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Archeologists announce new finds at Zhoukoudian site

2009-10-22 09:25 BJT

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Zhoukoudianis the site where fossils of Peking Man were discovered just 50 kilometers from Beijing. Now, archeologists have announced there are NEW finds at the Zhoukoudian site finds that provide evidence to solve some riddles about Peking Man and make him even older.

Archeologist Gao Xing announced on Tuesday that excavation work at the No.1 site of Zhoukoudian is nearing its end.

But newly found scorched bones and charcoal pieces indicate that Peking Man had mastered the ability to use fire intentionally.

Gao Xing, archeologist of Chinese Academy of Sciences, said, "A lot of charcoal ashes are accumulated, and there are also burnt stones, which rules out the possibility that the fire passed by coincidentally."

Along with some newly found rodent and bird fossils, archeologists have identified cutting marks on some of them. This evidence sheds new light on Peking Man's hunting behavior.

Gao Xing said, "These fossils indicate Peking Men played the active part in their relationship with animals."

At the meeting of researchers, archaeologists made another shocking announcement. They moved forward Peking Man's estimated time period from four-to-five-hundred-thousand years ago to 770-thousand years ago.

Editor: Zhao Yanchen | Source: CCTV.com