Zhoukoudian, Home of the Man of Beijing

To the northwest of Zhoukoudian – suburb of Peking, is the Longgu hill (Bone of Dragoon).

In the past the people they excavated rocks here and they discovered animal fossils whereupon they prepared medecines and to which they called “ Longgu ". The name of this mountain was originated therefore. Nobody imagined at that time that this place was the old residence of the Man of Beijing – ancestor of the Chinese nation.

In 1921 Johan Gunnar Anderson (1874-1960) geologist and Swedish, advisory archeologist of the mining industry contracted by the Chinese Government, investigated in the Longgu hill: “ Tengo the premonition – said – that the rest of our ancestors lie here “Later, the Austrian paleontologist, Otto Zhansku, discovered two teeth of anthropopithecus. In 1926, when the prince of Sweden visited China, the news in the welcome reception was sent.

The official explorations began in 1927. In the 10 later years it was obtained great discoveries. In 1929, the investigations presided over by the Chinese scholar, Pei Wenzhong, took to the discovery of the first complete skull of sinantropo. The news affected to the world. Thus aim to the controversy could be put during 20 years on the Turgid Pitecantropo of Java. This anticipated the origin of the anthropology in 500 thousand years more.

Since then Zhoukoudian, home of the Man of Beijing, became world-wide well-known cultural sanctuary.

The first place of the excavations of the Man of Beijing, in the Longgu hill, is a calcareous cave. After half century of excavations, the pit surpasses the 40 ms of depth, in 17 layers. The Man of Beijing was between the third and tenth first, where 6 skulls were dug up, 15 maxilares inferiors, 150 teeth and fragments of bones of the extremities. It is possible to be determined, for this reason, that the Man of Beijing lived between ago 70 thousand and 23 thousand years.

How he was the Man of Beijing? According to fossils reclaimed of more than 40 specimens, era of small stature, with the four extremities and the body very similar to those of the present man. It could straighten up and walk. Only that its cerebral capacity era two thirds the one of the contemporary man. The characteristics of their face are: flattened, frontal skull inclined backwards, prominent arches of the eyebrows, salient nose and reduced chin.

By the geography and topography of the zone of Zhoukoudian and animal fossils and plants, we can imagine the natural environment in that our ancestors lived.

Of Longgu covered undulating hills with leafy forests are not seen. There they inhabited tigers of acute eyeteeth, wild boars and red deers. To, an extensive prairie, with red deers, gacelas and primitive horses. Borders of the river, one saw beavers, otters and buffalos.

Separate the Man of Beijing, this cave was also refuge of bears and hyenas. The ancestors hunted red deers and other small animal and were fed on wild fruits, leaves and roots of trees. In order to defend his life they had to also fight against the wild animal.

In agreement with the great amount of stone instruments shortages, we know that the Man of Beijing had the capacity to make diverse sharp and sharp stone objects whereupon they destroyed trees; as well as instruments to slice the meats and to clear the skin of some beasts. Also utensils to fix to woods or wood pieces. We also discover in these ash-gray caves that reached to 6 ms of thickness. We already can imagine that the fire was used early.

In 1933, it was discovered in the cave of the Longgu hill fossil of the Man of Shandingdong. They date from does 18 thousand years. By the characteristics of the skull, era of yellow race has been determined that. Separate imstrumentos of stone, excavated needles of bone, and diverse ornaments of technology relatively outpost. According to the scholars, the Man of Shandingdong depended on the hunting and the fishing. One got dressed skins and he practiced a primitive religion.

Unfortunately, the majority of these valuable fossils shortages before 1941 was lost by North Americans, due to the events of Pearl Harbor. Until nowadays, we do not know where they are.

In 1973, it was discovered in Beijiao (Shandong) fossil of the Man of Xindong, that lived 100 thousand years ago, between the Man of Beijing and the one of Shandong, according to determine the scientists.

The discoveries and investigations above-mentioned demonstrate that Zhoukoudian constitutes a valuable ruin, irreplaceable in the study of the present anthropology. For this reason, it was declared officially by UNESCO, in 1987, “ Patrimony of the Humanity ".