The Peking Man at Zhoukoudian is an archaeological site located in the North China Plain , about 42 km southwest of Beijing , where the North China Plain and the Yanshan Mountains meet . The site was explored in 1921 by the Swede J.G. Anderson , who discovered teeth of early hominids. Because it is an area that bears witness to human communities on the Asian continent from the Middle Pleistocene to the Paleolithic period , because of its degree of preservation, and because of its scientific interest, UNESCO included it on its list of World Heritage Sites in 1987 .
Description
The site at Choukoutien (now Zhoukoudian), situated 42 km southwest of Beijing , was explored as early as 1921 by the Swedish geologist J.G. Anderson. The discovery of hominid teeth in the sediment of a cave, and then, in 1926 , of a complete skull by the Chinese archaeologist Pei Wen Chung (Pei Wen Zhong), became of universal interest, to which the works of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin contributed significantly.
The hitherto generally accepted chronology of the beginnings of human history was overthrown by this discovery, as Sinanthropus pekinensis or Homo erectus pekinensis lived in the Middle Pleistocene, 700,000 to 200,000 BC; they had already mastered fire, and used stone tools. Successive excavations in the vicinity of the cave brought to light a large number of incomplete human bones which, after anthropological study, were shown to belong to 40 different individuals.
Some 100,000 objects, mainly rough carved stone tools, numerous traces of domestic hearths, heat-affected stones, burnt bones, ash deposits, etc., as well as fossilised grains. Not far from the main site, a second cave was found containing remains of Homo Sapiens, dating back to the years between 18,000 and 11,000 BC, together with a large quantity of other materials such as: necklaces made from teeth, shells and perforated stones, bone needles, etc.
Unfortunately, the conflict between China and Japan , which began in 1937 , interrupted the excavations with the most disastrous consequences: the remains of Sinanthropus pekinensis discovered before this date were dispersed or lost. Only the models on display in the site’s museum, and some isolated fragments preserved in Sweden , remain to this day.
Excavations carried out after the war by archaeologists of the People’s Republic of China have partly compensated for these losses through the discovery of a complete jaw ( 1959 ) and several cranial elements ( 1966 ). At the same time, other discoveries within China revealed hominids contemporary with Peking Man or of advanced age: Lantian Man , found in 1963/64 in Chansi Province (Shaanxi), and Yuanmou Man , found in 1965 in Yunnan Province . Indeed, the Zhoukoudian site bears witness to human communities on the Asian continent from the Middle Pleistocene to the Paleolithic.
Selection criteria
- Criterion (iii): The Zhoukoudian site is a witness of human communities in the Asian continent from the Middle Pleistocene to the Paleolithic period, which illustrates the process of evolution.
- Criterion (vi): The discovery of hominid remains at Zhoukoudian and the subsequent research in the 1920s and 1930s is of great universal interest, destroying the chronology of human history that had been generally accepted until then. The excavations and scientific work at the Zhoukoudian site are therefore of significant value in the history of world archaeology, and have played an important role in the history of world science.
Integrity
All the elements necessary to express the values of the Peking Man site at Zhoukoudian are included within the boundaries of the property. The localities where the ancient human fossils were found, the living conditions of ancient humans, as well as the scientific excavation and research process during the 1920s and 1930s have been fully preserved and accurately reveal the scientific utility of the property. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937 interrupted the excavations and led to disastrous consequences: fossil remains of Sinanthropus Pekinensis that were discovered earlier were scattered or lost. After the war, some human fossils discovered through new excavations have partially compensated for these losses and the Peking Man site at Zhoukoudian still retains its scientific value.
Authenticity
One of the entrances to the archaeological site.
The Peking Man site at Zhoukoudian is a historical demonstration of human evolution, maintaining and transmitting authentic historical information, and promoting research on the origins of early humans. The fossil localities and the configuration of the fossils have been effectively protected. Conservation projects for the site have strictly followed the principles of cultural heritage conservation in terms of design, materials, methods and technology.
Protection and management requirements
In accordance with laws and regulations such as the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics, in order to protect the property, the Beijing Municipal People’s Government promulgated the Regulations for the Conservation of the Peking Man Site in Zhoukoudian in 1989 ; revised in 2009 as the Regulations for the Conservation of the Zhoukoudian Site. Activities that may damage the value of the site, such as mining and kiln firing, are prohibited.
Due to the formulation and updated revisions and improvements of the Conservation Plan by scientists of Zhoukoudian Village (completed in 2006 ), the property is in an excellent state of conservation. According to the Plan, the area of the property has been defined as 4.8 km² and the buffer zone has been established. Meanwhile, a series of conservation projects have been carried out on the property. Laws, regulations and plans provide the political guarantee for the scientific conservation and management of the property.