Archaeologists Find Neanderthal Stone Tool Technology in China

[Judi Lynn]

A surprising cache of stone tools unearthed in China closely resembles Neanderthal tech from Ice Age Europe.

Alexandra GereabyAlexandra Gerea April 4, 2025

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https://tinyurl.com/5dwc7u5u

The Quina tool kit from Longtan. (A–D) Quina scrapers. (E–G) Quina cores. (H-J) Resharpening flakes showing Quina retouch at the near end of the top face. (K) Small tool made on resharpening flake. Image credits: Hao Li.

The Quina tool kit from Longtan. (A–D) Quina scrapers. (E–G) Quina cores. (H-J) Resharpening flakes showing Quina retouch at the near end of the top face. (K) Small tool made on resharpening flake. Image credits: Hao Li.

So what gives? Did Neanderthals really make it all the way to China? Or did another mystery species copy their tech?

Mobile Neanderthals or copy cats?

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https://tinyurl.com/mry3dum3

Multipurpose stone tools such as this one, closely resemble implements made by European and western Asian Neandertals. Image credits: Hao Li.

Anthropologists care deeply about the Middle Stone Age — also known as the Middle Paleolithic — because it marks a pivotal chapter in human evolution. This is when our species started to move around. Homo sapiens, as well as Neanderthals, Denisovans, and possibly other species, were developing new technologies and adapting to various environments. They were also interacting with each other, as proven by interbreeding.

More:
https://www.zmescience.com/science/anthropology/archaeologists-find-neanderthal-stone-tool-technology-in-china/