The possible causes of similarities in lithic technologies between European Neanderthals and East Asian (Chinese) modern humans between 100,000 and 30,000 years ago

Abstract

The Last Glacial Period occurred from about 110,000 BC to 11,700 BC and comprised the Middle Palaeolithic (300,000 BC to 45,000 BC) and the Late Palaeolithic (45,000 BC to 10,000 BC). This period witnessed dramatic changes in stone tool and even modern human lifestyles. More importantly, this period saw the last population dispersal of the Palaeolithic, which may have been the beginning of the later Neolithic cultural diversity around the world. In addition, exchanges between Neanderthals and modern humans, conflicts and the extinction of Neanderthals may have taken place during this period, suggesting that dramatic changes in the environment may have contributed to evolutionary shifts in humans, lithic tools and lithic technology, as well as changes in lithic tool technology and lifestyles. The two main technologies and industries that spread across Europe during the Middle Palaeolithic were Levallois technology and Mouterian industry,both of which may be associated with modern humans and Neanderthals. Recently, sites associated with these two technologies and industries have also been discovered in China, and these sites and technologies have been highly controversial.This thesis innovates procedures for the comparison of the two periods and uses these new procedures along with the original methodology for the study of stone tools.The aim of the thesis is to try to identify possible reasons for the similarity of lithic technology between Neanderthals in Europe and modern humans in East Asia, mainly in China, and to try to identify a possible "Silk Road" of lithic exchange.This paper analyses several sites in China where Levallois technology is present, and compares the Chinese Levallois technology with that of related sites in Russia and Mongolia near China. Levallois stone tools from France and other countries in Europe are also compared to further discuss the possible migration paths of Neanderthals or modern humans carrying stone tool technology from Europe into northern China.

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ORCID for William Davies: orcid.org/0000-0003-1830-5403

ORCID for mac Mcnabb: orcid.org/0000-0002-1841-4864

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