by Emele Maisey

Created on: November 03, 2011   Last Updated: November 07, 2011

700,000 years ago, in limestone caves close to the village of Zhoukoudian, China, lived man's ancient ancestor; Peking Man.

This important Paleolithic Age site is one of the rare places on earth where there is proof that humanoid species lived over 700,000 years ago. Peking Man as he became known was the first specimen of Homo erectus to be discovered in Asia and was essentially the beginning of Chinese civilization with his descendants staying in the surrounding caves for the next 300,000 years.

The site, known as Locality 1 or Peking Man Site, was discovered in 1921 by Johan Gunnar Andersson and was excavated under the direction of Austrian geologist Otto Zdansky over the following two years. During this time two human teeth were unearthed and later identified as belonging to a previously unknown species that lived 750,000-200,000 years ago.

Extensive excavations followed with the first complete Homo erectus (Pithecanthropus erectus) skullcap fossil, that of Peking man, excavated in 1929. This discovery caused great excitement in the academic world, here was the only example of a prehistoric humanoid from China and the whole of Asia. Dating back 500,000-700,000 years this skull proved the existence of Sinanthropus, and was the “missing link” between ape and man, a convincing and reliable piece of evidence for the theory of evolution.

Between 1927-1937 200 human fossils from 40-45 individuals were discovered and identified as Homo erectus along with 10,000 pieces of stoneware including stone flake and chopping tools, animal fossils from 200 separate species including the giant hyena Pachycrocuta Brevirostris and several cinder layers proving that early man did use fire.

In 1930 a site later named Upper Cave Man Site was discovered and was excavated in 1933. This site located above the Ape-man Cave (the site where Peking Man was discovered) consisted of four parts; the entrance, an upper chamber living area, a lower chamber graveyard and the lowest recess which was a natural animal trap.

Three complete skullcap fossils of homo sapiens were discovered here, dating back 10,000 to 20,000 years along with many other fossils. Skeletons were found with a powder of red hematite surrounding them along with bone needles, animal teeth and necklaces.

In 1973 another site was found and became called the New Cave Man Site. This site, Locality 4, sits 100 metres south of Ape-man Cave. The remains unearthed from this site of a tooth, Amniote fossils and other

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