Zhoukoudian

Palaeolithic site in Hebei province, China, with numerous human fossils, including 'Peking man', found in cave deposits of c 400,000-700,000 years ago. Over 40 individuals are represented; this has become one of the two fossil populations on which Homo erectus is based. In 1941, when the Japanese were about to attack Beijing, the fossils were packed for transport to the U.S., but disappeared; only casts have survived. New investigations have found more skulls and parts, and a pollen sequence is known. Primitive flake tools have been found, along with traces of fire. Remains of Homo sapiens sapiens are the first human burials in the East Asian archaeological record.

[Choukoutien]. A locality 42 km southwest of Beijing [Peking], China, famous for the very numerous human fossils of ‘Peking man’ found in deposits of possibly 400,000 to 800,000 years ago. Over 40 individuals are represented and most of the bones of the skeleton are known; this has become one of the two fossil populations on which Homo erectus is based. The first main series was discovered in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1941, when the Japanese were about to attack Beijing, the fossils were packed for transport to the USA but disappeared. New investigations are taking place at Zhoukoudian more skulls and parts have been found, and a pollen sequence is known. Primitive stone tools — but no hand axes — have been found, along with traces of fire.