中国是世界上原始人类遗址数量最多的国家。中国不仅保存了与人类起源有关的最丰富的资料，而且呈现了较为完整的演化过程。
China, a country with the highest number of primitive human sites in the world, has not only preserved the most abundant materials related to the origin of human beings but also had a relatively complete evolutionary progress without serious damage.
1 旧石器时代的早期人类 Early humans in the Paleolithic Period
在旧石器时代早期（大约25万至200万年前），人类的远古祖先散布在云南、四川、山西、陕西、河南、河北、江苏、安徽、湖北、贵州、内蒙古、辽宁和北京。数百处在旧石器时代晚期的遗址在中国各处被发掘，这些遗址可追溯到大约10,000至40,000年前。
In the early Paleolithic Period (about 250,000 to 2 million years ago), the ancient ancestors of humans were scattered in a vast area covering Yunnan, Sichuan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Guizhou, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning and Beijing. Several hundred sites of the late Paleolithic Period, dating to about 10,000 to 40,000 years ago, have been found across China.
从元谋人到北京人再到山顶洞人，这勾勒出中国早期人类的演变图景。
The process from Yuanmou Man to Peking Man to Upper Cave Man outlined the evolution of early humans in China.
元谋人的历史可追溯到170万年前，以发现化石的地方云南“元谋”的名字命名。在那里出土了古代人类的两颗牙齿的化石和一些人工加工的石器，在黏土层中也发现了许多煤尘和烧掉的骨头。迄今为止，元谋人被认为是中国境内最早被证实的人类。
Yuanmou Man, dating back to 1.7 million years ago, was named after Yuanmou, Yunnan, the site where the fossils were discovered. Fossils of two teeth of ancient humans and some stone instruments processed by manpower were unearthed, and lots of coal dust and burned bones were found in relevant clay layers, too. Yuanmou Man is believed to be the earliest human beings so far confirmed within Chinese territory.
Yuanmou Man, dating back to 1.7 million years ago, was named after Yuanmou, Yunnan, the site where the fossils were discovered. Fossils of two teeth of ancient humans and some stone instruments processed by manpower were unearthed, and lots of coal dust and burned bones were found in relevant clay layers, too. Yuanmou Man is believed to be the earliest human beings so far confirmed within Chinese territory.
考古研究表明，北京人大约在70万年前开始居住在周口店，在那居住了大约50万年。该地区出土了超过17,000万件用于采摘和狩猎的石器，包括斧头，刮刀和箭头。6米厚的灰层是北京人使用自然火的痕迹，这表明他们能够使用火来烹饪食物、照明、保暖并赶走野兽，且掌握了控制火的技能。制作和使用工具的能力是区分人与猿的重要标志。
Archeological study shows that Peking Man started to live in Zhoukoudian about 700,000 years ago and lived there for about 500,000 years. More than 17,000 pieces of stoneware for picking and hunting, including choppers, scrapers and arrowheads, were unearthed from the area. The 6 m-thick ash layer is the vestige of Peking Man's application of natural fire, which shows that they were able to use fire to cook food, give light, keep themselves warm and drive away beasts, and had mastered the skills of controlling fire. The ability to make and use instruments is an important marker to differentiate human beings from apes.
Archeological study shows that Peking Man started to live in Zhoukoudian about 700,000 years ago and lived there for about 500,000 years. More than 17,000 pieces of stoneware for picking and hunting, including choppers, scrapers and arrowheads, were unearthed from the area. The 6 m-thick ash layer is the vestige of Peking Man's application of natural fire, which shows that they were able to use fire to cook food, give light, keep themselves warm and drive away beasts, and had mastered the skills of controlling fire. The ability to make and use instruments is an important marker to differentiate human beings from apes.
使用火和吃熟食有助于原始人类的体格发育和智力发展。北京人虽然保留了猿的某些生理特征，但可以直立行走，其脑容量比猿高得多，大约相当于现代人的76％。
The usage of fire and eating cooked food helped the physical and mental growth of the primitive humans. Peking Man, while retaining some physical features of apes, could walk upright and had a brain capacity much higher than the ape's, about 76 percent of that of modern humans.
The usage of fire and eating cooked food helped the physical and mental growth of the primitive humans. Peking Man, while retaining some physical features of apes, could walk upright and had a brain capacity much higher than the ape's, about 76 percent of that of modern humans.
在龙骨山山顶的洞穴中，发现了约18,000年前的山顶洞人遗址。除了三块人类头骨和一些骨骼化石，还发现了通过刮擦、切割、打磨和钻孔加工过的骨头针，以及穿洞的珍珠石、蛤壳、野兽的长牙和其他装饰品。这些表明山顶洞人已经掌握了钻木做火的技巧。人造火被认为是人类历史的开始。山顶洞人具有和现代人类差不多的大脑容量，以及类似的体格和外表。
In the caves at the top of Longgu Mountain, the site of Upper Cave Man living about 18,000 years ago was discovered. In addition to three pieces of human skulls and some skeleton fossils, bone needles processed through scratching, cutting, grinding and drilling, and holed stone pearls, clam shells and beast tusks and other adornments were unearthed at the site. These indicated that the Upper Cave Man had mastered the skill of drilling wood to make fire. Manmade fire is deemed to be the beginning of human history. Upper Cave Man had nearly the equivalent brain capacity of modern human beings, as well as a similar physique and appearance.
In the caves at the top of Longgu Mountain, the site of Upper Cave Man living about 18,000 years ago was discovered. In addition to three pieces of human skulls and some skeleton fossils, bone needles processed through scratching, cutting, grinding and drilling, and holed stone pearls, clam shells and beast tusks and other adornments were unearthed at the site. These indicated that the Upper Cave Man had mastered the skill of drilling wood to make fire. Manmade fire is deemed to be the beginning of human history. Upper Cave Man had nearly the equivalent brain capacity of modern human beings, as well as a similar physique and appearance.
1.2 新石器时代的中国祖先 The Chinese ancestors in the Neolithic Period
大约一万年前，中国祖先进入新石器时代。大多数地区处于约7,000年前的新石器时代的繁荣时期。以长江和黄河流域为中心的广阔地区遍布了超过7,000个文明遗址。半坡遗址的仰韶文化（约5,000至7,000年前）和河姆渡遗址的河姆渡文化（约5,300至7,000年前）是新石器时代早期的代表，而龙山文化遗址（约4,000至4,500年前）是新石器时代晚期的典型遗址。黄河流域的半坡遗址位于陕西西安的半坡村，距今已有6000年，占地约50,000平方米。
About 10,000 years ago, the Chinese ancestors entered into the Neolithic Period. Most regions were in the prosperous phase of the Neolithic Period about 7,000 years ago. Above 7,000 discovered culture sites, centered around the valleys of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, are spread over a vast area. Banpo Site of the Yangshao Culture (dating to about 5,000 to 7,000 years ago) and Hemudu Site of the Hemudu Culture (about 5,300 to 7,000 years ago) are representative of the early Neolithic Period, while Longshan Culture (about 4,000 to 4,500 years ago) is a typical site of the late Neolithic Period.
About 10,000 years ago, the Chinese ancestors entered into the Neolithic Period. Most regions were in the prosperous phase of the Neolithic Period about 7,000 years ago. Above 7,000 discovered culture sites, centered around the valleys of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, are spread over a vast area. Banpo Site of the Yangshao Culture (dating to about 5,000 to 7,000 years ago) and Hemudu Site of the Hemudu Culture (about 5,300 to 7,000 years ago) are representative of the early Neolithic Period, while Longshan Culture (about 4,000 to 4,500 years ago) is a typical site of the late Neolithic Period.
半坡人居住的大多是半地穴式房屋，这些洞穴是用木头、树枝或草建造的，里面有用粘土做的炊具和可加热的砖床。200多个筒仓用于储备食物。从遗址处还发掘出工具和骨头以及带有人、动物和几何图案的彩色瓷器。
Banpo Site of the Yellow River basin, located in Banpo village of Xi' an, Shaanxi, dates back 6,000 years and covers around 50,000 sq m. The houses where the Banpo men lived were mostly half-buried caves built with wood, branches or grass, in which there were clay-made cookers and heatable brick bed. More than 200 silos were used to reserve food. Tools and bones were excavated from the site. So were colorful porcelains with patterns of humans, animals and geometry.
Banpo Site of the Yellow River basin, located in Banpo village of Xi' an, Shaanxi, dates back 6,000 years and covers around 50,000 sq m. The houses where the Banpo men lived were mostly half-buried caves built with wood, branches or grass, in which there were clay-made cookers and heatable brick bed. More than 200 silos were used to reserve food. Tools and bones were excavated from the site. So were colorful porcelains with patterns of humans, animals and geometry.
河姆渡遗址位于浙江省余姚市河姆渡村，距今已有7000多年的历史，是长江流域的代表。河姆渡人创造的高于地面的干栏式建筑风格已经有数千年的历史了，它是长江以南地区采用的一种主要建筑形式。
The Hemudu Site, located in Hemudu Village, Yuyao, Zhejiang, has a history of around 7,000 years and is representative of the Yangtze River basins. The stilt style of architecture that the Hemudu men created has for thousands of years been a major architectural form adopted in the areas south of the Yangtze.
在新石器时代，中国祖先广泛使用石制斧头、锹、锄头、刀、磨石等工具。他们还种了粟、大米、白菜、芥菜等农作物，并养了猪、狗、牛、山羊、鸡和其他牲畜。
In the Neolithic Period, Chinese ancestors widely used stone-made axes, spades, hoes, knives, millstones and other ground stone tools. They also planted millets, rice, cabbage, mustard and other crops, and raised pigs, dogs, oxen, goats, chicken and other livestock.
The Hemudu Site, located in Hemudu Village, Yuyao, Zhejiang, has a history of around 7,000 years and is representative of the Yangtze River basins. The stilt style of architecture that the Hemudu men created has for thousands of years been a major architectural form adopted in the areas south of the Yangtze.
在新石器时代，中国祖先广泛使用石制斧头、锹、锄头、刀、磨石等工具。他们还种了粟、大米、白菜、芥菜等农作物，并养了猪、狗、牛、山羊、鸡和其他牲畜。
In the Neolithic Period, Chinese ancestors widely used stone-made axes, spades, hoes, knives, millstones and other ground stone tools. They also planted millets, rice, cabbage, mustard and other crops, and raised pigs, dogs, oxen, goats, chicken and other livestock.
代表仰韶文化的西安半坡遗址和临潼姜寨遗址在中部区域有一个公共活动场所，周围有小居民房。烤陶窑位于住宅区附近。村庄周围发掘了一条护城河。公共墓葬位于村庄外。牛河梁红山文化遗址有一座女神庙和一个大祭坛。这些遗址表明了氏族的存在。氏族是一个以家庭为基本组成部分、以血缘关系为纽带形成的社会共同体。一个部落通常由几个氏族组成。
Xi' an Banpo Site and Lintong Jiangzhai Site of Yangshao Culture have a public activity place in the central area with small residential rooms around it. Kilns for baking pottery are located near the residential quarters. A moat for protection has been excavated around the village. The public tombs are situated outside the village. The Niuheliang Site of Hongshan Culture has a temple to a goddess and a large altar. These sites indicate the existence at that time of the clan, a kin-based community with families as basic components. A tribe normally consisted of a few clans.
Xi' an Banpo Site and Lintong Jiangzhai Site of Yangshao Culture have a public activity place in the central area with small residential rooms around it. Kilns for baking pottery are located near the residential quarters. A moat for protection has been excavated around the village. The public tombs are situated outside the village. The Niuheliang Site of Hongshan Culture has a temple to a goddess and a large altar. These sites indicate the existence at that time of the clan, a kin-based community with families as basic components. A tribe normally consisted of a few clans.
从采摘、捕鱼和狩猎到原始的农业和畜牧业以及由此产生的定居和氏族社会，生产力、生产方式和社会结构的深刻变革促进了这一英雄时代的文化飞跃、才智增长和繁荣创新。
From picking, fishing and hunting to primitive agriculture and livestock husbandry and the resulting settlement and clan society, the profound reform of productivity, production mode and social structure promoted cultural leaps, the blooming of talent and prosperous inventions in this heroic age.
From picking, fishing and hunting to primitive agriculture and livestock husbandry and the resulting settlement and clan society, the profound reform of productivity, production mode and social structure promoted cultural leaps, the blooming of talent and prosperous inventions in this heroic age.