Discoidal-core technology in Chinese Paleolithic: Experimental perspectives

Abstract

Discoidal-core Technology in the Chinese Paleolithic has been a hot topic. The discoidal core appeared sporadically during the Early Pleistocene in China, but its presence considerably increased in the late Middle Pleistocene and Late Pleistocene. This core type had been associated with different lithic technologies, including simple core-flake technology, Acheulean technology, and Levallois technology, exhibiting broad employment and various technological adaptations. To understand the significance of discoidal core in technological and behavioral evolution in the Chinese Middle Paleolithic, we conduct a series of experiments, examining the flaking strategies of unifacial and bifacial discoidal cores in terms of raw material selection, core structure, and flake morphology characteristics. The result shows that knapping discoidal cores, particularly bifacial discoidal cores require a certain degree of preparing thought and planning behavior, and the reduction produces flakes under the concept of cyclical flaking and results in standardized cores. Discoidal cores present a complex technological behavior in senses, rather than a result of expedient or fully non-planned performances, which is of great significance for us to further explore the evolution of lithic technology in the Chinese Paleolithic and provides a crucial insight into human adaptations in the Middle Paleolithic in China.