The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, often referred to as the “roof of the world,” has been unveiled as a cradle of ancient human activity dating back at least 50,000 years, according to recent archaeological discoveries. This revelation pushes back the known timeline of human habitation in this extreme high-altitude region by 10,000 years.
Archaeologists from the Xizang Regional Institute of Cultural Relics Protection and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted a six-year excavation at the Melong Tagphug cave site in Ngari Prefecture, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. Nestled on a massif 4,700 meters above sea level, the site has yielded over 10,000 artifacts that shed light on the lives of ancient humans who braved the harsh conditions of the plateau.
“The oldest cultural remains in the cave are dated earlier than 53,000 years ago and may even be as early as 80,000 years ago,” said Zhang Xiaoling of the IVPP. “The top layer was dated to just 1,000 years ago, indicating a long span of intermittent human habitation.”
The artifacts uncovered include stone tools, bone implements, pottery fragments, bronze items, and plant remains spanning from the Paleolithic Age to the early Metal Ages. The cave also features rock paintings of vertical stripes and human figures rendered in red ochre, offering a glimpse into the artistic expression of its ancient occupants.
The study suggests that the cave was periodically abandoned due to climatic changes or cave collapses before being re-inhabited in later periods. The multi-layered cultural deposits provide invaluable evidence of how ancient humans adapted to and survived in the extreme environment of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. These findings illuminate migration patterns and social organization forms of prehistoric populations in high-altitude settings.
The discovery not only enriches the understanding of human history on the plateau but also contributes significant insights into the resilience and innovation of early human societies in facing environmental challenges.
Reference(s):
'Roof of the world' inhabited since 50,000 years ago: archaeologists
cgtn.com
