally 1213 pieces of mammalian bones were obtained from seven archaeological layers. Based on the numbers of unearthed fossil specimens of Wulanmulun fauna, the wooly rhinos are the most numerous species, followed by Przewalsky's horse, and then Ordos' giant antlered deer. The other taxa are not numerous. Judging by the condition of deciduous and permanent teeth, the juvenile wooly rhinos are more numerous than adult ones. The other taxa are mostly dominated by adult specimens or difficult to judge due to fragmentary and insufficient state of the specimens. The faun