About 20,000 years ago, at the moment of the rapid evolution of Australopithecus to Homo sapiens, archaeologists found a series of forared mussel shells at the site of Xianren Cave in Jiangxi, which caused endless doubts. What exactly are these mussel shells used for?In the process of unraveling the mystery, scenes from the life of ancient Homo sapiens gradually emerged.
Neolithic immortal cave site.
There are ruins called "Xianren Cave" in various parts of our country, such as the Xianren Cave of Huangshan in Anhui Province, the Xianren Cave in Pingxian County of Yunnan Province and the Peach Blossom Xianren Cave in Hubei Province, etc., all accompanied by mysterious legends. The Xianren Cave in Wannian County, Jiangxi Province is considered one of the most important Neolithic cave sites, covering an area of about 370 square meters. Archaeological experts pointed out that the Xianren Cave preserves a rich cultural deposit, which is distributed about 18,000-9,000 years ago, which provides valuable information for the study of the life of ancient people in the Neolithic Age.
The mystery of the mysterious perforated mussel shell.
In March 1962, the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Cultural Relics launched a survey of the Xianren Cave site, and conducted in-depth excavations and research in the next two years. Experts have found more than 20 ash pits in the site and unearthed a large number of animal bones, including wild deer, fish, wild wolves and apes, proving that the ancients had mastered the technology of processing food with fire.
In addition, various stone tools such as stone rods, stone plates, and stone cones have been unearthed, and even fish hooks made of bone tools, indicating that the ancients had learned to fish. Puzzlingly, some perforated mussel shells have aroused the interest of experts.
Puzzle solving process: The function of the mussel shell is revealed.
The mussel shell is a hard clam aquatic creature that is not uncommon in archaeological finds. However, the holes found in the mussel shells unearthed at the Xianren Cave site in Jiangxi are puzzling. After careful observation and study, experts divided the holes on the mussel shell into two categories: one is the chiseled hole, the hole diameter is about 3 cm, and the inner edge is rough;The other type is a hole drilled with a hole diameter of about 1 cm and a relatively smooth and flat inner diameter. The number of holes also has single holes, double holes, and even three holes, which has become a headache for experts.
Experts initially speculated that the single-hole mussel shell may have been a type of mussel that resembles a modern shovel and was used to dig a pit or dig into the soil and then sow seeds;The double-bore mussel shell, on the other hand, is considered a mussel knife used to harvest rice or cut prey.
Experiments confirmed the speculation of the mysterious use of mussel shells.
To test this hypothesis, experts conducted a series of experiments. First, they drilled holes in some mussel shells of similar size, as the ancients did, and then found wooden sticks of uniform thickness and carved grooves into them. Finally, a thin rattan is used to tie it to a wooden stick through the mussel shell hole, and then the soil is excavated with a single hole mussel, which turns out to be light and labor-saving operation.
For double-hole mussel shells, experts copied several pieces and tried to cut rice with mussel knives in the rice field. In the beginning, the experts operated clumsily, the mussel shells were easy to slip off, and the effect of cutting rice was limited. However, through repeated attempts, the experts gradually mastered the art of using mussel knives. The key, they found, was to have holes in the shell large enough for the thumb and middle finger to pass through and hold the shell securely in the hand. In addition, it is important to sharpen the blade of the mussel shell. When cutting rice, one hand holds the rice ear and pushes it forward, and the other hand holds the mussel knife and pulls it back to form a front and back joint force to easily cut the rice.
The wisdom and creativity of the ancients.
Through constant trial and practice, the experts not only revealed the mysterious uses of mussel shells, but also mastered the skills of the ancients in using these tools. Despite its low efficiency compared to modern tools, it was already a fairly advanced production tool at that time. In addition, experts speculate that the smaller mussel shells may not have been tools of labor, but rather ornaments, such as strung together as accessories and hung around the neck, indicating that the ancients already had a love for beauty.
The cultural heritage of the Fairy Cave.
Today, the site of Xianren Cave in Jiangxi Province has become a national key cultural relics protection unit, attracting many experts and scholars to come to investigate. Through this site, people can get a glimpse of the living conditions of their ancestors in ancient times. However, due to the fact that a mature script had not yet been formed at that time, many of the mysteries of the artifacts still could not be fully solved.
Epilogue. The revelation of the clam shell in the fairy cave not only allows us to re-understand the wisdom and creativity of ancient humans, but also provides archaeologists with more space for thinking. In this fascinating process, we feel as if we have traveled back in time, witnessed the life of ancient Homo sapiens, and felt their tenacity and wisdom to survive in difficult environments.
The Mystery of the Cave of Immortals: The Wisdom and Creativity of Ancient Homo sapiens.
This article details the discovery of perforated mussel shells in the Xianren Cave site in Jiangxi Province and the process by which experts deciphered their use. From this, we can feel the amazing wisdom and creativity of ancient Homo sapiens in the living environment.
First of all, the article shows the importance of this Neolithic cave site through the introduction of the Xianren Cave site. The excavation of the Xianren Cave not only provides valuable information about the living conditions of ancient humans, but also provides a window for archaeologists to understand the cultural and technological level of this period through the excavation of various cultural relics.
Secondly, it is remarkable to note the decryption process of the perforated mussel shell. These seemingly ordinary mussel shells, after careful observation and experiments by experts, gradually revealed their multiple uses in ancient societies. The discovery of these tools, from the single-hole mussel shell mussel knife to the double-hole mussel shell mussel knife, not only confirms the ingenious use of ancient Homo sapiens in labor production, but also gives us a deeper understanding of their way of life.
The experimental confirmation section of the article is particularly fascinating, and by recreating the scene of the ancient people using mussel shell tools, the reader feels as if they were in that ancient era. Experts have continued to try and gradually master the skills of using these tools, which has given us a more specific understanding of the production and life of ancient Homo sapiens. This practical approach to research makes abstract history more concrete and interesting.
The decryption of the clam shell in the fairy cave is not only a recognition of ancient tools, but also a tribute to the wisdom and creativity of ancient society. The ancients did not rely on high-tech tools like we do today, but they were able to create tools that meet the needs of survival through careful observation, practice and innovation. This deep understanding of nature and creative solutions to problems is truly awe-inspiring.
Finally, the revelation of the mystery of the Immortal Cave also provoked reflections on the entire ancient society. Through the efforts of archaeologists, we seem to be able to see a corner of ancient society. However, due to the fact that there was no mature writing at that time, the specific meaning of the relevant cultural relics could still not be fully restored. This also makes our understanding of ancient societies still have a lot of unknowns, and follow-up research is needed to fill these gaps.
Overall, this article vividly presents the process of deciphering the mystery of the Cave of the Immortals, showing the ingenuity of ancient Homo sapiens in the face of existential challenges through an in-depth study of ancient tools. The Cave is not only an archaeological hotspot, but also a time tunnel, giving us the opportunity to get close to the lives of ancient humans and feel their wisdom and creativity.
Disclaimer: The above content information is ** on the Internet, and the author of this article does not intend to target or insinuate any real country, political system, organization, race, or individual. The above content does not mean that the author of this article agrees with the laws, rules, opinions, behaviors in the article and is responsible for the authenticity of the relevant information. The author of this article is not responsible for any issues arising from the above or related issues, and does not assume any direct or indirect legal liability.
If the content of the article involves the content of the work, copyright**, infringement, rumors or other issues, please contact us to delete it. Finally, if you have any different thoughts about this event, please leave a message in the comment area to discuss!