1.6 Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian—Historic Evidence of Human Evolution周口店北京猿人遗址——人类进化的历史证据

周口店遗址是中国重点文物保护单位，位于北京市西南房山区周口店镇龙骨山北部，是世界上材料最丰富、最系统、最有价值的旧石器时代早期的人类遗址。北京人的发现，为人类进化理论提供了有利实证，为世界考古史做出了伟大贡献。北京人及其文化的发现与研究，解决了19世纪爪哇人发现以来的关于“直立人”是猿还是人的争论。事实证明，“直立人”是人类历史的最早期，处于从猿到人进化过程最重要的环节，他们是“南猿”的后代，后来“智人”的祖先。北京人具有“直立人”的典型形态标准，而北京人对火的使用，更加完备了其作为人的特征。山顶洞人化石和文化遗物的发现，更充分表明了北京人的发展和延续。北京人的发现，为中国古人类及其文化的研究奠定了基础，是当之无愧的人类远古文化宝库。

Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian is a Pleistocene（更新世）hominid site on the North China Plain. This site lies about 42km south-west of Beijing and is at the juncture（接合点）of the North China Plain and the Yanshan Mountains. Adequate water supplies and natural limestone caves in this area provided an optimal survival environment for early humans. Scientific work at the site is still under way. So far, ancient human fossils, cultural remains and animal fossils from 23 localities within the property dating from 500,000 years ago to 10,000 years ago have been discovered by scientists. These include the remains of Homo erectus pekinensis（北京直立人）, who lived in the Middle Pleistocene (700,000 to 200,000 years ago), archaic Homo sapiens of about 200,000—100,000 years ago and Homo sapiens sapiens dating back to 30,000 years ago. At the same time, fossils of hundreds of animal species, over 100,000 pieces of stone tools and evidence (including hearths, ash deposits and burnt bones) of Peking Man using fire have been discovered.

As the site of significant hominid remains discovered in the Asian continent demonstrating an evolutionary cultural sequence, Zhoukoudian is of major importance within the worldwide context. It is not only an exceptional reminder of the prehistoric human societies of the Asian continent, but also illustrates the process of human evolution（进化，演变）, and is of significant value in the research and reconstruction of early human history.

All elements necessary to express the values of the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian are included within the boundary of the property. The localities of where the ancient human fossils were found, the living environments of ancient humans, as well as the scientific excavation（挖掘）and research process during the 1920s and 1930s have all been integrally preserved, and accurately reveal the significant scientific value of the property. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937 interrupted the excavations and led to disastrous（灾难性的）consequences: fossil remains of Sinanthropus Pekinensis discovered previously were disassembled（分散各地）or lost. After the war, some human fossils unearthed through new excavations have partially compensated for these losses and Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian still retains its scientific value.

Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian bears historic evidence of human evolution, maintains and passes on its authentic historic information, and promotes the research on the origins of early humans. The fossil localities and the setting of the site have been effectively protected. The conservation projects for the site have strictly followed the principles for cultural heritage conservation in terms of design, material, methods and technology.

Based on laws and regulations including the Law of People's Republic of China on the Protection of Cultural Relics, in order to protect the property, the Beijing People's Municipal（市政的）Government promulgated（公布）the Regulations for the Conservation of the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian in Beijing in 1989; revised in 2009 as the Regulations for the Conservation of Zhoukoudian Site. Activities that may damage the value of the site such as mining and kiln（窑）firing are prohibited.

Owing to the formulation（规划，构想）and updated revisions and improvements of the scientific Conservation Plan of the Zhoukoudian Site (completed in 2006), the property is in an excellent state of conservation. According to the Plan, the property area has been defined as 4.8km2 and the buffer zone（缓冲区）has been established. Meanwhile, a series of conservation projects have been carried out at the property. The laws, regulations and plans provide the policy guarantee for the scientific conservation and management of the property.

用英语畅谈Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian黄金句

☺ Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian is a Pleistocene hominid site on the North China Plain.周口店北京猿人遗址是一处位于中国华北平原的更新世古人类遗址。

☺ Adequate water supplies and natural limestone caves in this area provided an optimal survival environment for early humans.当地充足的水源、天然的石灰岩洞穴为早期人类提供了理想的生存环境。

☺ As the site of significant hominid remains discovered in the Asian continent demonstrating an evolutionary cultural sequence, Zhoukoudian is of major importance within the worldwide context.作为亚洲大陆上发现的一处重大原始人遗迹，周口店向世人展示了文化的演变进程，并且在世界范围内占据着举足轻重的地位。

☺ Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian bears historic evidence of human evolution, maintains and passes on its authentic historic information, and promotes the research on the origins of early humans.周口店北京猿人遗址保存着人类进化的历史证据，将真实的历史史料传承给后世，有助于推进早期人类起源的研究工作。

☺ Owing to the formulation and updated revisions and improvements of the scientific Conservation Plan of the Zhoukoudian Site (completed in 2006), the property is in an excellent state of conservation.由于周口店北京猿人遗址科学保护计划的制定、改进及实施（于2006年通过），遗址的保存状况良好。

用英语畅谈Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian

A Plan for Visiting Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian计划去参观周口店北京猿人遗址

文化超链接

在周口店北京猿人遗址有两大重要发现。一个就是在周口店第l地点发现用火遗迹，把人类用火的历史提前了几十万年。包括五个灰烬层、两处保存很好的灰堆遗存，烧骨则见于有人类活动的各层，此外，还发现烧过的朴树子、烧石和烧土块，甚至个别石器有烤灼的痕迹。对用火遗迹的研究，可知“北京人”不仅懂得用火，而且有控制火和保存火种的能力。烧火的燃料主要是草本植物，也用树枝和鲜骨作薪。

另外一个就是石器，石器是“北京人”文化的主要代表，“北京人”创造了三种不同的打片方法，主要用砸击法，生产出长20至30毫米的小石片，常见长度为20至40毫米。工具分两大类：第一类包括锤击石锤、砸击石锤和石钻；第二类有刮削器、尖状器、砍砸器、雕刻器、石锥和球形器。