Overview:

The Peking Man site at Zhoukoudian (or Choukoutien) is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Located in central China's Liujiang River Basin near Beijing, the site dates back to the Middle Pleistocene Period (about 300,000 to 700,000 years ago). Peking Man was discovered in complete skullcaps at the Zhoukoudian site in 1921, and subsequently numerous human fossils were excavated. These bones have been identified as Homo erectus, an extinct species of human that lived during the Pleistocene. Along with the remains of Peking Man, the site has also yielded important animal fossils, stone tools, and fire hearths. The site has been protected since 1961, and in 1987 was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO. It is considered a significant cornerstone of human evolution and the development of cultural history. Today, the site includes an archaeological museum that offers tours of the area. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in China
Prominent Features:

1. Location: The Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian is located approximately 50 km southwest of Beijing in Lushan County in China. It was first discovered in 1923 by Canadian geologist Johan Gunnar Andersson. 2. Fossils: The site is renowned for the hundreds of hominin fossils it has yielded, attributed to Homo erectus, an extinct species closely related to anatomically modern humans. 3. Context: The fossils were recovered during a series of 12 excavations at the site between 1927 and 1937, as part of a project led by the prominent paleoanthropologist Davidson Black. 4. Significance: The Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian is of great historical and scientific significance, as it provided one of the earliest conclusive evidence for the existence of Homo erectus and the deep evolutionary link between modern humans and our ancestors. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in China.

History:

The Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian, located just outside Beijing, China, is one of the most important Paleolithic archaeological sites in the world. It was first discovered and studied in the 1920s by Swedish paleontologist Johan Gunnar Andersson and his team. During his excavation, Andersson unearthed an impressive find of fossilized human bones, stone tools and evidence of fire. This sparked a significant number of large-scale excavations throughout the years, spearheaded by both foreign and Chinese researchers. This discovery was of great importance as it marked the very first discovery of Homo erectus outside of Africa. Furthermore, the fossils unearthed and studied at the site showed that the Homo erectus group of humans had arrived on the Chinese mainland much earlier than previously believed. Evidence also suggested that the early inhabitants had used various tools to hunt, cook, and live in the area. The site has also served an important role in the development of evolutionary science over the past century, as the fossils unearthed at Zhoukoudian eventually helped to promote the "Out of Africa" Theory of human evolution. Since the discovery, the site has been excavated and studied numerous times over the years, providing researchers with more information on the lives of these early humans and the evolution of Homo erectus over time. The Peking Man Site is now a major archaeological site, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1987. Visit one of the famous monuments of China with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Peking Man Site was discovered in 1921 and is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. It is located in the Zhoukoudian area in suburban Beijing. 2. The Peking Man Site was discovered while building a railway station during the construction of a railway line connecting Beijing to the city of Nanjing. 3. The discoveries from the Peking Man Site drastically changed the then scientific understanding of human evolution. 4. The Peking Man Site contains a wealth of human remains from between 500,000-200,000 years ago, including Homo erectus skulls and limb bones, as well as stone tools. 5. Excavations at the Peking Man Site have revealed fireplaces, animal bones, and evidence of hunting and butchery. This indicates that Peking Man lived in a group and practiced early fast-moving hunter-gatherer culture. 6. In 1996, UNESCO acknowledged the Peking Man Site as a World Heritage Site due to its important role in tracing early human history. 7. Over the years, the Peking Man Site has been vandalized by looters and endured the destruction of World War II. Because of this, many research items from the site have gone missing. 8. The museum in the Peking Man Site Plaza contains some of the few preserved items from the site, such as stone tools, skulls and other human remains, and replica models of the Homo erectus. One of the historical monuments of China, it tells the story of a bygone era