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An Early Modern Human from Tianyuan Cave, Zhoukoudian, China

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An Early Modern Human from Tianyuan Cave, Zhoukoudian, China An early modern human from Tianyuan Cave, Zhoukoudian, China Hong Shang*†‡, Haowen Tong*, Shuangquan Zhang*, Fuyou Chen*, and Erik Trinkaus†‡ *Department of Paleoanthropology, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 142 Xi-Zhi-Men-Wai Street, Beijing 100044, China; and †Department of Anthropology, Campus Box 1114, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130 Contributed by Erik Trinkaus, March 8, 2007 (sent for review February 16, 2007) Thirty-four elements of an early modern human (EMH) were found in dated to Ϸ30 ka 14C BP, for which only the dentition has been Tianyuan Cave, Zhoukoudian, China in 2003. Dated to 42,000–39,000 described (8, 9). calendrical years before present by using direct accelerator mass These Asian EMHs, dated to Ն30 ka 14C BP, are joined by spectrometry radiocarbon, the Tianyuan 1 skeleton is among the the fragmentary Batadomba lena remains from Sri Lanka oldest directly dated EMHs in eastern Eurasia. Morphological com- dated to Ϸ29 ka 14C BP (10) and the partial skeleton from Moh parison shows Tianyuan 1 to have a series of derived modern human Khiew, Thailand dated to Ϸ26 ka 14C BP (11). Further north characteristics, including a projecting tuber symphyseos, a high an- and east, subsequent samples, such as the Zhoukoudian Upper terior symphyseal angle, a broad scapular glenoid fossa, a reduced Cave remains from China dated to 24–29 ka 14C BP, the hamulus, a gluteal buttress, and a pilaster on the femora. Other Pinza-Abu fragments from Okinawa dated to Ϸ26 ka 14C BP, features of Tianyuan 1 that are more common among EMHs are its and the Minatogawa sample from Okinawa dated to Ϸ18 ka modest humeral pectoralis major tuberosities, anteriorly rotated 14C BP (12–14), postdate the appearance of morphologically radial tuberosity, reduced radial curvature, and modest talar trochlea. modern humans in the region. It also lacks several mandibular features common among western There are other probably Late Pleistocene human remains Eurasian late archaic humans, including mandibular foramen bridg- from China. However, the association of the Salawusu human ing, mandibular notch asymmetry, and a large superior medial ptery- bones with well dated but substantially older geological deposits goid tubercle. However, Tianyuan 1 exhibits several late archaic is currently debated (15). Ziyang 1 may be associated with fauna human features, such as its anterior to posterior dental proportions, 14C dated to 32–44 ka 14C BP (3, 16), and the southern Chinese a large hamulus length, and a broad and rounded distal phalangeal Liujiang fossil may predate 60 ka BP, but questions remain as to tuberosity. This morphological pattern implies that a simple spread of its original context (17). modern humans from Africa is unlikely. It is therefore apparent that the chronology and biology of the earliest modern humans in eastern Eurasia is currently poorly Late Pleistocene ͉ Neandertals ͉ mandible ͉ postcrania ͉ paleopathology known, from the scarcity and fragmentary nature of the remains and/or uncertainties regarding the geological antiquity of the more he emergence and spread of modern humans during the Late complete specimens. It is in this context that the Tianyuan Cave TPleistocene appears to have involved an initial emergence of partial skeleton acquires significance. them in the late Middle Pleistocene of eastern Africa, with subse- The Tianyuan Cave Site and Dating quent dispersals in Africa and then throughout Eurasia during oxygen isotope stage 3 (1). It remains debated to what extent there Tianyuan Cave (Tianyuandong) is located on the Tianyuan Tree Farm, Zhoukoudian Town, Fangshan County, Beijing, China (lat was genetic continuity in Late Pleistocene regional lineages and Ј Љ Ј Љ hence to what degree EMHs absorbed regional populations of late 39°39 28 N, long 115°52 17 E), 6 km southwest of the Middle and archaic humans across Eurasia (1, 2). Late Pleistocene paleoanthropological sites at Zhoukoudian. The However, our understanding of the chronology, geographical small cave has a northwest facing opening, 175 m above sea level, patterning, and population dynamics of the spread of early modern and is higher than the other fossil sites in the Zhoukoudian district. humans (EMHs) across Eurasia has been impeded by a dearth of The site was discovered by local workers of the Tianyuan Tree Farm diagnostic and well dated late archaic and EMH remains through- in 2001, who unearthed some mammalian fossils. The site was out most of Asia (1, 3). The 2003 discovery of a partial human investigated and excavated in 2003 and 2004 by a team from the skeleton in Tianyuan Cave in northern China promises to provide Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chi- relevant paleontological data for our understanding of the emer- nese Academy of Sciences (18). gence of modern humans in eastern Asia. The cave deposits consist of four layers, which are recognized, from top to bottom, as follows: layer I, interbedding of soil with Eastern Eurasian EMH Context cemented breccia; layer II, a layer of fragmental deposits without sorting; layer III, a layer of breccia without full cementation; and The fossil record for the EMHs in eastern Eurasia is widely layer IV, the basal gravel bed (19). Most of the mammalian fossils scattered, fragmentary, and frequently poorly dated. The oldest (39 species have been identified with cervids dominating, including modern human remains may well be the juvenile cranium from Cervus elaphus, Cervus nippon, and Moschus moschiferus) are from Niah Cave, Sarawak, dated to Ϸ45–39 ka cal BP (calendrical years layers I and III. All identified species are extant. There are relatively before present) by direct U-series and associated radiocarbon dates abundant remains of Hystrix in layer I, and evidence of their (4). Although morphologically modern, it appears to have close affinities with Late Pleistocene Chinese and recent Australo- melanesian populations (3, 5). The next oldest east Asian modern Author contributions: H.S., H.T., S.Z., F.C., and E.T. designed research; H.S., H.T., S.Z., F.C., human remains are the juvenile femur and tibia from Yamashita- and E.T. performed research; H.S. and E.T. analyzed data; and H.S. and E.T. wrote the paper. 14 cho, Okinawa associated with a C date of Ϸ32 ka radiocarbon The authors declare no conflict of interest. 14 years before present ( C BP); although attributable to modern Abbreviations: 14C BP, radiocarbon years before present; EMH, early modern human; humans based on the incipient development of a femoral pilaster, MPMH, Middle Paleolithic modern human; MUP, Middle Upper Paleolithic. the remains are otherwise undiagnostic and similar to Late Pleis- ‡To whom correspondence may be addressed. E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]. tocene juvenile femora and tibiae generally (6, 7). Of a similar age ANTHROPOLOGY are the fragmentary commingled remains from Fa Hein, Sri Lanka © 2007 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA www.pnas.org͞cgi͞doi͞10.1073͞pnas.0702169104 PNAS ͉ April 17, 2007 ͉ vol. 104 ͉ no. 16 ͉ 6573–6578 Downloaded by guest on September 29, 2021 Table 1. Accelerator mass spectrometry 14C dating of bone samples from Tianyuan Cave, China Sample no. Lab no. Layer Sample material Age, 14C BP Age, cal BP I11-(11)-B BA-03226 III Animal bone 30,500 Ϯ 370 35,730 Ϯ 370 I11-(11) BA-04247 III Bone flake 31,115 Ϯ 190 36,223 Ϯ 270 J11-(11) BA-03225 III Animal bone 33,970 Ϯ 540 39,955 Ϯ 1,035 I10-(11) BA-03227 III Animal bone 34,990 Ϯ 400 40,622 Ϯ 825 J10-(11) BA-03224 III Animal bone 39,430 Ϯ 680 43,561 Ϯ 620 BA-03222 III Human femur 34,430 Ϯ 510 40,328 Ϯ 816 G12-(12) BA-04248 IV Bone flake 37,785 Ϯ 250 42,588 Ϯ 301 Calendrical years were calculated by using CalPal software, version 1.4 (www.calpal.de). gnawing is present on bones from that level. The warm climate and 2 dated to Ϸ37 ka 14C BP (20) and the Romanian Pes˛tera cu Macaca sp. and Paguma larvata remains are solely from level I. The Oase fossils dated to Ϸ35 ka 14C BP (21, 22). It is moderately older remains from layer III are heavily fragmented, consisting of bone than Hofmeyr 1 from South Africa (23); the fragmentary bones and fragments and isolated teeth, but there are no obvious cultural or teeth from Fa Hien, Sri Lanka (8); and the Czech and Romanian carnivore marks on the remains. The overall faunal profile is similar remains from Mladecˇ, Cioclovina, and Muierii dated to Ϸ28–31 ka to the Late Pleistocene Zhoukoudian Upper Cave fauna, but it 14C BP (24–26). could be accommodated within Holocene patterns (19). Some of the 34 elements of the human skeleton were partially The Tianyuan Cave Human Remains disturbed by the local workers, but the remainder were found within The Tianyuan Cave human remains consist of most of the anterior layer III. No stone artifacts or other cultural remains have been and right side of a mandible with I to M (Fig. 1), one maxillary found in the site to date. There is an abundance of bone fragments 2 2 molar, the right M , the axis, two sternal segments, both scapulae, in the Tianyuan Cave deposits, but it is not currently known whether 3 they are related to human behavior. both humeri, an ulna, a radius, three carpals, five manual phalanges, An initial attempt to date the site by uranium series dating at the both femora and tibiae, a distal fibula, a talus, a calcaneus, four Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sci- metatarsals, and two pedal phalanges.
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