Beijing: Ancient humans lived and hunted in harsh environments at an altitude of 4,000 metres on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China over 10,000 years ago, archaeologists have confirmed.
Researchers with Qinghai Normal University and Qinghai Archeological Research Institute in China discovered a prehistoric ash layer in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai and confirmed that the layer is residue of human activity.
Dozens of stone tools were found at the same site, showing that prehistoric humans lived, hunted and made tools in the harsh environment over 10,000 years ago. It is the oldest evidence of human activity found above 4,000 metres on the plateau, researchers said.
The discovery is of great significance to research on how ancient humans coped in extreme environments, Hou Guangliang of Qinghai Normal University was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has an average altitude of over 4,000 meters, with low levels of oxygen, low temperatures, strong winds and intense ultraviolet light.
