The progressive studies of how humans came to roam the earth and how long our ancestors have truly been frequenting these lands have puzzled scientists for centuries and every now and then a discovery of historic proportions brings them closer to the truth. In terms of such discoveries, of great importance is the Peking Man site discovered in 1921 when a Swedish geologist and an American palaeontologist embarked on an archaeological journey in Zhoukoudian, China that changed the face of prehistoric fossils.
During the period of 1921 – 1937, a number of fossilised human remains in the form of molars, jaws and skull fragments that excited archaeologists and scientists worldwide were unearthed. Subsequent excavations were conducted up until the Japanese Invasion in 1937 where 200 human fossils were uncovered as well. Recent findings approximate the age of these fossilised remains to around 750,000 years.
Clearly a Mecca for archaeology enthusiasts, the Peking Man site is not without it’s own conspiracies and theories for subsequent to the commencement of the Second World War in 1939, these fossils were prepared to be transported for safe keeping from the Cenozoic Research Laboratory to the United States until the war was concluded. However, the remains vanished and have not been found to date. A number of theories surround this occurrence and recently, the Chinese government in an effort to find the bones established a committee to achieve this purpose.
At present, excavations are underway and the site has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987 as well as one of the First Key National Cultural Protection Units. In addition, the findings from the Peking Man Site are believed to be substantial and reliable evidence in support of the theory of evolution.
For history buffs and archaeology enthusiasts staying at a city hotel Beijing, a visit to the Peking Man Site is a must. Patrons can also experience a 3D movie with regard to the site during both the peak season and the low season. Residing in a Beijing luxury hotel during this time will substantially improve the quality of your vacation and opting for Grand Millennium Beijing will provide you with a stellar location in close proximity to a number of other world famous attractions as well.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
