Engraved artifact found at Palaeolithic site in China

Published on January 3rd, 2013 | by Sevaan Franks

An engraved stone artifact has been found at the Shuidonggou Paleolithic Site in Northwest China.

This engraved stone artifact was found in a recent technological analysis of the stone tool assemblage unearthed at the Shuidonggou site in 1980. It is the first engraved non-organic artifact from the entire Paleolithic of China.

Archaeologists used a digital microscope to observe all the incisions and obtain 3D images. After excluding the possibility of natural cracking, trampling and animal-induced damage, and unintentional human by-products, they believed that the incisions were made by intentional behavior.

[Full story]

Story: Physorg | Photo: Peng Fei

Tags: Artifacts, Carved, China, Engraved, Paleolithic, Rocks, Shuidonggou, Stone