What kind of tool was a stone ball in the Paleolithic?

The stone ball is one of the traditional tools of early Paleolithic cultures. Stone balls are the most characteristic artifacts of the Xujiayao culture. In the 1976 excavation alone, 1,059 pieces were found, of which the largest weighed 1.5 kilograms, the smallest weighed 100 grams, and their diameters ranged from 5 to 10 centimeters.

The thick stone balls could be used to throw beasts directly, while the small and medium-sized ones could be used as flying stone ropes. While the stone balls were unearthed, a large number of animal fossils were found, including wild horses, lance rhinoceros and antelopes, etc. There are more than 300 fossils of wild horses alone, which is a strong evidence that the people of Xujiayao hunted wild horses with stone balls.

Xujiayao site

In the 1970s, in the former Yanggao County, Gucheng Commune, Xujiayao village 1 kilometer southeast of the west bank of the Liyigou cliffs, archaeologists found 100,000-year-old human fossils, this site is so far China's Middle Paleolithic fossilized ancient humans, fossilized animals, the most abundant cultural relics and the largest ancient human site. largest ancient human site, is the yardstick location of the Paleolithic culture.

So far, Xujiayao site "shake off" full of dust, radiating bright cultural light.