Comprehensive Evidence of the Complexity of Human Behaviour in the Early to Middle Late Pleistocene: The Discovery and Study of the Mengxihe Site in Southwest China

ZHENG Zhexuan

Mengxihe is a water‑logged open‑air site in the central Sichuan Basin dated to 80–60 ka. The raw materials used for stone artefacts are predominantly silicified wood, with small and medium‑sized pieces forming the core of the assemblage. Scrapers constitute the main tool type, representing a rare small‑tool technological combination in South China. Numerous wooden and bone artefacts were also recovered, indicating that ancient humans at the site employed a complex and diverse technological system. Tens of thousands of plant and animal remains have been unearthed, including dozens of animal species and a remarkable range of plant fruits and seeds that are seldom preserved in Palaeolithic contexts. Evidence for fire use and cut or engraved marks on various materials further enriches the dataset, offering valuable insights into the subsistence strategies and behavioural complexity of Late Pleistocene hunter‑gatherers.