Diversity of Lithic Technology in the Hinterland of the Sichuan Basin from the Late Middle to Early Late Pleistocene

CHENG Yingjie

Traditionally, Paleolithic lithic technology in the Sichuan Basin, located in southern China, has long been considered to be dominated by large‑sized cobble tools. However, recent archaeological discoveries in the hinterland of the Sichuan Basin have demonstrated that lithic technology in this region is far more diverse than previously recognized. Apart from cobble tools, abundant medium‑ and small‑sized lithic artifacts and large flake technology have been documented, indicating a diversified technological system from the late Middle Pleistocene to the early Late Pleistocene. Some of these lithic technologies show diachronic continuity, while others coexisted synchronously. These findings further reflect the diversity of lithic technology during this period, and may imply technological interactions among different hominin groups or adaptive strategies to local environments and diverse lithic raw materials. This also reinforces the view that southern China, as a large‑scale region with multiple geomorphic units and complex environmental settings, cannot be rigorously summarized by a single simple lithic tradition. More sophisticated models should be constructed in accordance with regional geomorphic environments and the technological characteristics of hominin populations.