Discussion On The Survival Choice Of Ancient Humans At Heyaozhuang-Houjiayao Sites Area

The sites of Houjiayao and Heyaozhuang are two of the most important Middle Paleolithic ancient humans culture sites in the Houjiayao – Heyaozhuang sites area,Nihewan Basin.They play important roles in the research of Paleolithic culture and ancient human evolution.Questions,such as reasons for choices of ancient humans to live there,the relationship between the two sites,and how the ancient cultural relics reflect the activities and habits of ancient humans,are still remain controversial.Based on previous works on this area,and supported by the project(13277611D)founded by Hebei province,this paper focused on the geological survey of the vicinity of the site of the Heyaozhuang site,which made an elevation measurement of the typical geomorphological section which can reflect the ancient landform of ancient human living environment.This paper systematically studied the characteristics of ancient fluvial landform of the location where the two sites were buried are systematically investigated for 5 times.With a macro observation of profiles of ancient human sites at various times in Nihewan basin area and other typical formation profiles,and the relationship between the distribution of ancient human dites in different periods in Nihewan basin and the evolution of ancient Nihewan lake are also dicussed,in order to explain the above issues from the perspective of geomorphology.The results are as follows:(1)In the Late Middle Pleistocene – Early Late Pleistocene,there is an ancient river near Heyaozhuang-Houjiayao sites area,which came from Xionger mountain.The main river flowed from the north to the south through this site,whose overall direction is NNW–SSE.The width of river channels ranged from 200 to 500 m,and the widest is more than 1 km.There are two large-scale branch rivers in the sites area: One is located near the Heishitou Gully in the northeastern part of the Houjiayao site,extending in a nearly north-south direction,about 200 m wide;The other one is located on the north side of the Heayaozhuang site,extending from northwest to southeast,with a width of about 200 m.The development of ancient rivers provided an ecological environment for ancient humans in the sites area.(2)The ancient cultural relics of Heyaozhuang-Houjiayao sites area was buried by the ancient river sediments.Even though there are some differences among their own unearthed animal fossils.the buried layer,characteristics of stoneware type,lithic indust technology,and the cultural characteristics of ancient human share significantly similar characters.Therefore,the age of two sites are quite similar,and the ancient humans who lived in them are most likely to be the same ethnic group.(3)Although the two sites of Heyaozhuang and Houjiayao are outstanding similar in age and close in distance,they are buried in different geomorphoglogical parts of the river.The remains of the ancient culture of Heyaozhuang is buried in the round about river area(swamp)of the ancient river,while the Houjiayao site is buried in the area of the oxbow lake(swamp).The geomorphological differences between this two places have noticeable influence on the predatory activities and predatory results of ancient humans.(4)The ancient Nihewan lake,which formed in the end of the Pliocene–early Pleistocene,experienced four periods of significant expansion,contraction in its evolutionary history and eventually died in the late Pleistocene.The evolution of the ancient Nihewan lake(including the fluctuation of the lake,advancing and retreating of the shoreline,and changes in water quality)has not only affected or changed the habitat of various types of living creatures,but also forced the ancient human beings to continue to make new living areas with changes of living environment.In the Paleolithic period,because of warm climate and expaned lake,ancient humans were most likely to chose the alluvial fan front of lakeside plain to survive,which is rich in stone.Oppositely,when the climate was dry and the lake was salted and shrinked,ancient humans lived in the vicinity of ancient rivers and in front of the alluvial fan.Entering the Neolithic Age,the ancient Nihewan lake were extinct,and the Sanggan River and its tributaries were formed.The changes of the environment triggered the sprouting of the consciousness of ancient human agriculture and thus changed their way of living.In order to facilitate agricultural production and hunting,they mostly chose to live near the flatter riverfront plains and the rushing-diluvial(fan)plains.(5)In the middle of the Paleolithic period,collecting and hunting were main measures of making life,in order to survive,ancient humans must adapt to the ever-changing ecological environment and choose a relatively better habitat in the region.First of all,water and food are the primary conditions for choosing a living area.Secondly,it is convenient to find high-quality stones for making predatory tools.Thirdly,selection of appropriate topography site in the area as a hunting ground had to be took in to consideration.Finally,consideration of finding areas where the environment is relatively stable and the local climate is relatively good as a place of daily life was also necessary.The combination of these conditions is the basis of ancient human beings living there for a long time.Once conditions changed,ancient humans had to migrate to elsewhere.(6)Under the harsh conditions of cold weather and food shortage during the glacial period,Heyaozhuang-Houjiayao sites area suffered a relative superior geographical environment.The local climate here was relative milder than other regions.Ancient rivers,animals and plants provided food and water for ancient humans to survival.Advantageous stones are abundant in the mountains and river valleys,and special sections of ancient rivers,such as the oxbow lake swamp and river bay swamp,also provided places for ancient humans to eat and hunt.Therefore,it is an inevitable choice for the ancient humans to regard the Heyaozhuang-Houjiayao sites area as a living settlement area,this also can fully reflect the wisdom of the ancient human of survival choices in the ruins area.