Chapter 1455 The Transparent Professor
"In addition to Area A, we also have Area B and Area C." Professor Li pointed out to everyone enthusiastically: "There, four meters south of Area A, is Area B. , we determined two meters by There are thirty-one two-meter exploration squares and one one-meter by two-meter exploration square. From here, we will clean up to the top of the Jurassic sandstone."
"From the current sniffing work. It can be seen that area B has the deepest cultural layer and basic stone products. Produced from undisturbed primary strata, the stone products are well preserved and are mainly composed of four types: stone cores, stone flakes, stone tools and broken blocks.”
“If area A has the highest density of stone tools, then area B has the highest density. The stone tools are of the highest quality and have the most complete strata. "Okay, it has the most research value. The work in Area B has just begun, and about two hundred pieces have been unearthed."
"The remaining area is Area C?" Zhou Zhi pointed to the other area. asked an area being lined with lime.
"Yes, Area C is located about 40 meters northeast. The cultural relics are buried very shallowly, under a 0.8 to 1.8 meter thick clayey silt layer with sand, and underneath it is Jurassic red. Sandstone erosion surface. "
"Because the strata in area C have been disturbed, they are secondary accumulations. The work will be roughly divided into two excavation layers. It is estimated that there will be fewer unearthed artifacts there. "
"What is secondary accumulation?" Zhou Zhi is a person who will ask when he has questions. I don’t know how to pretend to understand, and I won’t let go of every knowledge point I am interested in just because I am thin-skinned.
“Oh.” This brings us to the field that Professor Li is good at: “The secondary accumulation referred to in archeology, also called secondary accumulation, refers to the formation of strata containing cultural relics through water flow, wind, etc. The accumulation caused by the transportation of natural forces such as landslides and collapses is just like what we just did. The area B just mentioned is the primary accumulation, but if a flash flood washes it to another place, that is to say, the primary accumulation is disturbed by natural forces and an abnormal stratigraphic superposition relationship is re-formed elsewhere. This This kind of disrupted accumulation layer formed by natural forces is called secondary accumulation layer. ”
"So that's it, then the density of stone tools in Area C should be even less." Zhou Zhi understood.
“Yes, although the area is the largest, our work must still focus on the AB areas first.”
“The Paleolithic here is closely related to the civilization in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Get up?" Zhou Zhi asked again.
Professor Li smiled: "It seems that this classmate has done his homework."
"No, I just asked casually," Zhou Zhi quickly waved his hand: "I am I’m a little curious. I haven’t heard much about the Paleolithic culture found in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Is it possible that the ancients gradually transitioned from the Paleolithic Age to the New Age during their migration along the Yangtze River?”< br>
"Your idea is very interesting." Professor Li pointed at Zhou Zhi: "But archeology is a science, and it cannot be as wild as literature." 'Nanjing people' around 10,000 years ago, "Chaoxian people" and "Xian people", these ancient humans mainly used small gravel stone tools. This is the "main stone tool industrial system in the south", which is obviously different from the north."
"Since the late Pleistocene, Stones from sites such as Qianshan Penngling in Anhui and Sanshan Island in Suzhou The tools use flint and agate as the main raw materials, which reflects the characteristics of the typical flake stone tool industry. "
"Generally speaking, there are differences in the Paleolithic culture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, but they are basically the same as those in the early period. The gravel and stone tool industry is the main body, and its The development trend of the later stone tool industry, and the emergence of rice phytoliths and pottery at the end of the Late Pleistocene, became an important prelude to the advent of the Neolithic Age. "Professor Li, what are phytoliths?"
"Oh, phytolith is the abbreviation of plant silicate. Because phytolith is corrosion-resistant and high-temperature resistant, it can be preserved in rocks and soil for a long time. Therefore, after the plant dies or withers, it will remain there for a long time. In strata and ash layers where it is difficult to preserve pollen and other biological fossils, phytoliths can also be returned to the soil. It is well preserved in the layers.”
“Generally, as long as a certain plant has grown in soil, the corresponding phytoliths of this plant will be preserved. By analyzing the silicic acid combination of the soil, You can determine what plants have grown here and find the places where ancient people planted crops; The silicic acid analyzed from the ashes of the site can be used to determine what plants the ancients used as fuel."
"Absolutely awesome!" Zhou Zhi was beaming: "That rice is a phytolith! The discovery means that the ancients planted rice, used rice straw as fuel, and used rice husks and mud to plaster walls! "< br>
“Exactly!” Professor Li gave Zhou Zhi a thumbs up: “It seems that this classmate has spent a lot of time in the countryside, so he can tell you the last one!”
Everyone laughed. , jokingly saying that Wei Fei had really lived in the countryside, but he might not be able to tell. It depends on the person.
"But from the current point of view, as you said, there is indeed a missing link between the late Paleolithic and the early Neolithic in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Only the Xianren Cave and Diaotonghuan sites in the Dayuan Basin in Wannian County have been found. Stone tools, pottery, and individual ground stone tools coexist, but the scale is extremely large. Small, not up to the scale of 'culture'."
"The Paleolithic tools we found here in Gaojia Town are all gravel tools, and the hammering and anvil methods are used to cut pieces. Choppers are the main type, along with scrapers, spikes and other types. ”
"These all have the distinctive characteristics of the Paleolithic culture in Southwest China and even Southeast Asia. They are the earliest representatives of the Paleolithic culture discovered in the Three Gorges area so far. But unfortunately, they cannot make up for what Jiuzi just said. "That part of the world," Professor Li said. He was very relaxed: "It is difficult to establish even a direct relationship with the Daxi Culture in Wushan, which is hundreds of kilometers away." ?" Everyone became familiar with each other, and Li Laosan also started joking with Professor Li.
“This is what our industry is all about: seeking truth from facts.” Professor Li didn’t care: “We will study whatever we find out.”
"This site has filled in many gaps and provided very important research information for studying the development of early humans in the Southwest, especially how humans adapted to the unique geographical environment of the Three Gorges area. It provides important research information on early human activities and ancient times in the Southwest. The study of Stone Age culture is of great significance. It is a major discovery in itself and of extraordinary significance."
"As for whether it will happen in this life. I have the opportunity to see archaeological work fill in the missing link, or even discover it myself..." Professor Li smiled and shook his head: "I must have thought about it, but thinking too much will delay the existing work at hand."
Li Laosan couldn't help but admire him and gave Professor Li a thumbs up: "Professor is really a transparent person."
(End of this chapter)