New evidence and perspectives on the Upper Paleolithic of the Central Plain in China

A rich group of archaeological materials from MIS3 to MIS2 has been discovered in recent years from Zhijidong, Zhaozhuang, Laonainaimiao, Xishi, and Lijiagou in Henan province. These records provide new perspectives on the technology and behavioral patterns in the Upper Paleolithic of the Central Plain in China. Human behavior underwent remarkable changes at the beginning of MIS 3, as seen in the long distant transport of raw material and the diversity of toolkits, as well as the enlargement of activity areas documented at Zhijidong. However, the technology of lithic reduction did not change, and a simple core-flake technology continued to be used as in the previous period. Blade and microblade assemblages appeared at the end of MIS3. A microblade technology was widely and intensively adopted in the northern part of China during the LGM and persisted until the end of Pleistocene. The change of lithic technology witnesses the development of the Upper Paleolithic and modern human adaptations during MIS3 and MIS2 in the Central Plain.