Chinese geologist; excavated first
calvaria from
Zhoukoudian in 1929 (Sinanthropus pekinensis III), dated at almost 600
kya and associated with
tool assemblages. In 1930, he undertook an extensive study of the
artifacts recovered at Localities 1, 13 and
15. Pei was a leading figure in
Chinese prehistory both before and after the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, and later directed the exploration of many
sites, including the Gigantopithecus
horizon at
Kwangsi.
Aka Pei Wenchung.