Xihoudu

A Paleolithic Archaeological Site called Xihoudu may be found in China's Shanxi Province. On a terrace 170 meters above river level on the east bank of the Yellow River in Xihoudu village, researchers found this site in 1959. There were three excavations: one each in 1961, 1962, and 2005. It is the earliest known Paleolithic Cultural Site in China, dating back 1.8 million years. At the site, 32 different stone tools were discovered in total.

Xihoudu is situated in the center of the Yellow River on the sunny side of Zhongtiao Mountain in the northwest of Ruicheng County in southern Shanxi Province. It is thought by archaeologists that this region's ancient climate was moderate and home to a variety of aquatic vegetation. There are some extinct species such as the Paleoloxodon Namadicus (ancient elephant), Sus Lydekkeri, Père David deer, Shanxi woolly rhinoceros, Equus Sanmeniensis (ancient horse), Gazella Blacki (ancient antelope), and fish. Therefore, such a natural environment is ideal for human survival and reproduction.

In all, 32 stone artifacts, including stone cores, pieces, and stone tools, were uncovered at the Xihoudu site in the 1960s. They belong to the group of the oldest stone tools found in China. Archaeologists claim that the technique used to create the stone implements at this location is still rather primitive. The primary raw material is vibrant quartz stone, with smaller amounts of veined quartz and volcanic rock also present. In 2005, more than 1,500 stone items and animal fossil samples were discovered during the course of more than 50 days of excavation. There are a lot of high-quality and standardized stone items with minor wear and evident traces.

Along with stone tools, there are a number of artifacts that have been cut or scraped, as well as burnt animal bones, horns, and teeth that are thought to be evidence of human fire use. In Zhoukoudian Beijing, between 500,000 and 700,000 years ago, the fire was first used by the ancient Chinese, and this indicates that 1.1 million years ago, at the Xihoudu site, the fire was first used.

The scholarly community has struggled to completely acknowledge the Xihoudu ruins after they were discovered by archaeologists. Whether the discovered stone tools were manufactured by hand or not is a matter of debate. Researchers like Pei Wenzhong and Zhang Senshui asserted that it was hard to verify whether the stone tools were man-made and that they were most likely the result of river collisions. However, specialists from the Shanxi Province Institute of Archeology think that continuing to excavate to get more fresh knowledge is the best method to settle these conflicts. The issue of dating has been overcome thanks to the progress of archaeological research, which has led to the identification of artificial stone product traces. The Xihoudu site is now among the premier Paleolithic archaeological sites in the world.

The Xihoudu Cultural Relics Protection Group was established by the Ruicheng District People's Government in 1983. Later, the Shanxi Provincial People's Government designated the Xihoudu Cultural Relic Site as a cultural relic conservation organization. province in 1986. Two years later, Xihoudu Ruins received the title of National Key Culture for the third time, Monument Protection Unit. The Xihoudu Ruins Exhibition Hall, with a total construction area of about 130 square meters, was established in 2013 by the Cultural Relics Board of Ruicheng County, Shanxi Province to store unearthed cultural artifacts.

In sum, Xihoudu paleolithic site:

• was found in 1959 in China's Shanxi Province.
• was the earliest known Paleolithic Cultural Site in China, dating back 1.8 million years.
• 32 different stone tools were discovered in total at the site including stone cores, pieces, and stone tools in the 1960s.
• more than 1,500 stone items and animal fossil samples were discovered during the course of more than 50 days of excavation in 2005.
• 1 million years ago, the fire was also first used at the Xihoudu site.
• Monuments protection and display areas in Xihoudu were established to store artifacts found over the years.