China's top 10 list of archaeological discoveries of 2025 — one of the highest honors for the country's archaeological projects — was released on Wednesday. Selected by top-tier scholars across the country, the list showcases outstanding examples of archaeological projects from last year.
The new laureates:
1. Changbai Mountain Paleolithic site group in east Jilin province
The Changbai Mountain Paleolithic site group is a major archaeological program uncovering sustained human activity from roughly 220,000 to 15,000 years ago. Covering over 100,000 square kilometers, it has identified more than 1,000 locations with stone tools. Key sites like Xianrendong and Dadong reveal the evolution of microblade technology and adaptation to cold climates. Abundant local obsidian was crucial for toolmaking, and source-tracing studies show long-distance material exchange, highlighting the region's role in human migration and cultural transitions in Northeast Asia.
