An experimental study of bipolar reduction at Zhoukoudian locality 1, north China

Abstract

Bipolar reduction is usually connected with quartz material, and the less predictable fracture of quartz makes the recognition of bipolar products highly uncertain. At Zhoukoudian locality 1 (ZKD1) in north China, numerous bipolar reduction artifacts were reported, and this has become a major technological label of the lithic industry. However, few experimental analyses have been conducted on this site. This study conducted experimental analysis to build an experimental referential framework for distinguishing bipolar products, and then chose a small lithic artifact sample from layers 4–5 to evaluate the role of bipolar reduction. These data show freehand reduction produces a higher percentage of usable flakes and also more cutting edges per flake than that by bipolar reduction in general. More freehand reduction flakes were chosen as tool blanks than bipolar flakes. The contribution of the bipolar flaking method to the lithic industry of Zhoukoudian locality 1 has been overestimated. This paper proposes that bipolar reduction is likely to have been an expedient strategy as a supplement of freehand reduction at Zhoukoudian locality 1. Consequently, it should be seen as an adaptive characteristic of the industry instead of an evolutionary one, and also cannot be used to trace technological diffusion or cultural tradition.