On October 11, reporters learned at the archaeological excavation acceptance meeting for the Youfangyuan site in Haiyuan County, Ningxia, that an approximately 22,000-year-old Paleolithic site has been discovered. This significant find addresses gaps in the archaeological record of the Ningxia region, both in terms of time and location.
The Youfangyuan site is a critical addition discovered during the implementation of the “Prehistoric Remains Survey Project of the Western Loess Plateau.” It is located in the natural village of Youfangyuan within the Cangwan Administrative Village of Shidian Township in Haiyuan County. In 2024, the excavation project at Youfangyuan was officially approved by the Chinese National Cultural Heritage Administration. The excavation period is set from July to October 2024, covering an area of 30 square meters. The team has uncovered seven natural strata and three cultural layers, with the third layer identified as the main cultural layer of the site, yielding numerous signs of ancient human fire usage, as well as a variety of stone tools, burnt bones, and animal remains.
It is noteworthy that the Youfangyuan site represents yet another significant Paleolithic site in Ningxia, following the Shuidonggou site. It fills a gap between the Shuidonggou site and the Gezi Mountain site. The historical information contained within the Youfangyuan site is rich and offers critical insights into the study of the late Paleolithic culture in northern China, human adaptation in the context of the last glacial maximum, as well as the migration and interaction between populations in northwest and north-central China.
The Youfangyuan site spans a large area and is well preserved, with C14 dating indicating it dates back roughly 22,000 years. The stone artifacts collected during surveys primarily consist of quartz, featuring various types including blade cores, small blade cores, microliths, end scrapers, side scrapers, and bi-facial pointed tools. Additionally, materials such as flint, agate, and crystal have also been discovered.
