ZHENGZHOU, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists have found a settlement of early humans dating back between 30,000 and 40,000 years in central China's Henan Province, local authorities said Wednesday.
Four fireplaces left by ancient humans have been discovered at the Longquandong excavation site in Luanchuan County in the city of Luoyang. Three of them were found encircled by stones, according to Gu Xuejun, leading archaeologist of the excavation project.
Gu said his team conducted experiments on the stone-encircled fireplaces and found they can be reignited after the flames have died for some time.
"It shows humans had already mastered the technique of controlling fire more than 30,000 years ago," he said.
The project, launched in 2014, has also seen the excavation of more than 23,000 pieces of stone tools, bone tools and animal fossils.
"The period between 30,000 and 40,000 years ago was a critical stage in the evolution of humans," said Shi Jiazhen, director of Luoyang City Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute. "Longquandong excavation site provides precious materials for the study of the evolution of early humans and changes in the natural environment of the period."
