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Storm‐flood‐dominated deltas are sedimentary systems in which a complex interplay of hydrodynamic processes occurs during storms (e.g. tropical cyclones) due to the coeval action of continental and oceanic processes. This paper reports on a superbly exposed, 135.5 m thick stratigraphic succession of the Pleistocene Cholan Formation exposed along the Da'an River, Taiwan. The sedimentary succession comprises alternating mudstone and sandstone, is mostly fine‐grained, and exhibits multiple event beds that record deposition during tropical cyclones and post‐depositional deformation features produced during earthquakes. Detailed facies analyses reveal that deposition towards the base of the succession occurred in the palaeo‐Taiwan Strait in storm‐flood‐dominated prodelta and delta‐front environments passing upwards into delta‐plain environments. Tropical cyclone beds are encountered throughout the subaqueous storm‐flood delta successions, and are identified by (i) trough cross‐stratified sandstone bedsets with erosive bases that contain both mud clasts and mudstone beds, (ii) sandstone with aggrading wave ripples and (iii) hummocky cross‐stratified sandstone with rare gutter casts filled with coal fragments and shell remains. Tropical cyclone deposits are either top‐down burrowed or capped by massive or laminated mudstone. Seismites are rare and are mainly recognised through soft‐sediment deformation of beds; they do not show evidence of slope failure. Compared to storm‐flood delta successions described elsewhere, the Cholan Formation shows significantly fewer oscillatory‐generated sedimentary structures and gutter casts. This difference is attributed to the Cholan Formation being deposited in and along the margin of a strait characterised by strong shore‐parallel currents and relatively small storm waves due to its position between Taiwan and mainland China. This study refines depositional process interpretations of the Cholan Formation, provides criteria for recognising storm‐flood delta deposits in tectonically active straits with multiple sediment sources fed by steep drainages and short river catchments, and provides additional criteria for recognising tropical cyclone deposits in shallow‐marine settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinling Mountain Range (QMR), where more than 500 hominin fossils and Paleolithic sites have been preserved, was a major center of hominin evolution and settlement and an important link for the hominin migration and dispersal between the north and the south during the Pleistocene in China. The rich culture remains and the related data make it possible and meaningful to study the characteristics and mechanisms of hominin occupation and dispersal in the region. This paper has summarized and analyzed the geographical distributions and chronologies of 55 dated hominin fossils and Paleolithic sites in the QMR to date. By combining them with the evidence from the loess–paleosol sequence, a relatively continuous and chronological sequence of hominin occupation and dispersal has been established, in which we have identified five stages, viz. ~before 1.2 Ma, the sporadic occurrence stage of early hominin occupation; ~1.2–0.7 Ma, the initial expansion stage; ~0.7–0.3 Ma, the stability and maintenance stage; ~0.3–0.05 Ma, the large-scale expansion stage; ~0.05–0.01 Ma, the sharp decline stage of the record of hominin occupation. We conclude that the environmental and ecosystem changes associated with the MPT drove early hominins to disperse southwards across the QMR. In addition, the evidence suggests that the hominin occupation and dispersal here was broadly continuous during both glacial and interglacial scales from early to late Pleistocene, and that the southern QMR provided a glacial refuge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beijing plain is a strong earthquake tectonic area in China. There was a Sanhe-Pinggu earthquake with Ms8 that happened in1679. The seismogenic fault of this earthquake is called Xiadian fault. Our work found fault with a similar strike and opposite dip in the west of the Xiadian fault, which is called the Xiadian west fault in this paper. Six shallow seismic profiles have been constructed to determine the location of the fault in Sanhe city, and the late Quaternary activity of the fault is studied with the method of combined drilling, magnetic susceptibility logging, and luminescence dating. The results of shallow seismic exploration show that the fault is zigzag and generally strikes NE and inclines NW. According to the core histogram and logging curves of ten boreholes and eight effective dating data, the buried depth of the upper breakpoint of the concealed fault is about 12 m, which dislocates the late Pleistocene strata. The effective dating result of this set of strata is 36.52 ±5.39 ka. The vertical slip rate has been about 0.075± 0.023 mm/a since the late Pleistocene and about 0.058 ± 0.030 mm/a since the late period of the late Pleistocene. It can be inferred that the Xiadian west fault is probably a part of the seismogenic structure of the Sanhe-Pinggu Ms8 earthquake that happened in 1679. In a broad sense, the Xiadian fault zone is likely to extend to the southwest along the Xiadian west fault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies on the amplitude of East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) changes mainly focused on northern China (represented by the Loess Plateau). However, a rare investigation centered on the subtropical zone of southern China, where the important route for EASM moved northward or southward, especially addressing a lack of the research on mammals. The Ailuropoda-Stegodon fauna is a representative mammal fauna in southern China since the late Pleistocene. It indicates the southern mid-subtropical-tropical forest environment with tropical climate characteristics, and its southward or northward movements in the subtropical zone imply the changes of EASM intensity. Based on previous research, combined with the species characteristics and distribution range of the Ailuropoda-Stegodon fauna with tropical animals during the marine isotope stage 5 (MIS5), MIS3, MIS2, and MIS1 Megathermal periods, this paper mainly investigates its evolution and the fluctuations of EASM. The conclusions include: (1) The distribution geometric centers in the MIS5, MIS3, MIS2, and MIS1 Megathermal periods are (26°14′N, 111°22′E), (24°35′N, 107°30′E), (22°48′N, 112°01′E), and (26°19′N, 112°25′E), respectively. (2) Compared with the MIS5 period, the EASM of the MIS3 and MIS2 moved 180 km and 380 km southwards, and that of the MIS1 Megathermal period moved about 10 km northwards. The EASM movement indicated by the fauna migration happened synchronous with the climate records of stalagmites in subtropical China, the sporopollen from eastern China, and oxygen isotopes from Sulu Sea. They also correspond to the peaks and valleys of the total solar radiation at 35°N in the winter half-year. This suggests that the migrations of the Ailuropoda-Stegodon fauna are consistent with the changes of the global climate, and the driving force is mainly from the changes of total solar radiation at 35°N in the winter half-year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is a cyprinid species, widely living in the freshwater on the plain area of East Asia. The fish has characteristic comb-like pharyngeal teeth, an adaptation to their typical vegetarian feeding habit. This paper deals with fossil pharyngeal teeth that related to grass carp, found from about 20 localities, ranging from the lower Oligocene to Holocene. Based on the morphology of the teeth, we established two new genera and species related to the genus Ctenopharyngodon (Dezaoia saintjaquensis, Eoctenopharyngodon liui) and two new species of Ctenopharyngodon (C. xiejiaensis and C. orientalis). The first recognized C. idella pharyngeal teeth were from the lower Pliocene of Yushe, Shanxi, and many others from 11 Pleistocene to Holocene localities. Judged from the materials and their occurrences, the grass carp may have originated from the western part of China during the early Oligocene. Throughout the Miocene, the grass-carp-like pharyngeal teeth were discovered from a vast area in China, indicating an appropriate atmosphere for the grass carp to develop, although the climate in the western part of China was possibly drier than that in the eastern part. From the beginning of the Pliocene, as the consequence of a considerable uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, the large rivers in East Asia finally formed, created favorable conditions for the Recent grass carp to thrive. Most teeth were collected in association with fossil mammals. Therefore, we are using the associated fossil mammals as the checking reference against which to test our interpretation of the surrounding environment of the water system in which the grass carp lived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, climate and environment changes since the Little Ice Age have become a focus in modern research. The paper selected the sediment (77 cm) of Sihu Lake, which was located in Guilin, southern China, as the research object and analyzed the karst wetland environmental changes within nearly 450 years. According to the vertical profile of indicators and geochemical elements in sediment core, the regional environmental evolution was divided into four stages. The former two stages were mainly influenced by Little Ice Age (1562–1895). The third stage climate has changed slowly. The fourth stage was mainly affected by human activities and global warming. The factor analysis of geochemical elements indicated that karst wetland regional environmental change was affected by four major factors. In the 53–77 cm stage (1562–1703), F1 (erosion factor), F2 (watershed runoff and diagenesis factor) and F3 (regional background factor) were reduced, indicating that it was in cold and dry stage of Little Ice Age. In the 20–53 cm stage (1703–1895), F1 and F2 increased, indicating that it was in cold and wet stage of Little Ice Age. In the 4–20 cm stage (1895–1987), F1, F2 and F4 (human activity factor) increased slowly, indicating that the climate was affected by global warming and more precipitation. In the 0–4 cm stage (1987–2007), F1 and F2 reduced and F4 increased, indicating the reduced precipitation, rising temperature and more impact of human activities. In addition, it was proposed that the Little Ice Age in Guilin District in southern China started in the 1560s and lasted until the 1895s or so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent fossil and genetic data poses new questions about the degree of variability of the Late Pleistocene fossils from China and the possible interaction of modern humans with other archaic hominins. This paper presents a general overview of the variability of the dental fossil record from some key Late Pleistocene localities in China. Our study reveals that despite having similar chronologies, not all the samples present the same suite of derived traits. This finding may reflect complex demographic dynamics with several migrations and dispersals and/or a degree of population substructure similar to that described for the African continent. Simple and linear models to explain the origin and dispersals of Homo sapiens seem to be progressively outdated by the new fossil, demographic and genetic evidence. In addition, we warn about genetic admixture as a possible source of morphological variability and we hypothesize that some skeletal features of Homo floresiensis and Denisovans could be related to their hybridization with other hominin groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many archaeological and paleoanthropological discoveries have been made in China over the last 2 decades. Among these findings, I particularly note the recently excavated Late Pleistocene sites in the loess plateau in northern China and others found in a number of river basins in southern China. They all provide significant new information concerning Late Pleistocene human migrations across this vast region. A result of these excavations is the confirmation that flake- and pebble-tool industries dominated the region before the late marine isotope stage (MIS) 3. Small-flake-tool assemblages emerged suddenly during the late MIS 3 in South China. Blade industry first arrived in northwest China at the end of MIS 3, and microblade assemblages appeared in the loess plateau and the surrounding areas at a later stage. In this paper I briefly introduce the progress in Chinese Paleolithic archaeology and discusses Late Pleistocene human migrations and related issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of pottery dated to around 20ka cal BP, within terminal Pleistocene cave sites in South China has been heatedly debated over the past decades. While the dates and pottery itself gained great attention, the archaeological context in which these findings were made have received less attention due to language biases, making it difficult to address questions of how and why pottery emerged in this region. This paper summarized the major findings from South China pottery-bearing sites dated between 25 and 10ka cal BP, and critically evaluates the environmental, cultural and behavioral changes during and after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The most up to date discoveries demonstrate that pottery appeared in South China right after the LGM, together with changes in lithic assemblages, the appearance of various bone and antler artefacts, as well as a transition to more sedentary lifeways with a heavier reliance on aquatic resources and small-sized animals, long before the appearance of early agriculture. These findings also reflect a more complex history and cultural diversity of different human groups in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zhe-Min Uplift (ZMU) has undergone tectonic subsidence, which has been associated with a notable transgression in the northern marginal seas of China since the middle Pleistocene. However, its uplift history during the late Quaternary is still inadequate. The Old Red Sand (ORS) is a late Pleistocene deposit that is widely distributed along the southeastern coast of China. The ORS consists of partially-cemented fine- to medium-grained sand. In this paper, we focus on mud-rich ORS deposits of the Liushui area, Pingtan Island, Fujian Province, and report optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages, and new datasets of grain size, mineralogy (detrital zircon, clay and detrital minerals) and organic carbon and nitrogen isotope profiles to improve understanding of chronology, provenance, palaeoenvironmental evolution and tectonic infuence. Based on the OSL data, we hypothesize that the development of the ORS was associated with lower sea levels, with most deposition occurring within MIS4. Based on comparison of detrital zircon U Pb ages, the coarse fraction of the Liushui ORS was mainly derived from the Minjiang River, with modest input from weathering of coastal granites. The East Asian Winter Monsoon contributed some materials from the East China Sea shelf during the last glacial period, as indicated by the fine-grained nature of the Liushui ORS, low K-feldspar/plagioclase ratios, high dolomite content and the frequency of Neoproterozoic and Palaeoproterozoic detrital zircons. The deposition of the ORS was influenced by both the East Asian Winter Monsoon and sea level changes. The clay minerals in the mud layers of the Liushui ORS were dominated by kaolinite and illite, with little chlorite and no smectite, indicating that they originated from the Minjiang River. The TOC/TN ratios of the mud layers, as well as their isotope characteristics, indicate the organic matter was derived from marine sources, presumably during the transgression event in MIS5. The average uplift rate of the ORS was about 0.03 mm/yr. The uplift of the ORS provided new insights into the geological records of the ZMU, which differed from the subsidence observed in the northern region of the Minjiang River during the late Pleistocene. • The formation of the ORS was association with lower sea level, and the MIS4 was primarily the deposition stage. • During the last glacial, the more sediments from the East China Sea shelf were transported to the ORS by EAWM. • The mud layer was the transgression records during MIS5. • The distribution of the ORS was influenced by tectonic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemia is a genus of halophilic zooplanktons comprising bisexual and parthenogenetic forms, which is an important model for investigating adaption to hypersaline ecosystems. The genus Artemia in China comprises four species: A. sinica, A. tibetiana, A. franciscana and A. parthenogenetica. To investigate the evolutionary relationship of bisexual and parthenogenetic Artemia in China, we analyzed the morphometrics and phylogenetics among twenty-two geographical populations in China. We found significant morphological differentiation across different species and strains of Artemia in China, which exhibited a high level of intra-population variation. We also found overlaps in morphological characteristics between populations, which may raise challenges for the classification of Artemia species using traditional morphological methods. A. franciscana, which originated from various regions in America, was generally distributed along the Chinese coastlines through multiple human introductions. Additionally, native Asian clades split into Western and Eastern Lineages during the late Miocene due to the Himalayan orogeny. Within the Western Lineage, A. tibetiana can be grouped into three taxon units: A. tibeitiana, A. sorgeloosi and A. urmiana. We also found that the distribution and genetic structure of A. sinica were influenced by climate oscillations during the Pleistocene, which might play a pivotal role in driving the formation of parthenogenetic strains in the Eastern Lineage. Overall, our study provides new insight into invertebrate evolution under geographical and climatic impacts in hypersaline environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The palaeolake evolution across the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas has been extensively studied, but the timing of late Pleistocene lake highstands remains controversial. Robust dating of lacustrine deposits is of importance in resolving this issue. This paper presents C or optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) age estimates from two sets of late Quaternary lacustrine sequences in the Qaidam Basin and Tengger Desert (northeastern Tibetan Plateau). The updated dating results show: (1) the radiocarbon dating technique apparently underestimated the age of the strata of >30 ka BP in Qaidam Basin; (2) although OSL and C dating agreed with each other for Holocene age samples in the Tengger Desert area, there was a significant offset in dating results of sediments older than ∼30 ka BP, largely resulting from radiocarbon dating underestimation; (3) both cases imply that most of the published radiocarbon ages (e.g., older than ∼30 ka BP) should be treated with caution and perhaps its geological implication should be revaluated; and (4) the high lake events on the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas, traditionally assigned to MIS 3a based on C dating, are likely older than ∼80 ka based on OSL chronology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archeological evidence from loess sediments from Shangchen on the southeastern Chinese Loess Plateau indicates a suspension of hominin occupation around the time of the early mid‐Pleistocene climate transition, prompting a re‐assessment of climate‐vegetation‐hominin interactions. Loess deposits with in situ lithic records cover the period of hominin occupation and reveal four distinct climate‐vegetation periods (2.1–1.8, 1.8–1.26, 1.26–0.9, and 0.9–0.6 Ma). Major oscillations in climate superimposed upon an aridification trend and an expansion of C4 herbaceous vegetation from about 1.26 Ma may have driven early humans to move to more hospitable locations in the region. Comparison with the record at Nihewan indicates that large‐scale climate oscillations induced disparate hominin responses due to distinctive local environmental conditions. Plain Language Summary: A combination of several lines of evidence suggests that changes in climate and their impacts on the availability of food and shelter from around 1.26 million years ago may have driven the dispersal of early humans from the southeastern Chinese Loess Plateau to more hospitable environments elsewhere in the region. Key Points: Pleistocene temperature, rainfall, and C4 plants ratios are quantitatively reconstructed from the Shangchen loess deposits with artifactsHigh climate variability, C4 plants expansion and aridification suspended hominin occupation at Shangchen during the early mid‐Pleistocene climate transitionHominins responded differently to large‐scale climate oscillations depending on distinctive local environmental conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent investigations into relict periglacial phenomena in northern and western China and on the Qinghai- Tibet Plateau provide information for delineating the extent of permafrost in China during the Late Pleistocene. Polygonal and wedge-shaped structures indicate that, during the local Last Glacial Maximum ( LLGM, between ∼35 and 10.5 ka BP), the southern limit of latitudinal permafrost in northern China advanced southward at least to ∼38-40° N in the east and to ∼37-39° N in the west. This represents an advance of about 5-10° of latitude beyond present-day permafrost limits. The lower limits of elevationally controlled permafrost on the Qinghai- Tibet Plateau and its peripheries were about 1000 m lower: this permafrost was largely continuous during the LLGM. This suggests a cooling of between 4 and 10° C, or more. This paper discusses the extent of permafrost during the LLGM and presents maps that have been constructed on the basis of extensive and integrative analysis of all reliable and pertinent data. The results indicate that the extent of LLGM permafrost in China was between ∼3.8 and 4.3×106 km2. This is 80 to 100% more than that of ∼2.15×106 km2 in the 1970s, and 120 to ∼150% more than that of ∼1.75×106 km2 today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sky islands are high-elevation areas in continental mountain ranges, which are geographically isolated. We adopted this concept for the mountains in southwest China, which are among the most important biodiversity hot spots on earth. We reviewed the phylogeographic studies of this area and highlighted the sky-island features. We concluded that the genetic structures of species in these islands were shaped by complex topography, climate and habitats. The global climate change, such as Pleistocene climate fluctuations and periodic uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, also have important effects on biodiversity and geographic patterns, when species have responded idiosyncratically by changing their distributions or through adaptation. Future research needs in sky islands include multilocus data and comparative phylogeographic studies, integrating with the methodological advances in the other fields. Using these approaches, we can examine to what degree the geographic, climate and/or biological factors, shape strong geographic patterns, promote diversification/speciation and preserve species/genetic diversity. We hope this paper will inspire future work to uncover the mechanism that has generated the endemic biodiversity and to further resolve the most essential problem: How to protect the biodiversity with limited funding during the coming drastic global climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bower's Berylmys (Berylmys bowersi) is one of the largest rodent species with a wide distribution range in southern China and the Indochinese Peninsula. The taxonomy and evolutionary history of the B. bowersi is still controversial and confusing. In this study, we used two mitochondrial (Cyt b and COI) and three nuclear (GHR, IRBP, and RAG1) genes to estimate the phylogeny, divergence times, and biogeographic history of B. bowersi. We also explored morphological variations among the specimens collected across China. Our phylogenetic analyses indicated that the traditional B. bowersi contains at least two species: B. bowersi and B. latouchei. Berylmys latouchei was considered a junior synonym of B. bowersi distributed in eastern China, which is confirmed to be distinguishable at specific level because of its larger size, relatively larger and whiter hind feet, and several cranial traits. The estimated split of B. bowersi and B. latouchei was at the early Pleistocene (ca. 2.00 Mya), which might be the outcome of the combined effects of climate change in the early Pleistocene and isolation by the Minjiang River. Our results highlight the Wuyi Mountains in northern Fujian, China, as a glacial refugia during the Pleistocene and call for more intensive surveys and systematic revisions of small mammals in eastern China. The Bowers Berylmys (Berylmys bowersi) is one of the largest rodent species with a wide distribution range in southern China and the Indochinese Peninsula. Our analyses indicated that the traditional B. bowersi is a species complex contains at least two species: B. bowersi and B. latouchei. Also, our results highlight the Wuyi Mountains as the glacial refugia in the Pleistocene and call for more intensive surveys and systematic revisions of small mammals in the eastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed morphological description and comparative study were conducted on numerous large-sized hamster remains collected from the late Middle Pleistocene Locality 2 of Shanyangzhai (Syz 2), Hebei Province, China. The comparisons reveal that these fossils are highly similar to the extant Tscherskia triton in size and morphology, including the small degree of alternating between the main opposite cusps on M1-3, the presence of axioloph on M3, and mesolophids on m1-2 that are present but seldom reach the lingual margin of the teeth, among other features. However, minor differences between the two still exist. Consequently, all these fossils are designated as a chronosubspecies of the extant species, T. triton varians comb. nov. The skull and molar morphologies of Cricetinus varians and T. triton were meticulously compared to resolve the long-standing debate regarding the validity of Cricetinus Zdansky, 1928 and C. varians Zdansky, 1928. The findings indicate that the differences between the two are slight; as a result, C. varians can only be considered a chronosubspecies of T. triton, i.e., T. triton varians comb. nov., and Cricetinus should be recognized as a junior synonym of Tscherskia. We tentatively propose that, among the seven species once referred to Cricetinus, C. europaeus, C. gritzai, C. janossyi, and C. koufosi should be reassigned to Tscherskia, while C. beremendensis should be transferred to Allocricetus, and C. mesolophidos to Neocricetodon. Excluding Tscherskia sp. from the Late Pliocene Youhe fauna, there are no reliable Tscherskia fossils in China earlier than the Middle Pleistocene. Based on the current evidence, Tscherskia may have originated from Neocricetodon during the Early Pliocene in Europe and subsequently spread to Asia. T. triton is its sole surviving representative, which now exclusively inhabits East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lakeshore environments offer an excellent opportunity to explore how early humans adapted to changing landscapes and environments. The Nihewan fluvio‐lacustrine sequence in North China contains one of the densest concentrations of Early Pleistocene Palaeolithic sites outside of Africa. Among these, the Cenjiawan site, dated at 1.1 Ma, draws attention due to the large number of stone tool refits. We present here Cenjiawan's sedimentary context, artefact spatial patterns, size distribution and taphonomic features, which are complemented by an experimental programme to better understand archaeological debitage size patterns, thus enabling a detailed analysis of formation processes at the site. The Cenjiawan assemblage is also interpreted in the light of its geographical and geological context, where a synsedimentary fault induced a minor topographic relief across the lacustrine lakeshore. This resulted in a shallow‐water setting in the down‐thrown hanging wall of the fault compartment, and a fluvial environment in the uplifted footwall. Our results indicate that Cenjiawan, situated in the hanging wall of the fault, underwent minimal disturbance, constituting a remarkable example of optimal preservation of archaeological assemblages in Early Pleistocene lakeshore environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large incomplete ostrich femur from the Lower Pleistocene of North China, kept at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Paris), is described. It was found by Father Emile Licent in 1925 in the Nihewan Formation (dated at about 1.8 Ma) of Hebei Province. On the basis of the minimum circumference of the shaft, a mass of 300 kg, twice that of a modern ostrich, was obtained. The bone is remarkably robust, more so than the femur of the more recent, Late Pleistocene, Struthio anderssoni from China, and resembles in that regard Pachystruthio Kretzoi, 1954, a genus known from the Lower Pleistocene of Hungary, Georgia and the Crimea, to which the Nihewan specimen is referred, as Pachystruthio indet. This find testifies to the wide geographical distribution of very massive ostriches in the Early Pleistocene of Eurasia. The giant ostrich from Nihewan was contemporaneous with the early hominins who inhabited that region in the Early Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major reorganizations in climate and tectonic regime occurred in East Asia during the Pleistocene, resulting in large-scale environmental changes. In this paper a detailed geochemical and mineralogical record of these changes is presented from a distal alluvial fan sedimentary sequence in the northern Weihe Basin. We established that, in addition to glacial-interglacial variation, there are three distinctly different units deposited over the past 1 m.y. These units are the result of variations in the overall tectonic regime in the northern Weihe Basin. Fine-grained detrital minerals were predominantly delivered during colder climatic periods, whereas evaporative minerals were dominantly deposited during the warmer, interglacial periods, probably as a result of strong seasonal contrast. This compositional variation demonstrates the importance of climate control on hinterland erosion, surface runoff, chemical weathering and evaporation. Al-normalized ratios of indicative major elements relative to average loess composition, indicate important variations in sedimentary processes, mostly related to sediment flux. Si-enrichment is an index for past flooding events, while Fe enrichment, just like K and Ti, reflects influx of clays. In contrast, Ca and Mn are strongly enriched throughout the core, associated with the authigenic precipitation of carbonates, especially during interglacial periods. The lower (~ 1000–690 ka) and upper (~ 330–0 ka) units of the core are characterized by relative intense and frequent flooding, which coincided with extensive ponding in the study area. In the middle unit (~ 690–330 ka) increased salinity levels caused by evaporation, as reflected in the high Sr/Ca ratio and dolomite abundance, led to increased carbonate precipitation. Simultaneously, the increased influx of fine sediments indicates increased clay production in the source area as a result of a more intense summer monsoon strength after 600 ka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Luo River is located in the southern part of the Chinese Loess Plateau and the northern part of the Weihe Basin, in Central China. In the basin it flows proximal to the site of the Luyang Wetland core, which is an important archive of climate change over the past 1 Myr in this region. In this paper, the contribution of the Luo River to the sedimentary record is analyzed by reconstructing the evolution of this river during the Middle to Late Pleistocene. It is argued that an alluvial fan of the Luo River has contributed to the sedimentary archive until approximately 200–240 ka. From this moment onwards, the fan became incised and terraces began to form. The formation of a new alluvial fan further downstream led to the disconnection of the Luo River from the Luyang Wetland core site. We propose that this series of events was caused by the displacement of an intra-basinal fault and the resultant faulting-forced folding, which caused increased relative subsidence, and thus increased sedimentation rates at the core site. Therefore, a complete sediment record in the ‘Luyang Wetland’ was preserved, despite the disconnection from the Luo River. The chronology of the fans and terraces was established using existing age control (U-series, ESR, OSL, pIRIR 290 and magnetic susceptibility correlation), and through correlation of the loess-paleosol cover to marine isotope stages. Based on sedimentological characteristics of the fluvial sequence, we suggest that incision of the Luo River occurred in two steps. Small incisions took place at transitions to interglacials and the main incision phases occur at the transition from an interglacial to glacial climate. Due to the incision, basal parts of the oldest Luo River alluvial fan are exposed, and it is in one of these exposures that the famous Dali Man skull was retrieved. This study shows that the Dali Man did not live on a river terrace as previously thought, but on an aggrading alluvial fan, during wet, glacial conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, stable isotope (δ 13C, δ 18O) analyses of five equid species from the Linxia Basin, northwestern China, were conducted to investigate dietary niche turnover during a critical Pliocene-Pleistocene phase in the evolution of Old World Equidae. In the Early Pliocene Shilidun fauna, Proboscidipparion pater is inferred to have mainly fed on C 3 grasses in open grasslands as indicated by their relatively high δ 13C values (−9.1 ± 0.4‰, five teeth, n = 61), whereas Cremohipparion licenti and Sivalhippus platyodus were possibly mixed feeders inhabiting woodlands and grasslands because of their comparatively low δ 13C values (−10.8 ± 0.6‰, seven teeth, n = 36; −10.6 ± 0.6‰, nine teeth, n = 35). Inhabiting the same environments, both C. licenti and S. platyodus went extinct, possibly, because climatic changes led to a decline in woodlands resulting in greater competition. In the Early Pleistocene Longdan fauna, Proboscidipparion sinense had higher δ 13C values (−9.1 ± 0.5‰, four teeth, n = 23) than coexisting Equus eisenmannae (−10.2 ± 0.5‰, eight teeth, n = 57), implying that P. sinense had a stronger grazing preference compared to E. eisenmannae. Ecomorphological analyses (body size, tooth crown height, and enamel surface complexity) reveal that P. pater and P. sinense had dental characteristics consistent with a strong grazing preference. Therefore, P. pater might have been preadapted to open grasslands during the warm and humid Early Pliocene, which helped its descendent P. sinense persist into the Pleistocene. The results of this study reveal distinct dietary niches for these equids for the first time and shed light on some aspects of the evolutionary history of Equidae in East Asia. • Dietary niche partitioning of five fossil equids were reconstructed through stable isotopes in East Asia for the first time. • Preadaption to open grasslands of Proboscidipparion pater during the Pliocene helped this genus persist into Pleistocene. • Cremohipparion licenti and Sivalhippus platyodus went extinct due to interspecific competition on habitats in Pliocene. • Early Pleistocene hipparion Proboscidipparion sinense occupied more open environments than coexisting Equus eisenmannae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the northernmost locality yielding one of the most representative Early Pleistocene Gigantopithecus–Sinomastodon faunas in southern China, the Longgupo site has preserved valuable geological archives that have significantly improved our understanding of Pleistocene biostratigraphy and biogeography. A convincing chronological framework of this locality is therefore important to elaborate on the evolution of Quaternary faunas as well as paleoenvironment. To reconcile the existing geochronological results with new advances in geochronology and biochronology, we present here a revised magnetostratigraphic age model based on detailed rock magnetic and paleomagnetic data and strengthened by biochronology as well as recently published electron spin resonance and uranium series (ESR/U‐series) age data. Two geomagnetic polarities were identified from the Longgupo sequence: the upper one is thin and normal, corresponding to the Olduvai normal subchron; and the lower one is distinctly thick and reversed, corresponding to the pre‐Olduvai Matuyama Chron. The age of the Longgupo fauna constrained by this refined magnetochronological framework is therefore estimated to be about 2.5–2.0 Ma, consistent with the newly published ESR/U‐series age of 2.5–2.2 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thick Quaternary alluvial and floodplain sediments in north Hebei Plain provide important information for understanding local paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic variations. A 120.8 m drilled core (SHBZK-1) was recovered to determine the late Pleistocene climatic fluctuations, sedimentary environment and their coevolutionary relationship. Laboratory analysis, including grain size distribution, magnetic susceptibility, and optical stimulated luminescence dating, was carried out. Lithofacies and grain size showed that the sediments are of fluvial origin and contain two subfaces: river sand bar and flood plain. The good correlation between magnetic susceptibility and grain size show that climate change is the main factor controlling the variation of sedimentary environment in Hebei Plain, rather than tectonic factors. Furthermore, variations of the magnetic susceptibility and lithofacies reflect the intensity and fluctuations of Asian monsoons and couple well with glacial-interglacial cycles, suggesting that the variation of ice volume in the Northern Hemisphere drives climate change in the Hebei Plain, which, in turn, regulates the variation of the sedimentary environment and facies through controlling precipitation changes, as well as the input amount of magnetic minerals. This research provides a useful continental archive for understanding the late Pleistocene environmental and climatic variation and suggests the prevalence of climate-driven environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant panda, currently restricted to a small region of central China, was once widely dispersed throughout southern China and even some parts of continental Southeast Asia during the Pleistocene epoch. However, the evolutionary process and intraspecific variation remain poorly understood in light of limited fossil records, which are usually isolated teeth and a few fragmentary skulls and mandibles. Here we report three skulls, two of which are nearly complete, of Ailuropoda melanoleuca baconi from Yanjinggou in China, which represent the best-preserved skull material ever recorded for this paleosubspecies. A. m. baconi, characterized by a large and robust body, extremely developed zygomatic arches, a moderately developed sagittal crest, and a medium-rough external surface of the supraoccipital, exoccipital, and ascending ramus compared with Ailuropoda microta and other paleosubspecies and living subspecies of A. melanoleuca, can be regarded as a valid paleosubspecies. Ailuropoda fovealis or Ailuropoda melanoleuca fovealis turns out to be a synonym of A. m. baconi. The intraspecific variation of A. m. baconi is far more complicated than generally accepted. Based on comparisons with A. microta, A. m. wulingshanensis, and modern Ailuropoda melanoleuca, we propose that the evolutionary tendency of the skull appears to be much clearer than that of the teeth and that the increase in body size and the enhancement of the masticatory system can be deemed as the main evolutionary changes in this part of the Ailuropoda lineage. Meanwhile, our study for the first time provides a numerical age (ca. 0.35–0.26 Ma) for the Yanjinggou fauna, which is generally considered as a mixture of the middle Early Pleistocene fauna and the Mid-Late Pleistocene fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fossil record of jaguar lineage (or jaguar-like animal), i.e., Panthera gombaszogensis and Panthera onca, is one of the best and complete among the mammals, making it one of the best-known living species with knowledge of origin, dispersal, and morphological evolution. However, a large gap is present in eastern Asia, which is the gateway for jaguar migration from the Old World to the New World. Here we report a nearly complete mandible from the Middle Pleistocene deposits of Jinyuan Cave, Luotuo Hill of Jinpu New District, Dalian, Liaoning Province of northeastern China. The mandibular morphology fits that of the jaguar, and the dental traits are closest to P. gombaszogensis and Irvingtonian P. onca, but shows robust premolars and represents a new subspecies P. g. jinpuensis. The new find fills the geographic gap for jaguar linage, and supports a northern dispersal routine from western Asia-central Asia-northeastern China to North America, whereas the southern China Early Pleistocene seems to be occupied by a similar sized but taxonomically different pantherine cat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutionary history of Clematis section Tubulosae, an East Asian endemic lineage, has not been comprehensively studied. In this study, we reconstruct the phylogeny of this section with a complete sampling using a phylogenomic approach. The genome skimming method was applied to obtain the complete plastome sequence, the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA), and the nuclear SNPs data for phylogenetic reconstruction. Using a Bayesian molecular clock approach and ancestral range reconstruction, we reconstruct biogeographical history and discuss the biotic and abiotic factors that may have shaped the distribution patterns of the section. Both nuclear datasets better resolved the phylogeny of the sect. Tubulosae than the plastome sequence. Sect. Tubulosae was resolved as a monophyletic group sister to a clade mainly containing species from the sect. Clematis and sect. Aspidanthera. Within sect. Tubulosae, two major clades were resolved by both nuclear datasets. Two continental taxa, C. heracleifolia and C. tubulosa var. ichangensis, formed one clade. One continental taxon, C. tubulosa, and all the other species from Taiwan island, the Korean peninsula, and the Japanese archipelago formed the other clade. Molecular dating results showed that sect. Tubulosae diverged from its sister clade in the Pliocene, and all the current species diversified during the Pleistocene. Our biogeographical reconstruction suggested that sect. Tubulosae evolved and began species diversification, most likely in mainland China, then dispersed to the Korean peninsula, and then expanded its range through the Japanese archipelago to Taiwan island. Island species diversity may arise through allopatric speciation by vicariance events following the range fragmentation triggered by the climatic oscillation and sea level change during the Pleistocene epoch. Our results highlight the importance of climatic oscillation during the Pleistocene to the spatial-temporal diversification patterns of the sect. Tubulosae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A complete ostrich femur from the Late Pleistocene deposits of the Upper Cave at Zhoukoudian (China) was referred by Shaw to Struthio anderssoni in the 1930s, but its present whereabouts are unknown. A good quality plaster cast of the missing specimen has been found in the collections of the Natural History Museum (London). This cast provides interesting information about the morphology of this large ostrich femur, which had previously been only summarily described and not illustrated. Although smaller than the femora of the Early Pleistocene giant ostrich Pachystruthio, the robust femur from Zhoukoudian shows morphological similarities with them, and it is suggested that 'Struthio' anderssoni should be placed in the genus Pachystruthio. The importance of old palaeontological casts is emphasized, as well as the need to preserve and curate them properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcocheilichthys parvus (Cypriniformes: Gobionidae) is a stream fish which is endemic to sub-tropical coastal drainages in southern China, thus offering a valuable model for understanding how genetic divergence arises in streamadapting freshwater fishes in this region. Using the mitochondrial Cyt b gene, integrative analyses of phylogeny, population demography, and ancestral area and paleo-drainage reconstructions are carried out to explicitly explore the role of landscape evolution in genetic diversification of S. parvus. The time-calibrated phylogeny of S. parvus indicates the splitting of two major lineages (A and B) at ~3.66 Ma. Lineage A inhabits the Poyang Lake sub-drainage of the middle Yangtze River, Han River and Pearl River, and can be split into two sub-lineages (A-I and A-II), where sub-lineage A-II can be further sub-divided into three infra-sub-lineages (A-IIa, A-IIb and A-IIc). Except for the infra-sub-lineage A-IIc, which is restricted to the Han River and Pearl River, the other sub-lineages and infra-sub-lineages live exclusively in the Poyang Lake sub-drainage. Lineage B lives in the lower Yangtze River, Qiantang River, Jiaojiang River and Ou River, displaying close genetic relationships among the drainages. Rapid population expansion has occurred since the Late Pleistocene. Our findings indicate that the splitting of lineages A and B could be attributed to geographic isolation due to the Zhe-Min Uplift, acting as a biogeographic barrier before the late Early Pleistocene. Furthermore, the strong genetic divergence within Lineage A could be explained by the isolation role of the Nanling Mountains and Poyang Lake acting as an ecological barrier; while the lack of phylogenetic structure within Lineage B may have been the result of paleo-drainage connections or episodic freshwater connections during the eustatic low stand of sea level in the late Middle-Late Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using shallow seismic exploration, composite drilling section exploration and sample dating test, we have obtained precise positions, burial depths of uppermost point and activity characteristics of Hetan-Guotan buried fault and Zhenjing-Zhenbei buried fault in Zhongwei Basin. The results show that the latest active period of Hetan-Guotan buried fault is the middle-late Middle Pleistocene, and the latest active period of Zhenjing-Zhenbei buried fault is the Early and Middle Pleistocene. The two buried faults became inactive at the end of the Middle Pleistocene and have been inactive since the Late Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1920s, fossil erinaceids have been found in several dozen Quaternary localities in China. Previously, most of them were provisionally classified in eurytopic Erinaceus. This limits understanding of the authentic diversity and evolution of Erinaceinae in China and the reconstruction of their paleohabitats. We reviewed all accessible erinaceid fossils found in the Quaternary deposits in China. An erinaceid fragmentary mandible collected from the early Pleistocene deposits in Tianzhen county, Shanxi Province in North China was classified as Mesechinus cf. hughi, which is the oldest definite report of fossil Mesechinus in China. We considered that Erinaceus koloshanensis Young and Liu (1950) from Geleshan, Chongqing Municipality, should be transferred to Mesechinus as M. koloshanensis, and E. olgae Young (1934) from Zhoukoudian, Beijing, should be considered as a synonym of M. dauuricus. Our re-examination supplies a fossil calibration for the previous molecular phylogeny of the Erinaceinae. The earliest Mesechinus appeared in the early Pleistocene with the representative Mesechinus cf. hughi, M. dauuricus occurred in the middle Pleistocene and Erinaceus amurensis is also dated to the middle Pleistocene. Compared with Erinaceus, Mesechinus occupies a narrower niche and could be a potential indicative genus for a woodland or forest environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fanshi Basin is one of the NE–SW-striking depocentres formed along the northern segment of the fault-bounded Shanxi rift. In order to understand the crustal driving stresses that led to the basin formation and development, a palaeostress analysis of a large quantity of fault-slip data collected mainly at the boundaries of the basin was accomplished. The stress inversion of these data revealed three stress regimes. The oldest SR1 was a Neogene stress regime giving rise to a strike-slip deformation with NE–SW contraction and NW–SE extension. SR1 activated the large faults trending NNE–NE, i.e. (sub)parallel to the main strike of the Shanxi rift, as right-lateral strike-slip faults. It was subjected to the Shanxi rift before the activation of the Fanshi Basin boundary fault, i.e. the Fanshi (or Wutai) fault, as a normal fault. The next is a short-lived NE–SW extensional stress regime SR2 in early Pleistocene time, which shows the inception of the basin's extension. A strong NW–SE to NNW–SSE extensional stress regime SR3 has governed the northern segment of the Shanxi rift since late Pleistocene time and is the present-day extension. It gave rise to the current half-graben geometry of the Fanshi Basin by activating the Fanshi (or Wutai) fault as a normal fault in the southern part of the graben. Because of the dominance of the NW–SE to NNW–SSE extension, which is perpendicular to the NE–SW extension, mutual permutations between σ3 and σ2 due to inherited fault patterns might have occurred while the crustal stresses in the Fanshi Basin changed from the SR1 to SR3 stress regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful occupation of the eastern Eurasian Steppe in the Late Pleistocene improved cultural connections between western Eurasia and East Asia. We document multiple waves of lithic technological transmission between the eastern Eurasian Steppe and northern China during 50–11 cal. ka BP. These waves are apparent in the sequential appearance of three techno-complexes in northern China: (1) the Mousterian techno-complex, (2) the blade techno-complex mixed with Mousterian elements, (3) and the microlithized blade techno-complex. These lithic techno-complexes were transmitted under different paleoenvironmental conditions along different pathways through the eastern Eurasian Steppe. The Mousterian techno-complex and the blade techno-complex mixed with Mousterian elements were only dispersed in the north and west peripheries of northern China (50–33 cal. ka BP). We argue that these techno-complexes failed to penetrate into the hinterland of northern China because they were not well suited to local geographical conditions. In contrast, the microlithized blade technology which diffused from the eastern Eurasian Steppe was locally modified into a Microblade techno-complex which was highly suited to local environmental conditions, and proliferated across the hinterland of northern China (28/27-11 cal. ka BP). The subsequent spread of microblade technology over vast regions of Mongolia and Siberia indicates that the Pleistocene inhabitants of northern China not only adopted and modified technologies from their neighbors in the Eurasian Steppe, but these modified variants were subsequently transmitted back into the Eurasian Steppe. These episodes of technological transmission indicate complicated patterns of population dispersal and technological interaction across northern China and the eastern Eurasian Steppe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a three-dimensional (3D) quantitative approach to measure the degree of symmetry of handaxes from the Danjiangkou Reservoir Region (DRR), central China. Our analysis provides not only information on the bilateral symmetry, as most previous studies have done, but also on the symmetry of the profile view. The results show that the overall degree of symmetry of handaxes in plan view is much higher than for profile views in the DRR assemblages. However, the range of values for deviation from absolute symmetry for each specimen indicates that both plan and profile views possess great variability in symmetry. Comparisons of handaxes from two terraces (the Middle Pleistocene Terrace 3 and the early Late Pleistocene Terrace 2) demonstrate that the degree of symmetry did not increase over time in these two samples. Both the type of blank and the type of shaping play roles in determining the final degree of symmetry of the DRR handaxes. According to these results, we argue that there is no strictly imposed final symmetrical shape for the DRR handaxes, and the degree of symmetry is most likely related to some basic factors (e.g., bilateral and bifacial shaping and blank types). However, although a mental template for a preferred end product is absent, a conceptual standardization did indeed exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper applies for cluster analysis and factor analysis theory to statistically analyze environmental isotope (d18O,d2H, 3H, 14C) and water chemistry (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3 -, SO4 2-, Cl-) test data from different water bodies in the coal-mining exploring district. The result shows that groundwater can be clustered into four categories, namely GA, GB, GC and GD classes. Deep karst groundwater and spring were grouped into GA class, and the contour map of the second-factor scores shows that karst water and spring of the GA group is in the same area, indicating the same recharging source from the northern mountainous area. Deep fissure water was clustered into GC class with the lowest second-factor scores, and cation exchange plays a central role, then did not detect tritium with 14C of lower levels, indicating the late Pleistocene rainfall recharging. Shallow pore water and surface water were clustered into GB class with the high third factors scores, indicating surface water leakage recharging. The water samples of GD class have the highest three factors score, pointing out that the shallow pore water and surface water were polluted. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for assessing groundwater circulation mechanism in the coal-mining exploring district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the discovery of a new mammalian assemblage at Mocun cave in 2000 by the Natural History Museum of Guangxi. The Mocun site is located in a residual karst peak in southwest Guangxi, south China. Abundant mammalian fossil teeth and bones were extracted from relatively thick deposits, well constrained stratigraphically. The results show that 1) the Mocun fauna is composed of typical species of the " Ailuropoda - Stegodon association", including Stegodon, Ailuropoda, Rhinoceros, Pongo, Tapiru s, Megatapirus, and Elephas, common in the Middle to the Late Pleistocene, with a larger portion of modern species; 2) By employing U-series dating (MC-ICP-MS) method on both the soda straw stalactites and mammalian teeth collected from deposits, the age of the Mocun fauna has been constrained between 66 and 101 ka, a transitional period from the interglacial stage MIS5 to the beginning of the last glacial stage (MIS4), representing one of the securely dated Late Pleistocene sites in southern China so far; 3) The composition in large mammals suggests a forested environment which harboured a great biodiversity in large species; 4) The taphonomic analysis indicates that the fossil accumulation is mainly due to activities of porcupines and to water flows; 5) Interestingly, our taxonomic study reveals some changes in the occurrence of Tapirus sinensis and Megatapirus augustus between ∼66 and ∼86 Ka, along with a change in the abundance of artiodactyls versus primates. It remains to demonstrate with more comprehensive records if these changes may be related to the mid-Late Pleistocene climatic transition. • a new mammalian fauna cave site (Mocun cave) with accurate date to 66 and 101 ka in southwest Guangxi. • The composition in large mammals suggests a compatible habitat for a great biodiversity of species. • Some changes between layers with Tapirus sinensis replaced by Megatapirus augustus between ∼66 and ∼86 Ka, along with a change in the abundance of artiodactyls versus primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Quaternary was the main evaporite deposition period in the Qaidam Basin (QB), but the correlation between the evaporite deposition period and the glacial period is still unclear. In this study, the research objects are primarily evaporite‐bearing strata in a 461.58 m‐long drill core in the QB. X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were applied to study the evaporite minerals, U‐Th dating being applied to construct the 230Th geochronological framework. Evaporite deposition from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 15 to MIS 4 in the borehole was reconstructed via mineralogical and geochronological data. The evaporite minerals are mainly halite (NaCl), mirabilite (Na2SO4·10H2O), thenardite (Na2SO4) and gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O). A total of 9 effective 230Th data points, ranging from 492.5 ± 43.0 ka to 62.0 ± 11.9 ka, were obtained. The depositional age of the earliest halite layer in the borehole is 592.5–563.0 ka. There were mirabilite deposits in the QB during the cold glacial environment of MIS 6. During MIS 4, the study area desiccated, with mirabilite and halite being deposited. This study suggests that mirabilite is an indicator mineral for the glacial environment in the QB, while halite deposition does not correspond well to glaciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of Acheulean tool types (e.g. handaxes and cleavers) in East Asia has recently attracted considerable attention. They challenge the long lasting concept that the Early Palaeolithic in East Asia is characterized only by Mode 1 technology, and they reflect the diversity and complexity of Palaeolithic culture during hundreds of thousands of years. In this paper, we present a detailed technological analysis of the in situ artifact assemblage at the Shuangshu site (Danjiangkou Reservoir Region, central China), as well as intra- and inter-regional comparisons of some characteristic traits used to test the difference between handaxes in the East and the West. The results show that there are two reduction sequences taking place. One is expressed in the predominant use of quartz in the production the small-to-medium sized artifacts, which is an expedient technology that dominates the whole assemblage, and the other is represented by the predominant use of quartz phyllite and trachyte in the production of Large Cutting Tools (LCTs). The latter displays the technical criteria characteristic of Acheulean technology, although its origins are much debated. In addition, the number of LCTs and total artifacts is generally low for the size of the excavation area, which probably is a result of relatively small population size and the high mobility of hominids. The thickness of handaxes has been shown not to be a reliable variable in demonstrating the difference between the East and the West. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Handaxe-bearing sites in China are currently known to occur in a number of alluvial basins, the best known being Dingcun, Bose and Luonan. Bose in the south and Luonan in central China on the northern margin of the Qinling Mountains are most familiar to English-speaking researchers. Here we document the Danjiangkou Reservoir Region (DRR) as another major area for large cutting tools (LCTs), located in central China on the southeastern edge of the Qinling Mountains. Large cutting tools are preserved in three terraces of the Han and Dan Rivers in Hubei and Henan Provinces, with dates from ca. 0.8 Ma (millions of years ago) (Terrace 4) to the first half of the Middle Pleistocene (Terrace 3), and possibly to the Late Pleistocene (Terrace 2). This paper reports on LCTs discovered in Terraces 3 and 2, with a majority from the older terrace (and one specimen from Terrace 4). Regional environments during the Middle Pleistocene were relatively warm, humid and stable. Despite the poor quality of raw materials (predominantly quartz phyllite and trachyte for the LCTs), good examples of both handaxes and cleavers are present, plus two types of picks. The LCT technology is compared and contrasted with other Asian industries and with the Acheulean. Overall the DRR LCTs show both technological and morphological similarities with Acheulean LCTs, with some differences that are mainly attributed to raw material properties, subsistence ecology, and ‘cultural drift.’ The DRR LCTs expand the range of morphological variability of the East Asian material and highlight the need for greater reliance on technological analysis and raw material evaluation for best comparison of Chinese assemblages with the Acheulean tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climactic oscillations during the Quaternary played a significant role in the formation of genetic diversity and historical demography of numerous plant species in northwestern China. In this study, we used 11 simple sequence repeats derived from expressed sequence tag (EST-SSR), two chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragments, and ecological niche modeling (ENM) to investigate the population structure and the phylogeographic history of Lycium ruthenicum , a plant species adapted to the climate in northwestern China. We identified 20 chloroplast haplotypes of which two were dominant and widely distributed in almost all populations. The species has high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity based on the cpDNA data. The EST-SSR results showed a high percentage of total genetic variation within populations. Both the cpDNA and EST-SSR results indicated no significant differentiation among populations. By combining the evidence from ENM and demographic analysis, we confirmed that both the last interglacial (LIG) and late-glacial maximum (LGM) climatic fluctuations, aridification might have substantially narrowed the distribution range of this desert species, the southern parts of the Junggar Basin, the Tarim Basin, and the eastern Pamir Plateau were the potential glacial refugia for L. ruthenicum during the late middle Pleistocene to late Pleistocene Period. During the early Holocene, the warm, and humid climate promoted its demographic expansion in northwestern China. This work may provide new insights into the mechanism of formation of plant diversity in this arid region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper describes the changes of distribution in geography and geohistory of five genera of fossil insectivora of the Shanyangzhai fauna in China, and compares these with their modern geographical and ecological distribution. The comparison showed that since the Pleistocene, the diffusion of the common hedgehog Erinaceus, the migration of the shrew Sorex, the water shrew Neomys, and the genera Crocidura and Scaptochirus, all indicate displacement of warm-dry environments in north China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Located at the transition between monsoon- and westerly-dominated climate systems, major rivers draining the western North Qilian Shan incise deep, narrow canyons into latest Quaternary foreland basin sediments of the Hexi Corridor. Field surveys and previously published geochronology show that the Beida River incised 130 m at the mountain front over the Late Pleistocene and Holocene at an average rate of 6 m kyr -1. We hypothesize that a steep knickzone, with 3 % slope, initiated at the mountain front and has since retreated to its present position, 10 km upstream. Additional terrace dating suggests that this knickzone formed around the mid-Holocene, over a duration of less than 1.5 kyr, during which incision accelerated from 6 m kyr -1 to at least 25 m kyr -1. These incision rates are much faster than the uplift rate across the North Qilian fault, which suggests a climate-related increase in discharge drove rapid incision over the Holocene and formation of the knickzone. Using the relationship between incision rates and the amount of base level drop, we show the maximum duration of knickzone formation to be ∼700 years and the minimum incision rate to be 50 m kyr -1. We interpret that this period of increased river incision corresponds to a pluvial lake-filling event at the terminus of the Beida River and correlates with a wet period driven by strengthening of the Southeast Asian Monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical views of Asia as an evolutionary 'backwater' are associated with the idea that Homo erectus experienced long periods of stasis and ultimately went extinct. However, recent discoveries of well-dated Middle Pleistocene hominin fossils in China have considerably challenged these ideas and provide sufficient data to propose a testable model that explains the patterning of variation in Middle Pleistocene China, and why it changed over time. A series of hominin fossil studies comparing earlier-Middle and later-Middle Pleistocene groups confirm that the expressions of certain traits shift around 300 ka. Fossils from the later Middle Pleistocene are more variable with a mix of archaic traits as well as ones that are common in Western Eurasian early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. The period around 300 ka appears to have been a critical turning point for later-Middle Pleistocene morphological changes in China. It coincides with a phase of climatic instability in the Northern Hemisphere between Marine Isotope Stages 12 and 10 that would have led to changes in gene flow patterning, and regional population survival/extinction. This localized and testable model can be used for future explorations of hominin evolution in later Pleistocene eastern Eurasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qulong paleolandslide dam event lies in the Benzilan-Batang zone of the upper Jinsha River. The Jinsha River is one of the most extensive water resources in southwest China. Here, the geological environment is complex, and the tectonic activity is intense. Thus, landslide dam events occur frequently, forming large barrier lakes. Analyzing and understanding these events is vital to ensure the safe development and utilization of land and water resources in the Jinsha River valley. In this study, the Qulong paleolandslide dam event, which formed a large barrier lake, is analyzed in detail. The topographic and grain-size analyses of the barrier lake's Qulong gully and lacustrine sediments imply that the Qulong paleolandslide occurred during the last interglacial period. The instability of moraine in the source area caused the landslide dam event that forms a rapid landslide and then transformed into a high-speed clastic flow. Historical data indicate that more than 90% of barrier lakes along the Jinsha are earthquake-triggered landslides, so the relationship between magnitude and epicenter distance of earthquake that induced the Qulong paleolandslide are calculated by Newmark method. The SFLOW software has been used to examine the post-failure evolution and movement characteristics of the Qulong paleolandslide. The results show that the speed of clastic flow reaches 41 m/s or so, and the clastic flow blocks the ancient Jinsha River channel whose thickness reaches 100 m or so, the largest up to 111 m, and its length is more than 4.5 km. Moreover, the high-speed clastic flow runs over the front of the Yinduba platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper reports the Sorex fossils found in the Middle Pleistocene Shanyangzhai cave sediments in Qinhuangdao city of North China. The red shrew fossils include Sorex araneus, Sorex minutus, Sorex minutissimus and Sorex cf. mirabilis. S. minutus is reported for the first time in Middle Pleistocene sediments in China. It is smaller than S. araneus. S. minutissimus is the first find in China. Based on different position of the mental foramen, it can be distinguished from S. minutus. S. cf. mirabilis is the first fossil record of this species. Combining previously reported Sorex fossils across China, it seems that more species may have existed. The number of fossil Sorex species cited to date from China has increased to 5. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The prevailing interpretation of the evidence for Early Pleistocene hominin occupation of the Nihewan Basin, North China is that it indicates continuous settlement by hominins that were able to adapt to a wide variety of environmental conditions, ranging from full interglacial to full glacial. It has further been suggested that they were able to do so by the routine hunting of large mammals. This paper argues that there is no evidence that hominins inhabited the Nihewan Basin year-round or under cold conditions, and no evidence that they hunted. Instead, it is suggested that hominins are likely to have visited Nihewan during the summer months, and probably avoided it when conditions were significantly colder than today. This scenario is consistent with what is known of the climatic sensitivity of the earliest hominin occupation of other regions in Eurasia at comparable latitudes (such as the Chinese Loess Plateau, Tajikistan, the Caucasus and Spain), and in similar strongly-seasonal environments with sub-freezing winters, such as Britain. Overall, hominin settlement in the Nihewan Basin was likely discontinuous, infrequent and ephemeral. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Nihewan Basin is an important area for studying the evolution of early hominids in China. Among 15 recently discovered and reported Lower Pleistocene sites in the Basin, eight (Majuangou, Xiaochangliang, Dachangliang, Banshan, Donggutuo, Feiliang, Huojiadi, Xujiapo) have been specifically analyzed by the authors. This paper is a synthesis of results of analysis of lithic technology and palaeoenvironmental information of these sites. Three distinct arrangements of techniques are identified from the eight sites, which represent the different lithic techniques, cognitive capability and cultural contents. The “DGT Core” from Donggutuo indicates that the cognitive capability and the culture deepness of early hominids in China surpassed expectations. Re-evaluation is required of early human technology and behavioral mode in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: As in many other regions of the world, the Late Pleistocene in China underwent rhythmic changes of climate, which caused some obvious changes in mammalian fauna, natural landscape and human cultural adaptations. This paper is a brief introduction of four representative Late Pleistocene sites in North China, which are dated at periods between Middle and Upper Palaeolithic, and demonstrated common or particular features from geographic and geological aspects, archaeological and environmental characters, and chronological position. A large transformation happened, reflected by culture remains, showing that environmental changes profoundly influenced human behaviour and inspired new forms of culture appearance. This indicates the clear existence of Middle Palaeolithic at least in North China, which became a foreshadowing for the coming Upper Palaeolithic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Shuidonggou site is one of the most important for prehistoric research in China, yielding evidence of ancient human colonisations in North China during the Late Upper Pleistocene. Situated in the Ordos desert, it was first discovered and excavated by Teilhard de Chardin during the first half of the 20th century. He noted the originality of the lithic assemblages produced on blades and flakes, comparable to the Upper Palaeolithic in Western Europe. This open-air site in loess context dates from ca. 17,000 to 25,000 BP and may be earlier than 30,000 BP. The principal objective of this paper is to present the technical aspects of the Shuidonggou lithic assemblages using a technological approach based on the dynamic analysis of blanks and cores in a global overview of the chaîne opératoire concept. The goal is to understand the knapping strategies used: were both Levallois and non Levallois methods used? The importance of Shuidonggou is thus linked with the question of the use of the Levallois method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: China's Badain Jaran Sand Sea features the tallest dunes on Earth and a unique mega-dune–lake landscape. It had been explored little until the 1990s, though early scientific explorations surrounding the sand sea had begun by the early 20th century. Heated debates now focus on the desert environment, and particularly how the mega-dunes and desert lakes develop and evolve. This paper reviews the status of these debates and summarizes the supporting evidences. The environmental research mainly concerns formation and evolution of the sand sea, and its relationship with climate change. The proposed formation time ranges from the Early Pleistocene to the Holocene. Opinions vary about climate change on different time scales. The reconstructed climate change history is shorter than the sand sea's history, with the longest record extending to the Late Pleistocene. The mega-dune research focuses on sediments, dune morphology, and formation processes. It remains unclear whether the mega-dunes result primarily from wind action, control by the underlying topography, or groundwater maintenance. The sources of lake water are also debated, but there are four main hypotheses: atmospheric precipitation, groundwater from nearby areas, precipitation and snowmelt in remote areas such as the Qilian Mountains and the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, or paleowater that formed during past periods of wet climate. We believe that the sand sea deserves further study in terms of its dune geomorphology, evolution, and hydrology, and their responses to climate change. Meteorological and hydrological observations and monitoring in the sand sea are particularly necessary. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]