Old Stone Age culture discovered in China

[Judi Lynn]

2. 'Almost Pompeii-like': Stone Age 'factory floor' opens window on ancient culture

Stuart Layt
By Stuart Layt

March 3, 2022 — 3.00am


Evidence has been uncovered of a 40,000-year-old “factory floor” in northern China, giving insight into a previously unknown ancient culture in east Asia.

Archaeological excavations at the site of Xiamabei in the Nihewan Basin of northern China have uncovered the earliest known ochre-processing site in the region, as well as hundreds of tiny stone tools.

Ochre, a naturally occurring clay pigment, was widely used across the ancient world up to modern times, from cave painting right through to Roman murals and beyond.

Michael Petraglia, director of the Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution at Griffith University, was part of the team that uncovered the site. He said it was the first evidence ochre was produced on such a scale at this time in ancient east Asia.

More:
https://www.theage.com.au/national/queensland/almost-pompeii-like-stone-age-factory-floor-opens-window-on-ancient-culture-20220302-p5a14w.html