Huangyan Cave

Huangyan Cave

Huangyan Cave

Huangyan Cave, where the interior is divided into three cultural layers. The main hall has branch caves on the west and south sides, and some animal fossils as well as stone tools can still be clearly observed inside. Moving from one cave at a different level to another in a roundabout way, snaking from the eastern passage to the western passage, and wandering all the way from the cave entrance to the very end.

Since its discovery in 1961, not only have two ancient human skull fossils been unearthed, but why were so many ancient animal fossils and over 1,000 stone tools made from pebbles also excavated? It’s unbelievable that quartz flake stone tools and late Neolithic burials were also discovered. Huangyan Cave is truly a treasure trove of historical relics.

It not only presents a vivid picture of how ancient humans lived and thrived, but also provides extremely valuable historical material for future generations. Excavation data indicates that there are mainly four types of deposits in Huangyan Cave: ⒈ Brownish-yellow clayey silt deposits. Found in localized areas on the right side of the upper corridor’s rock wall and from the lower cave hall to the western branch cave, with the thickest accumulation in the lower western branch cave. The deposit contains a large number of animal fossils with a high degree of petrification. The animal species mainly include the Chinese rhinoceros, Stegodon orientalis, Stegodon orientalis, and the cave subspecies of the giant panda. The geological age is Late Pleistocene;

Yellowish-brown sandy soil deposits, slightly harder in consistency, cover a relatively large area and are distributed throughout the main cave hall. The northeast corner has slightly thicker deposits, at 0.5–0.8 meters. The deposit contains ashes and charcoal fragments, and a large number of chipped stone tools, polished stone tools, teeth and bones of extant animal species, as well as shells such as snails and clams. ⒊ Grayish-brown sandy soil deposits, slightly looser in consistency. Located on the right side of the cave entrance, overlaying the yellow deposits, covering an area 1 meter long, 1.5 meters wide, and 0.20–0.80 meters thick. It contains charcoal fragments, ashes, burnt soil, burnt bones, animal bones, and a large number of snail and clam shells. Two human skulls were unearthed here. ⒋ Light gray sandy clay deposits, slightly loose in consistency. Located on the right side of the upper corridor. The deposit area is smaller, containing snail and clam shells as well as charcoal fragments. One quartz flake stone tool was found here.