Human activity on Yushan began very early. According to investigations carried out by famed anthropologist Torii Ryuuzoo during the Japanese occupation period and archeological research by Academica Sinica after the restoration of Chinese sovereignty, stone tools, pot shards and the remains of ancient dwellings from the Paleolithic period unearthed in the vicinity of Yushan show that at least 1000 years ago human beings lived and were active in the area.
玉山的人類活動起源甚早，根據日據時代著名人類學家鳥居龍藏的調查及光復後中研院的考古研究，玉山周圍山區出土的新石器時代石器、陶片和古代居屋遺跡，顯示至少在一千多年以前已有人類在此活動、居住。