A Radical Innovation Helped Archaic Humans Survive a Harsh Ice Age

New dating places Lingjing’s advanced stone tools at about 146,000 years ago, during a cold glacial period.

Researchers used uranium-thorium analysis of calcite crystals in a butchered rib bone to revise the timeline.

The tools are linked to an archaic human population, possibly Homo juluensis, showing strong planning and stoneworking skills.

The finding suggests sophisticated human innovation in eastern Asia emerged under harsh environmental pressure, not only in the West.