Recent archaeological findings have revealed human habitation in Tibet approximately 40,000 years ago, challenging conventional historical timelines. Recognized among China's top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2023, the Merungdap Cave site in Ngari prefecture, Tibet, stands as a groundbreaking revelation, marking the first prehistoric human cave discovered in the heartland of the Tibetan Plateau.

Excavations at Merungdap Cave have unearthed over 10,000 artifacts from various periods, providing tangible evidence of human presence in the region millennia ago. The findings offer unprecedented insights into the ancient activities and lifestyles of individuals who inhabited the Tibetan Plateau.

Situated at an altitude of approximately 4,600 meters, the cave site has been a focal point for collaborative efforts between the Institute of Cultural Relics Protection and the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The extensive excavations, spanning from 2018 to 2020, focused primarily on Cave No. 1.

Recent excavations in 2021 revealed even older cultural layers, exposing stone cores made of black horn shale, stone tools, and a plethora of animal bones. These discoveries indicate a more intricate history of human utilization of the site than previously understood, contributing to a deeper comprehension of ancient human behaviors and lifestyles.

Merungdap Cave stands as the first large-scale cave site discovered in the western part of the Tibetan Plateau, emphasizing the rich historical tapestry of human existence in the region. This significant revelation underscores the importance of ongoing archaeological endeavors in unraveling the mysteries of humanity's ancient past in Tibet.