Archaeologists have discovered stone tools in China, specifically at the Longtan site in Heqing county, Yunnan Province, that are similar to those used by Neanderthals in Europe. This finding challenges the traditional view that East Asia experienced limited technological development during the Middle Paleolithic period (300,000 to 30,000 years ago).
The tools, dating back 50,000 to 60,000 years, feature Quina technology, characterized by thick, asymmetrical scrapers with broad, sharp edges. These scrapers show signs of use for working with bone, antler, or wood. The discovery raises questions about how this technology, typically associated with Neanderthals, appeared in East Asia.
Researchers are considering whether the tools were brought to the region by migrating populations or developed independently. This finding suggests that East Asia may have been more technologically advanced during this period than previously thought, prompting a reevaluation of human evolution in the region.