"Roof of the world" inhabited since 50,000 years ago: archaeologists
Release time：2024-05-21 17:05:13 Source：World Wander news portal
-
LHASA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The hinterland of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, reputed as the "roof of the world" or the world's third pole, has been inhabited since 50,000 years ago, rather than 40,000 years as previously known, according to the latest archaeological study of a prehistoric cave site. Archaeologists from the Xizang Regional Institute of Cultural Relics Protection and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences have carried out six years of excavation at the Melong Tagphug cave site in Ngari Prefecture, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Archaeologists have unearthed more than 10,000 pieces of cultural relics, including stone, bone, pottery, bronze artifacts, and plant remains dating from the Paleolithic Age to the early Metal Ages in an area of over 1,000 square meters of the cave, which is located on a massif 4,700 meters above the sea level. Zhang Xiaoling with the IVPP said the oldest cultural remains in the cave are dated earlier than 53,000 years ago and may even be as early as 80,000 years ago. The top layer was dated 1,000 years ago. There are rock paintings of vertical stripes and human figures painted in red ochre inside the cave. According to the study, the cave had been deserted due to climatic factors or cave collapses, before it was inhabited again in the later period. Multi-period cultural remains were discovered in the cave, which provide important pieces of evidence of ancient humans exploring survival abilities in the extreme high-altitude environment, showing their migration patterns and social organization forms.
（Editor:Liao Yifan）
- Previous：A warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest was requested. But no decision was made about whether to issue it
- Next：Devout Christian doctor, 68, who punched dementia
Related articles
- College baseball notebook: Conference tournaments to decide NCAA automatic bids and many at
- Chinese, French scholars hold cross
- The Olympic torch is being welcomed in French port city of Marseille with fanfare and high security
- Biden revives effort to lower costs of caregiving for families
- Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
- Over 10 casualties reported in SW China attack
- Bad Bunny's big reveal! Co
- Chinese police launch campaign to hunt down economic fugitives abroad
- Verona confirms Serie A status for another year after beating Salernitana
- Rudy Gobert wins record
- Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
- Met Gala 2024: Cynthia Erivo cut a unique figure in a co
- Ukrainians grapple with grit and grief as war with Russia enters new phase
- Met Gala 2024: Iris Law commands attention in a racy sheer black Versace dress and wet
- Kevin Pillar gets 1,000th career hit in Angels' win at Texas
- The Olympic torch is being welcomed in French port city of Marseille with fanfare and high security
- Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
- Hush money trial: Inside the courtroom where Trump was forced to listen to Stormy Daniels
- Independent UN experts urge Yemen’s Houthis to free detained Baha'i followers
- Storms battering the Midwest bring tornadoes, hail and strong winds
Random recommendation
Xi Inspects Exhibition on Shanghai's SciXi to Attend BRICS Extraordinary Virtual Summit on PalestinianPictures with characterInternational experts expect the Chinese economy to flourish with more technological breakthroughsCrafting a world at his fingertipsChina's AG600M firefighting aircraft completes coldMarathon world recordExperiencing traditional crafts at China International Fair for Trade in ServicesXi Sends Condolences to Biden over Kissinger's DeathCreative accounting
- Copyright © 2024 Powered by "Roof of the world" inhabited since 50,000 years ago: archaeologists ,World Wander news portal sitemap