First Evidence for Adhesive and Composite-tool Use During the Upper Palaeolithic in South China

Yunan Zhang; Sanling Li; Matt G. Lotter; Wenjie Zhao; Jiying Liu; Zhenxiu Jia; Hao Li

doi:10.1080/01977261.2025.2518836

First Evidence for Adhesive and Composite-tool Use During the Upper Palaeolithic in South China

Yunan Zhang
, Sanling Li
, Matt G. Lotter
, Wenjie Zhao
, Jiying Liu
, Zhenxiu Jia
, Hao Li

Peking University
Henan University
University of the Witwatersrand
Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology
School of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
Chinese Academy of Sciences
University of Johannesburg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Adhesive, frequently associated with hafting technology and composite tools, is a useful indicator of the complex technological behaviors and cognitive abilities of Palaeolithic people. However, in China, no direct evidence of Palaeolithic adhesive has yet been discovered. Here, by combining lithic residue and use-wear analysis, we provide its first documentation at the MIS 2 site of Shanghu. Our study reveals use of plant adhesive that, we suggest, indicates a technological behavior associated with lithic miniaturization in South China and Southeast Asia during the Upper Palaeolithic.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	108-117
Number of pages	10
Journal	Lithic Technology
Volume	51
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/01977261.2025.2518836
Publication status	Published - 2026
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Adhesive
South China
composite tool
lithic miniaturization
upper Palaeolithic

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Archeology (arts and humanities)
Anthropology
Archeology

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10.1080/01977261.2025.2518836

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title = "First Evidence for Adhesive and Composite-tool Use During the Upper Palaeolithic in South China",

abstract = "Adhesive, frequently associated with hafting technology and composite tools, is a useful indicator of the complex technological behaviors and cognitive abilities of Palaeolithic people. However, in China, no direct evidence of Palaeolithic adhesive has yet been discovered. Here, by combining lithic residue and use-wear analysis, we provide its first documentation at the MIS 2 site of Shanghu. Our study reveals use of plant adhesive that, we suggest, indicates a technological behavior associated with lithic miniaturization in South China and Southeast Asia during the Upper Palaeolithic.",

keywords = "Adhesive, South China, composite tool, lithic miniaturization, upper Palaeolithic",

author = "Yunan Zhang and Sanling Li and Lotter, \{Matt G.\} and Wenjie Zhao and Jiying Liu and Zhenxiu Jia and Hao Li",

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year = "2026",

doi = "10.1080/01977261.2025.2518836",

language = "English",

volume = "51",

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T1 - First Evidence for Adhesive and Composite-tool Use During the Upper Palaeolithic in South China

AU - Zhang, Yunan

AU - Li, Sanling

AU - Lotter, Matt G.

AU - Zhao, Wenjie

AU - Liu, Jiying

AU - Jia, Zhenxiu

AU - Li, Hao

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Adhesive, frequently associated with hafting technology and composite tools, is a useful indicator of the complex technological behaviors and cognitive abilities of Palaeolithic people. However, in China, no direct evidence of Palaeolithic adhesive has yet been discovered. Here, by combining lithic residue and use-wear analysis, we provide its first documentation at the MIS 2 site of Shanghu. Our study reveals use of plant adhesive that, we suggest, indicates a technological behavior associated with lithic miniaturization in South China and Southeast Asia during the Upper Palaeolithic.

AB - Adhesive, frequently associated with hafting technology and composite tools, is a useful indicator of the complex technological behaviors and cognitive abilities of Palaeolithic people. However, in China, no direct evidence of Palaeolithic adhesive has yet been discovered. Here, by combining lithic residue and use-wear analysis, we provide its first documentation at the MIS 2 site of Shanghu. Our study reveals use of plant adhesive that, we suggest, indicates a technological behavior associated with lithic miniaturization in South China and Southeast Asia during the Upper Palaeolithic.

KW - Adhesive

KW - South China

KW - composite tool

KW - lithic miniaturization

KW - upper Palaeolithic

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105008352465

U2 - 10.1080/01977261.2025.2518836

DO - 10.1080/01977261.2025.2518836

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105008352465

SN - 0197-7261

VL - 51

SP - 108

EP - 117

JO - Lithic Technology

JF - Lithic Technology

IS - 2

ER -

First Evidence for Adhesive and Composite-tool Use During the Upper Palaeolithic in South China

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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