A Study on the Lithic Artifacts Excavated in 2025 from the Gaoshandong Site in Xianju, Zhejiang Province

CHAI Dongdong (柴东东)1*, LIU Yalin (刘亚林)2, and WANG Chunxue (王春雪)3

The Gaoshandong site (120°42'37.7522" E, 28°41'26.5717" N, elevation 428.2 m) is located on the southern margin of the Xianju Basin in Zhejiang Province, within the hilly region of southeastern China. An initial survey of the site in 2017 identified stone artifacts with clear traces of human modification, and excavations were carried out in 2025. The unearthed remains consist primarily of lithic artifacts, totalling over 1,000 pieces; in addition to stone tools, a small number of pottery sherds were recovered. Dating results indicate that the main cultural layer of the site dates to around 8000 years BP, belonging to the early stage of the Kuahuqiao Culture. Preliminary research shows that the lithic assemblage from the site exhibits lithic miniaturization, with raw materials all being high-quality tuff and chert. The tool assemblage includes small, knapped tools, mainly scrapers and notched tools, along with a very small number of ground tools. Notably, cave sites dating to around 8000 BP are sparsely discovered. Comprehensive research on the lithics from this site will not only enhance our understanding of the diversity of subsistence strategies within the Kuahuqiao Culture but also contribute to exploring the role of lithic technology in the transformation of subsistence patterns during the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic in southern China.