A remarkable archaeological excavation in Ningbo, located in East China’s Zhejiang Province, has brought to light a vast array of historical treasures. This six-month project, which began in February, unearthed artifacts dating from the ancient Hemudu period (5500BC-3300BC) all the way through to the Song Dynasty (960-1127), offering a unique window into China’s long and varied history.
The site, discovered in June 2022 in a village in Fenghua district, spans a substantial area divided into two zones, north and south, measuring 4,400 and 3,400 square meters respectively. The dig revealed a stratification of six distinct cultural layers, each representing different historical periods and yielding a total of over 600 artifacts.
These findings provide a chronological narrative of China’s cultural development, starting from the Neolithic Hemudu culture. Ding Fengya, the lead director of the excavation, highlighted the site’s significance in illustrating the evolution of Chinese culture from the Neolithic period through the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.
From the Hemudu culture layer, archaeologists uncovered a variety of structures, including earthen platforms, wooden storage pits, protective fences, tombs, ash pits, and trenches. These remains offer insights into the early architectural and societal organization of this Neolithic culture.
The excavation also revealed relics from the Liangzhu culture (3400BC-2250BC), marked by ground-level buildings with base grooves and pillar holes, typically circular or rectangular in shape. Burial practices from this period included east-west oriented rectangular vertical pit tombs with single wooden plank coffins, some with lids. Numerous pottery fragments and stone tools were also found in these layers.
The cultural layer from the Warring States period (475BC-221BC) yielded fewer artifacts, primarily porcelain cups, bowls, and pottery fragments. This scarcity is attributed to disruptions from human activity during the Han (206BC-AD220) to Six Dynasties (220-589) period.
From the Han to Six Dynasties period, the site revealed structures, tombs, and ash pits, alongside artifacts predominantly made of pottery, ceramics, and brick and tile architectural elements. The Tang and Song periods are represented through the discovery of celadon ceramics and a limited amount of white porcelain.
A representative from the Ningbo Cultural Heritage Management Research Institute emphasized the significance of these finds. The plethora of artifacts from various periods demonstrates clear chronological progression, making this site an exemplary case study of settlement patterns in the Fenghua River basin plains. The discoveries are invaluable for mapping regional cultural development and studying the evolution of settlements over millennia. This excavation not only enriches our understanding of ancient Chinese history but also adds a new dimension to the global understanding of ancient civilizations.
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