A Study on the Lithic Artifacts Discovered in 2023 around Tangra Yumco

Chen Chong (陈冲)1* and Liu Yalin2

Tangra Yumco, located in Nyima County, Nagqu City, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, is the fourth largest lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region, with an average altitude of 4,700 meters. In 2023, a circum-lake survey was conducted in this area, identifying a total of 13 lithic localities and collecting over 750 lithic artifacts. The lithic artifacts exhibit a rich diversity, reflecting multiple lithic technologies, with a predominance of microblade technology and its processed products. The tool assemblage is mainly composed of scrapers and points made from microblade blanks, with raw materials primarily sourced from chert and slate. Populations mastering microblade technology engaged in frequent activities in this region, overcoming the harsh high-altitude environment. Based on relevant research on microblade technology in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and combined with information on the paleoenvironment of Tangra Yumco, it is inferred that the activities of populations utilizing microblade technology in this area date back to the Late Pleistocene to the mid-Holocene.