Site of the Early Paleolithic Age and location of the Jinniushan Man

Location: Yingkou, Liaoning Province

Period: The date of the site is 310,000-160,000 BP, while human fossils is about 280,000 BP

Excavated in 1974

Significance: The finds have provided new evidence for the study of human physical development in the process of evolution.

 Introduction

1. Jinniushan

Jinniushan is a mountain near Tun Cun, Yingkou County, Liaoning Province. In 1984, human fossils, including skulls and vertebral bones, fire traces, stone artifacts and animal fossils were found in this mountain. These human fossils from the middle Paleolithic Age were named Jinniushan Man.

2. Jinniushan Man   

Fossil cranium of the Jinniushan Man: (cranial capacity is 1335 ml)

Jinniushan Man was an early Homo Sapiens of the early Paleolithic Age. It was found at Jinniushan Site at Yingkou, Liaoning Province in 1984. The fossils included one skull, five vertebral bones, two ribs and other bones. All of them belonged to an adult male, aged between 30 and 40, with a brain volume of 1390 ml. It was the first time in China that such complete human fossils were unearthed at one site.

At the same time, ash heaps were also discovered. Inside these heaps were burnt clay, charcoal scraps and burnt bones. Most likely these were the places where Jinniushan Man cooked food. Numerous animal bones were found beside these mounds.