"In May this year, we excavated an ivory shovel 99000 years ago in a Paleolithic site in Bashan, Yishui. After preliminary observation, it is likely to be the earliest bone grinding tool found in China. At present, indoor observation and research work is in progress, which needs to be confirmed by scientific methods." Li Gang, deputy research librarian of Shandong Institute of cultural relics and archaeology, said in an interview with chinanews.com on the 24th that the number of typical bone vessels found in China is small. Previously, the earliest ground bone vessels were found, about 35000 years ago. The site of the unearthed Ivory shovel is located in Yishui, Linyi, Shandong Province. It is a Middle Paleolithic wilderness site discovered in July 2020. In April this year, with the approval of the State Administration of cultural relics of China, archaeologists carried out rescue excavation. The site is rich in cultural relics, and its age is preliminarily determined to be 60000-100000 years ago by photoluminescence, uranium series and other dating methods. According to Li Gang, the stratigraphic accumulation thickness of Bashan site is nearly 8m. At present, eight cultural layers have been exposed, and more than 5000 stone products, bone and tooth horn products and animal fossils have been excavated. Bone, tooth and horn products include conical and shovel shaped tools ground with animal limb bones, ivory and antlers. "Using uranium series method and photoluminescence dating method, we measured one of the large spade shaped devices and the same layer of soil modified by ancient rhomboid incisors. The age data are 99000 and 104000 years ago." Li Gang said that judging from the materials currently available, it is rare to make practical tools with ivory as raw materials around 100000 years ago. "Through the preliminary investigation of the surrounding area of the site, we found that Bashan site is the center, and there are other sites connected with it early or late." Li Gang said that the first stage of field archaeological excavation of the site has been completed, and a new round of excavation will be carried out next year. At present, the most important work is to protect the original site. In addition to building a cofferdam, archaeologists also plan to build an "archaeological shelter" before the end of the year to cover the earth site with a closed shed to protect it from collapse due to changes in external temperature. In June this year, archaeologists from the Institute of Paleovertebrates and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University, Jilin University and other scientific research institutes and universities investigated the excavation site of Bashan site. Experts agreed that Bashan site has profound accumulation, continuous cultural layer and rich relics, which has great academic value and potential significance for exhibition and utilization. In Li Gang's view, the abundant relics of ancient humans unearthed at Bashan site is conducive to establishing the cultural sequence of the Middle Paleolithic age in eastern China, demonstrating the continuous evolution of "China East Asia" humans, and helping to study the technical characteristics, production and life style and living environment background of humans at that time. (outlook new era)
Edit：Yuanqi Tang Responsible editor：Xiao Yu
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