Searching for the tools of Fuxi

Author: Lan Shen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: In the Gansu region before the emergence of life, it was very turbulent. Volcanic activity was extremely intense and frequent, and the primitive crust was almost destroyed in violent movements. It wasn’t until about 2.5 billion to 1.8 billion years ago, during the early Proterozoic Eon, that small, stable ancient landmasses in the form of islands emerged, floating in the vast oceans. There was no life on the islands, and it was covered in bare rocks, scattered fragments, rock debris, and sand and mud. There was no noise or chaos, the only sounds that could be heard were the thunder and rumbling, the crashing of waves—the symphony of storms. At that time, there was very little land in Gansu, most of it was ocean. The few landmasses that existed were the Dunhuang-Alxa Ancient Land, the Longxi Ancient Land, and the Ordos Ancient Land. The Western Qilian Sea Trough, known as the Qilian Sea Trough, ran through Gansu from east to west, and the central region of Gansu was completely submerged in the vast sea. Around 180 million years ago in the Jurassic Period, the sea water had completely retreated to the southeast, but the surface water was still abundant. The hills were covered in dense forests, and ferns grew beneath the trees. Cycads and ginkgoes grew both inside and outside the forests. Small and delicate fish swam freely in the clear waters, while dinosaurs shuffled across the land. Abundant bivalve animals provided rich food for crocodiles and turtle that traveled between land and water.