Qideharen Microlithic Site

Qideharen Microlithic Site

The Qideharen Microlithic Site is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Qideharen Microlithic Site is located within Jiayilema Township, Habahe County, 100 meters north of the Qideharen ferry crossing on the Ertix River Bridge. Geographic coordinates: 47°52′08″N, 86°17′08″E, at an elevation of 440 meters. The terrain is flat, with a surface of Gobi desert and xerophytic plants growing in the area. A gravel road connects the site to Habahe County, which lies 10 kilometers to the north. Archaeologists estimate that the site dates back approximately 8,000 years. Over 200 stone artifacts have been collected from the site, including a large number of stone flakes and microliths, as well as stone cores, arrowheads, drills, chisel-shaped tools, and stone beads. Qideharen is currently the northernmost known microlithic site in Xinjiang. Its discovery not only fills a gap in the region’s microlithic record but also pushes back the history of human activity in the Altay area by several thousand years. The site has been designated as a protected area by Habahe County.