The Taohua Cave Ancient Human Site in Liuzhi

The Taohua Cave Ancient Human Site in Liuzhi

Taohua Cave is a natural limestone cave located at the junction of Taohua Lake and the mountain wall at the foot of Taohua Mountain in the central area of Liuzhi Special District, formerly known as the Famine Cave. The cave is 9 meters high, 24 meters wide, and 60 meters deep. It was discovered on October 15, 1983, during the construction of a park.

Trial excavations yielded one polished stone axe, two bone awls, and 17 struck bone implements on the cave floor; also found were two perforated clam and snail shell artifacts—this was the first such discovery in China. A total of 32 stone cores, 20 stone flakes, stone drills, and stone hammers were also uncovered. The stone tools included scrapers, choppers, points, and discoid implements. At the fire-use site, there were large quantities of burnt bones, burnt stones, and charcoal fragments. Among the human fossils was a segment of left femur; animal fossils included upper and lower jaws, limb bones, and individual teeth, representing 12 species: giant tapir, porcupine, bamboo rat, tiger, bear, cattle, leopard, deer, muntjac, antelope, and tufted deer.

According to experts from the provincial museum, the polished stone tools and pottery shards are artifacts from the Neolithic Age; the human femur fossil dates back to the Late Paleolithic Age and holds significant historical, cultural, and archaeological value.

Source: Municipal E-Government Office