大河网讯 灵井地处许昌西北,距许昌旧城大约15公里。遗址区为灵井镇西侧的一个坑塘,由于泉水的作用,这里曾是一片不小的水域。然而,就是这个普普通通的坑塘,因出土了距今 10 万 ~ 8 万年的古人类头骨化石而闻名遐迩。从灵井遗址的发现发掘到“许昌人”头骨化石出土,曾任河南许昌古人类研究中心执行主任、研究员李占扬,讲述了4年的发掘经历,和大家共同见证“许昌人”的临世。
Words from the Participants - The Discovery of “Xuchang Man” Skull Fossils
亲历者说——发现“许昌”头盖骨化石
The skull fossils of “Xuchang Man” were discovered at Lingjing Paleolithic site in Xuchang city of Central China’s Henan province.
“许昌人”头盖骨化石的发现地点,位于河南省许昌市许昌县灵井旧石器时代遗址。
In 1964, experts from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences collected a group of animal fossils, microlith products and chipped stone implements from the well deposits dug by local villagers, which attracted the attention of the prehistoric archaeology community.
1964年,中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所专家,从当地村民挖井挖出的堆积物中采集到一批动物化石、细石器及打制石器,引起史前考古界的重视。
To prevent the site from being eroded by coal mine flooding, with the approval of the National Administration of Cultural Heritage in June 2005, Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology carried out a series of archaeological excavations at the site under the guidance of Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage.
2005年6月,为防止遗址遭受煤矿透水侵蚀,经国家文物局批准,河南省文物局组织河南省文物考古研究所正式对该遗址进行考古发掘。
On December 17, 2007, a relatively complete parietal bone and 16 fragments of parietal bone, occipital bone and temporal bone were found at a depth of 5 meters at No. 9 archaeological zone, which could be pieced into a relatively complete human skull fossil after restoration. Then the skull fossils were rapidly transported to Beijing.
2007年12月17日,在9号探方深5米处发现一块较完整的古人类顶骨和顶骨、枕骨、颞骨的断片共计16块,复原后可成为一较完整的人类头盖骨化石。考古人员现场将头盖骨化石整体提取,迅速运至北京。
On January 11, 2008, a seminar on Xuchang’s human skull fossils, held by Henan Provincial Administration of Cultural Heritage in Beijing, invited the leaders and experts from the National Administration of Cultural Heritage, the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University for attendance.
2008年1月11日,河南省文物局邀请国家文物局、中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所、北京大学等单位的领导和专家在京召开“河南许昌古人类头骨化石专家研讨会”。
The experts believe that the discovery of ancient human fossils at Lingjing Paleolithic site in Xuchang is inspiring and significant for Chinese archaeology and paleoanthropology. About 30,000 stone artifacts and animal fossils were discovered at Lingjing site, one of the most important Paleolithic cultural sites in China, containing the information of ancient human behavior.
专家们认为:许昌灵井遗址出土的古人类化石,是中国考古学和古人类学研究领域中令人振奋的重大发现。灵井古人类遗址共出土石制品和动物化石约3万件,其中包含大量古人类行为信息,是我国最重要的旧石器时代文化遗址之一。
Words from the participant:
亲历者说
Many believe that the discovery of Lingjing Paleolithic site was a result of serendipity. In my opinion, no single factor is at work in any outcomes, but the result of a “coincidence” of many factors. Archaeological excavation at the Lingjing site has not yet ended. The discovery of “Xuchang Man” is only a part of the whole archaeological work.
许多人将这次发现称为“机缘巧合”。我觉得,任何一项成果都不是单一因素在起作用,而是多种因素“巧合”的结果。目前,灵井遗址的考古发掘仍在继续,“许昌人”的发现仅是整个工作的一个片段。
Li Zhanyang, former executive director and researcher of Henan Xuchang Paleoanthropology Research Center
——河南许昌古人类研究中心执行主任、研究员李占扬(曾任)
素材来源:《河南考古亲历记》
河南省政协文化和文史委员会编写
(文案/魏蔚 视频/李彤 翻译/杨佳欣 审校/焦丹)