In a remarkable archaeological discovery in Ningbo, East China’s Zhejiang Province, a treasure trove of artifacts, spanning a vast timeline from the Hemudu period (5500BC-3300BC) to the Song Dynasty (960-1127), has been uncovered. This six-month excavation, which began in February, took place in a village in Fenghua district, revealing a wealth of historical information.
The excavation site is divided into two distinct zones: the north zone covering 4,400 square meters and the south zone encompassing 3,400 square meters. Initially identified in June 2022, these zones have yielded an array of artifacts that provide a window into China’s past. The site’s layers have been categorized into six levels, each representing different historical periods, with a total of 77 distinct historical features identified.
The excavation has unearthed over 600 artifacts, with a significant portion dating back to prehistoric times. These findings are particularly instrumental in tracing the cultural evolution of China from the Neolithic Hemudu culture through to the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties. Ding Fengya, the on-site director of the excavation, highlighted the importance of these artifacts in understanding China’s ancient history.
From the Hemudu culture layer, evidence of various structures was found, including earthen platforms, tombs, wooden storage pits, protective wooden fences, ash pits, and trenches. These remnants offer a glimpse into the early architectural and societal organization of the time.
Moving into the Liangzhu culture (3400BC-2250BC), the artifacts include ground-level buildings with base grooves and pillar holes, illustrating the architectural advancements of the period. The burial structures from this era were primarily rectangular vertical pit tombs with east-west orientations, featuring single wooden plank coffins, some with lids, and accompanied by a wealth of pottery fragments and stone tools.
However, the cultural layer from the Warring States period (475BC-221BC) was sparsely populated with artifacts, mainly due to disruptions caused by human activity during the Han (206BC-AD220) to Six Dynasties (220-589) period. The artifacts from this later period include structures, tombs, and ash pits, mainly composed of pottery, ceramics, and architectural components made of brick and tile.
Notably, the primary artifacts from the Tang and Song periods are celadon ceramics and a limited quantity of white porcelain. These findings are pivotal in constructing a comprehensive understanding of the region’s cultural development.
A representative from the Ningbo Cultural Heritage Management Research Institute emphasized the significance of these findings. The abundance and chronological clarity of the artifacts make this site a quintessential example of a settlement in the Fenghua River basin plains. It holds immense value for mapping regional cultural development and studying changes in settlements over millennia.
This major archaeological find in Ningbo not only enriches our understanding of ancient Chinese civilizations but also serves as a crucial link in piecing together the intricate tapestry of China’s historical and cultural evolution.
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