The broad-spectrum adaptations of hominins in the later period of Late Pleistocene of China—Perspectives from the zooarchaeological studies

• Published in: Science China. Earth sciences 2016-08, Vol.59 (8), p.1529-1539
• Main Authors: Zhang, ShuangQuan, Zhang, Yue, Li, JingShu, Gao, Xing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Archaeology; Climate; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Geological time; Pleistocene; Research Paper; Ungulates; Zoology
• ISSN: 1674-7313; 1869-1897
• DOI: 10.1007/s11430-016-5287-7

During the climatic fluctuations in the late Late Pleistocene, hominins in China had experienced some significant changes and adaptations in terms of subsistence strategies. Based on the zooarchaeological analyses of the faunal remains from the Shuidougou site of North China and the Ma’anshan site of South China, the present study demonstratively indicates that the broad-spectrum diet and its closely-related resource intensification for hominins were already at their places roughly at 33–35 cal ka BP. Compared to hominins of earlier period, who would have preferentially exploited large and medium-sized ungulates, hunter-gathers at later period had otherwise incorporated more small-sized animals（especially the quick ones, such as birds and hares） into their diet. Meanwhile, hominins of the later time had also greatly accelerated extractions and exploitations of the nutritional yields from the large and medium-sized animals. However, it seems clear from the current study that there was significant difference regarding the potential mechanisms for the broad-spectrum adaptations of hominins in the late Late Pleistocene of China.