A large quantity of animal bones were unearthed at the Neolithic Guantaoyuan site in Baoji city,Shaanxi province,China.These faunal remains were systematically collected according to the archaeological units at the site,and at least 26 species have been identified.The skulls of Rhinopithecus roxellana have been unearthed for the first time from ash pits,dating to the pre-Yangshao culture-the Lower Beishouling phase(7300-7000BP.)and the Guantaoyuan type(7500-7300BP.).This discovery also marks the northernmost distribution of this species in China.This article discusses the significance of the discovery in archaeology and animal evolution.
