The State Administration of cultural relics released five archaeological achievements
2021-12-03
On the 1st, the State Administration of cultural relics held an online work meeting on the important progress of "archaeological China" major projects. This work will focus on the latest discoveries and research results of the Neolithic age. The five archaeological projects show the development process of Neolithic culture in different stages of the Yangtze River Basin, the Pearl River Basin and the Yellow River Basin. It can be seen from the introduction that in the Neolithic age, 8000 to 4000 years ago, although the cultures of various places had their own characteristics, there were traces of cultural exchange and integration; Archaeology is demonstrating the pattern of pluralistic integration of Chinese civilization with archaeological achievements through multidisciplinary cooperation. As song Xinchao, deputy director of the State Administration of cultural relics, said, "the initial China has formed an embryonic form during this period." Ancient paddy field of Shiao site in Yuyao, Zhejiang Province: it has three of the most paddy fields in the world Project Description: the ancient paddy field of shi'ao site is located in Yuyao City, Zhejiang Province. It is the largest, oldest and most well-documented large-scale paddy field found in the world. The preliminary exploration site covers a total area of about 900000 square meters. This time, large-scale rice field remains of Hemudu culture and Liangzhu culture were excavated, dating from 6700 to 4500 years ago. Wang Yonglei, librarian of Zhejiang Institute of cultural relics and archaeology, introduced that they found a "well" shaped road network composed of raised ridges in the ancient rice field of Liangzhu culture, as well as an irrigation system composed of river channels, canals and irrigation and drainage outlets. They also confirmed four fields with an area of about 750, 700, 1900 and 1300 square meters respectively. Expert comments: Shi'ao ancient rice field can be said to be a world-class discovery. Not many ancient farmland have been found in the world, but paddy fields have been found in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, especially in the Liangzhu period. However, it is rare to find that Shi Ao included paddy fields in the early Hemudu, late Hemudu and Liangzhu periods, and so many plots, as well as complete systems including canals, water outlets, paths, ridges, paddy fields themselves and their contents. It is of great significance for us to understand the development of rice agriculture in the whole southeast region, especially in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. With irrefutable evidence, Shi Ao showed the development trend of rice agriculture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. —— Chen Xingcan (director, Institute of archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) Yingdeyan Shanzhai site in Guangdong: the largest Neolithic settlement in Lingnan Project Description: yanshanzhai site, located in Yingde City, Guangdong Province, is the largest Neolithic settlement site in Lingnan area, filling the gap of settlement archaeology in the origin stage of civilization in Lingnan area. Liu Suoqiang, researcher of Guangdong Institute of cultural relics and archaeology, introduced that the total area of the site is about 50000 square meters, including multiple functional areas such as residential area and burial area, but the residential area is also mixed with a small number of tombs. It can be seen that residential life and funeral are not completely separated. A total of 66 tombs were excavated in the burial area. Tombs show obvious hierarchical differentiation. Jade articles are generally buried in high-grade tombs, of which more than 140 are buried in tomb 16, including Gaojie jade Cong with the largest volume seen in Lingnan area. He believes that the Shixia culture to which the site belongs dates back to 4500 years and plays a pivotal role in the interaction and cultural exchange between people in the Yangtze River Basin and Lingnan at the stage of civilization origin. Expert comments: The jade found in yanshanzhai site has obvious characteristics of Liangzhu culture, indicating that Liangzhu culture has radiated here. This discovery is very important. At that time, cultural exchanges, especially spiritual exchanges, were realized through jade. —— Wang Renxiang (researcher, Institute of archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) In the past, it was thought that the development of Lingnan area began only after Qin Shihuang unified the six countries. In fact, more and more archaeological evidence confirmed that the development of this area began as early as the prehistoric period or even earlier, and there was not only the cultural diffusion from Hunan to the south, but also the influence of Liangzhu Culture from the southeast. The discovery of yanshanzhai can provide evidence again. The civilization development process in this area is of great significance to the formation of Chinese civilization. —— Li Shuicheng (Professor, School of archaeology, culture and Museum, Peking University) Nanzuo site in Qingyang, Gansu: an unprecedented giant prehistoric site Project Description: nanzuo site is located in Xifeng District, Qingyang City, Gansu Province. It is a large-scale settlement site of Yangshao culture. Han Jianye, a professor at the school of history of Renmin University of China, introduced that the archaeological investigation preliminarily determined that the nanzuo site covers an area of about 6 million square meters, dating from 5200 to 4600 years ago. The core area of the site is about 300000 square meters, surrounded by 9 large rammed earth platforms, and two ring trenches are found close to the outside of the rammed earth platform. There is a palace style building F1 with an indoor area of about 630 square meters in the core area, and the walls and floors are multi-storey white gray surfaces; White piled pottery, white pottery, white pottery, black pottery, cinnabar painted pottery, as well as large painted pottery cans, bell mouth flat bottom painted pottery bottles with plugs and a large number of rice relics were unearthed in F2, showing a high level of social development. Expert comments: This is an "unprecedented" giant site. First, the overall scale is unprecedented, with a total area of 6 million square meters, 2 million square meters larger than Shimao site, twice the Erlitou site known so far; Second, the core area is unprecedented. Its core area is about 300000 square meters, as large as Mojiao mountain of Liangzhu site, and there are nine rammed earth platforms around it, and there are two ring trenches outside the rammed earth platform; Third, the size of the house is unprecedented. The indoor part of F1 alone reaches 630 square meters, and the size is unparalleled in the same period. This large-scale late Yangshao settlement is one of the largest settlement sites about 5000 years ago. It reflects strong social public power and shows that Longdong may have entered an early country or civilized society. —— Zhang Chi (Professor, School of archaeology, culture and Museum, Peking University) Gedachuan site in Zhangjiachuan, Gansu: another central area of Yangshao culture Project Description: gedachuan site is located in Zhangjiachuan Hui Autonomous County, Gansu Province. It extends from the early Yangshao culture to the late Yangshao culture, dating from 6100 to 5600 years ago. Chen Guoke, researcher of Gansu Institute of cultural relics and archaeology, introduced that gedachuan site is another important archaeological discovery on the Loess Plateau of western Gansu after Dadiwan site. Among them, the large-scale huanhao settlement in the early historian type period of Yangshao culture is well preserved, covering an area of about 80000 square meters. Three huanhao were found in the periphery of the settlement. The central area is a square, around which three groups of houses are distributed in a centripetal shape, totaling more than 100. A large number of pottery, stone tools, jade and bone ware were unearthed at the site. The pottery is mainly colored pottery, and a jade power staff head was also found. Expert comments: The discovery of gedachuan site gives us a deeper understanding of the treasure area of the Loess Plateau, and a more accurate and profound understanding of the status of Yangshao culture. The age of this site is at a turning point from the early Yangshao culture to its most prosperous Miaodigou period. The painted pottery, house layout and structure in the site all show such a transitional style. This shows that the most important turning point of Yangshao culture began in the hinterland of the Loess Plateau centered on Longdong. The most prosperous Miaodigou era of Yangshao was bred here, and the ancestors of Yangshao culture were the real children of the loess. This important discovery, like the discovery of nanzuo site, helps to change the traditional understanding that Yangshao culture belongs to the culture of the Central Plains, and helps to interpret the grand process of the formation of Chinese civilization from a new perspective of pluralism. —— Li Xinwei (researcher, Institute of archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) Dengcao Gouliang site in Zhangjiakou, Hebei: consolidating Zhangjiakou's "three fork" position Project Description: Dengcao Gouliang site is located in Chongli District, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. Wang Gang, a researcher of Hebei Institute of cultural relics and archaeology, introduced that the cultural relics of four stages were found in Dengcao Gouliang site, dating from about 8000 years ago, about 6500 years ago, about 5100 years ago and about 4200-4000 years ago. The relics of each period are close to the surrounding Xinglongwa culture, Hougang culture, Yangshao culture and Longshan culture of the same period. Zhangjiakou is located in the transition zone between nomadic culture in the north of China and farming culture in the Central Plains. It is an important channel for cultural exchange between the eastern Bohai Sea and the western inland. The discovery of cultural relics with different features in four stages from 8000 to 4000 years ago proves that the region has been an important area of multi-ethnic and multi-cultural integration since ancient times. Expert comments: This finding can be said to fill the gap. In Zhangjiakou area, we should realize its importance, that is, the significance of North-South cultural exchange and East-West cultural exchange, that is, the significance of "three forks". Zhangjiakou area is an important cultural area, and it is likely to represent a new archaeological cultural area. Especially in the period from 8000 to 7000 years ago, it may have its own important cultural characteristics. Around 6000 years ago, Eastern and Western cultures had a major collision in the north of the whole great wall, and Zhangjiakou was in this area. This collision had an important impact on the later culture of this area. (outlook new era)
Edit：Yuanqi Tang Responsible editor：Xiao Yu
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