(TibetanReview.net, Jul27, 2016) – Archaeologists in Qinghai Province of the People’s Republic of China have confirmed human activity at an altitude of 4,000 metres above mean sea level on the Tibetan Plateau, dating back over 10,000 years, reported China’s official Xinhua news agency Jul 26. The report added that this was the oldest evidence so far of human activity found above 4,000 metres on the plateau region.
The report said that the archaeologists, belonging to the Qinghai Normal University and Qinghai Archaeological Research Institute, had discovered a prehistoric ash layer in Golog Prefecture in 2013. It added that on Jul 25 Hou Guangliang of Qinghai Normal University confirmed that the layer was residue of human activity.
The report said dozens of stone tools were found at the same site, showing that prehistoric humans hunted and made tools in the harsh environment over 10,000 years ago.
The discovery is seen as of great significance to research on how ancient humans coped in extreme environments.
With an average altitude of over 4,000 metres, the harsh environment of the Tibetan Plateau is marked by low levels of oxygen, low temperatures, strong winds and intense ultraviolet light.