Xiaochangliang

Some of the earliest paleolithic remains in East Asia may be found in Xiaochangliang, which is well known for the stone tools that have been found there. It is situated in Yangyuan County, Hebei, China's Nihewan Basin. In Chinese, this location's name translates to "long narrow hilltop".

The location is situated on the Nihewan Plateau, some 120 kilometers northwest of Beijing, the capital of China. This plateau was formerly a lake that was there between 40,000 and 30,000 years ago, but it vanished as the environment got drier. According to geological research, tectonic and climatic variations in the region have caused the height of the lake's water level to fluctuate rapidly during the last few million years, with shifts of hundreds of meters possible. Consequently, this location offers the creature an appropriate environment. Animal remains found in the area suggest that a certain species of creature thrived on savannas dotted with small forests.

Xiaochangliang was found in 1978 during a geological survey. However, as the soil material is unsuitable for radioisotope dating, other less accurate dating techniques must be utilized. The site is thought to be one million years old based on the style of the stone tools and how they were used, as well as a tentative Paleozoic dating in 1985. Then, in 1995 measurements backed by earth springs and new magnetic field measurements indicate ages of 1.67 million years and less than a million years, respectively. Age of 1.34 million years is determined by the third measurement (in 2001). The most recent measurement was done in 2012, and the time frame is 1.36 million years.

804 stone artifacts and several animal bones were found during the excavation that was conducted in 1978. Thousands of stone items and animal bones were found at the site over the years 1990 to 1997 when it was further researched. Only in 1998, when a global excavation team was assembled, did the most significant scientific study take place. Their excavation tactics make use of the most recent research instruments as well as modern archaeology's standard documentation practices. 901 stone items that seem to have been created by humans have been found since the excavation in 1998. They are mostly made of quartzite and volcanic rock. Stones that were obviously employed as tools in daily crafts have been discovered via microscopic investigations. Tools are divided into four categories: saws for cutting, knives for hewing or engraving, scrapers for scraping, and drills for punctures or other food processing-related jobs. Animal components, including raw meat, skins, and body parts, are removed, processed, and chopped. These markings are all found on stone slabs. In addition, the excavations turned up 3,291 pieces of animal bone and teeth. The dentition has allowed scientists to identify several animal taxa, including the civet cat Viverra, the extinct elephant Palaeoloxodon, the horse's Hipparion and Equus, the bison, and the rhinoceros.

In short, Xiaochangliang:

• is located in Yangyuan County, Hebei, China's Nihewan River basin, and is considered one of the earliest Paleolithic archaeological sites in East Asia.
• was found in 1978 during a geological survey.
• due to the complex physical topography, researchers had difficulty dating the site. The most recent measurement was made in 2012, with a time frame of 1.36 million years.
• in 1978, excavations found 804 stone artifacts and several animal bones.
• 901 seemingly man-made stone items have been found since the 1998 excavation. They are mostly made of quartz, and volcanic rock and are used as everyday craft tools.
• 3,291 animal bones and teeth were also found in that year (1998).