6th excavation set for 1.7-m-yr old Yuanmou Man site

Photo: Xinhua

Archaeologists have commenced a sixth excavation at the discovery site of Yuanmou Man, the earliest human species found in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday.

The Yuanmou Man site first gained public attention in 1965, when two ancient human teeth fossils were found, pushing the lineage of humans in China back to 1.7 million years ago. 

Experts noted that the study of the Yuanmou Man site is of great significance in revealing the origins and development of ancient humans across East Asia. It is also considered as the "opening chapter" of Homo erectus in China.

"The Yuanmou Man site proves that Yunnan, located along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, was an important area of the origin and development of ancient human beings. It also provides strong evidence of the 'diverse origins' of ancient humans in addition to ancient humans in Africa," Dong Hao, a Beijing-based archaeologist, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Covering 512,100 square meters, the site has produced over 600 stone relics and more than 600 animal fossils during previous excavations.

More recently, a joint research team conducted  digital archaeological mapping of both the site and its surroundings in June. 

"This time our excavation will cover an area of 200 square meters. At the same time, other related fields including paleoanthropology, paleontology, chronology studies will also be included for the first time as our archaeological work continues," said Ruan Qijun, head of the excavation team.

The Yuanmou Man site was listed as a protected national-level cultural relic site in 1982. 

A total of three surveys and five excavations have been conducted at the site, during which a tibia (shin bone) fossil and the remains of carbon dust were discovered in addition to the previously mentioned stone relics and animal fossils.