Shiyu Site Discovery Pushes Back Human Timeline in China by 45,000 Years

Advanced Material Culture Uncovered, Suggesting Complex Migration and Cultural Fusion

New analysis of the Shiyu archaeological site in northern China reveals that Homo sapiens inhabited the region 45,000 years ago, pushing back the human timeline by thousands of years.
The Shiyu site, discovered in 1963, has yielded 15,000 stone artifacts, thousands of animal bones, and evidence of advanced material culture, including blade technology, tanged and hafted projectile points, long-distance obsidian transfer, and the use of a perforated graphite disk.
The findings challenge conventional beliefs about human migration, suggesting that Homo sapiens may have reached China via a northerly route through modern-day Siberia and Mongolia.
The site reflects a process of cultural creolization, blending inherited traits with novel innovations, complicating the traditional understanding of Homo sapiens' global expansion.
The discovery sheds light on the ancient migration of Homo sapiens into East Asia around 45,000 years ago and highlights a unique convergence of culture and technology.