Chongqing - On August 16th, a significant step forward in understanding human evolution was taken as the fifth stage of excavation commenced at the Longgupo Site in Wushan County, southwest China's Chongqing.
Researchers are expected to find more ancient human fossils, prehistoric biological remains, and related artifacts.
Longgupo Site officially started the fifth stage of excavation on August 16th, and researchers are expected to find more about ancient humans, fossils, and related artifacts there. (Photo/Tang Yi)
The fifth-stage excavation at the Longgupo Site, spanning an operational area of 30 square meters, is expected to be completed within three months. Collaborative efforts involve the Chongqing Three Gorges Museum, Wuhan University, the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Yunnan University.
The researchers aim to uncover additional evidence supporting the hypothesis of "East Asian" human origins, particularly in the Yangtze River's Three Gorges region between Chongqing and Hubei Province. This excavation aims to strengthen the scientific foundation of characterizing the "Wushan Man," revealing the developmental course of human civilization in the Three Gorges area over a million years.
Significant academic value
The Longgupo Site, also known as the "Wushan Ape-Man Site," is a paleolithic archaeological site that boasts the earliest known human fossils in East Asia.
Discovered in 1984 by IVPP researchers, the site yielded the fossil of the "Wushan Man," dating back around 2.04 million years. This revelation enhanced our understanding of human evolution and challenged the established "Out of Africa" hypothesis. It is firmly established that China's earliest humans originated in the Three Gorges region, making it of immense scientific value for human origin research and the developmental history of the Three Gorges Valley.
With a rich repository of ancient human and biological remains dating back 1.8 to 2.48 million years, the Longgupo Site allows for research on ancient ecosystems, environmental changes, and geological history. Its academic importance spans from Eastern to Western ancient culture studies, providing a reliable basis for revealing human origins and evolution.
This aerial photo, taken on August 16th, 2023, shows the archaeological excavation area of the Longgupo Site in Miaoyu Town, Wushan County, Chongqing. (Photo/Tang Yi)
In 1996, the Longgupo Site was listed as a key national cultural relic for protection.
The site has undergone four previous excavation stages. Between 1985 and 2006, three systematic excavation stages revealed the "Wushan Man" jawbone, attracting substantial attention worldwide. From 2011 to 2012, the fourth excavation phase unveiled numerous stone tools and mammal fossils. It uncovered over 116 species of mammal fossils and more than 1,000 stone tools.
It is reported that the fifth stage of excavation at the Longgupo Site marks an important exploration initiated more than a decade after its previous excavation. From August to November, the excavation commenced, including layout surveys and surface clearing.
Huang Wanbo, a member of the expert group responsible for the excavation, said, "The discovery of the Longgupo Site represents a significant breakthrough in East Asian prehistoric culture research over the past 40 years. The site offers abundant materials to reveal human development processes, providing richer materials for understanding the million-year human history in the Three Gorges area. This holds great academic significance and broad social impact."
The 91-year-old Huang Wanbo expressed hope for discoveries during the fifth excavation stage.
Enriching Three Gorges tourism
According to the plan, by 2026, the Longgupo Site will transform into a cultural heritage park, becoming a crucial heritage site within the Yangtze River National Cultural Park (Chongqing section).
Stretching 55 kilometers through Wushan, the Yangtze River is rich in cultural and historical resources related to the river. From 1984 to 2012, the Longgupo Site unearthed over 1,000 stone artifacts and 120 vertebrate animal fossils. Wushan County is leveraging this ancient cultural wealth to establish itself as a renowned tourist destination.
Staff members conduct survey operations at the Longgupo Site in Wushan County, southwest China's Chongqing, on August 16th. (Photo/Tang Yi)
"As exploration and research progress, it will undoubtedly unveil the mysteries of ancient humans, activate the historical and cultural resources of the Three Gorges, and showcase the temporal value of the Wushan region," said Chai Chenggang, Chairman of the Wushan County Political Consultative Conference.
Chongqing, paradise for prehistoric humans
Archaeological discoveries suggest that prehistoric humans thrived in Chongqing, establishing its significance as a haven for prehistoric humans.
At the Yumidong Site in Miao Yu Village, Wushan County, a mere 2.5 kilometers away from the Longgupo Site, evidence points to a history dating back 70,000 to 80,000 years. This expansive cave, spanning over 1,000 square meters, witnessed human activities ranging from 400,000 to 8,000 years ago.
Yumidong served as a hub for hunting and gathering activities. Ancient humans returned to the cave after their pursuits to process their findings. Crucial to their daily life were stone and bone tools.
Archaeologists discovered a scraper made from a cow tooth in layers dating back 70,000 to 80,000 years. These tooth implements, fashioned from animal teeth, were primarily used for disassembling animal carcasses and wood processing. Deeper layers in the cave unveiled two fire pits dating back 8,000 to 10,000 years, indicating the inhabitants' use of fire.
In Fengjie County's Xinglongdong Site, archaeologists uncovered carved mammoth ivory measuring one meter in length. These carvings, etched into the ivory, survived time's ravages and date back 120,000 to 150,000 years. This mammoth ivory exhibits carvings resembling shrubs and a feathered crown pattern, reflecting prehistoric inhabitants' artistic inclinations.
Huang Wanbo emphasized that this mammoth ivory artifact is the earliest known conscious artistic representation by humans, holding crucial academic significance for studying primitive art origins and the evolution of modern humans in East Asia.
Exploration of the Yulong Park in Jiulongpo District extended the history of human activities in central Chongqing by at least a million years.
The discovery suggests the human presence in Chongqing reaches far beyond previously recorded estimates of 20,000 to 30,000 years or even the hypothesized hundreds of thousands of years. This revelation implies humans were present in the area at least one million years ago.
Located at the summit of Wangjia Mountain in the Jiulongpo District (also known as Jiulongpo Yulong Park), the winding Yangtze River flows a few kilometers downstream from the mountain. It drew ancient humans due to its smooth riverbank pebbles, raw material for crafting essential stone tools.
"Within Chongqing, the Yangtze River features a wide distribution of artificial stone artifacts across various levels, from the fifth terrace to the first terrace and floodplains. As such, we have ample reason to say that Chongqing is a city with a rich history and profound cultural heritage," Huang Wanbo concluded.