By Bai Shi

Chinese archeologists uncover new treasures

2. ANCIENT CITY: A bird’s eye view of the Shimao site in Shaanxi Province on November 8, 2012

Six most significant new findings in the year 2012 across the country were announced at the annual New Archeological Discoveries Forum, held by the Institute of Archeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing on January 9.

Professor Wang Wei, head of the institute,said the discoveries included the Neolithic Shunshanji site in Sihong, Jiangsu Province;the Neolithic Shimao site in Shenmu, Shaanxi Province; the Bronze Age Adunqiaolu site and cemetery in Wenquan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 B.C.) Jiwanggu Tomb in Yishui,Shandong Province; the Eastern Wei (534-550)and Northern Qi (550-577) period Buddhist temple and stone statues found at the Yecheng site in Hebei Province; and the Hailongtun fortress site in Zunyi, Guizhou Province.

“Some findings might not be sensational,but for us archeologists, they have remarkable significance,” he said.

prehistoric Jiangsu

The Neolithic Shunshanji site in Sihong County is a prehistoric settlement relic with an 8,000-year history. It is the first such site to be found in the middle and lower Huaihe River valley.

The site covers an area of 175,000 square meters. Archeologists have excavated 92 tombs,26 burning pits and five settlement relics thus far.Scientists also found more than 400 pottery pieces, stone and jade ware as well as bone artifacts.

Chen Xingcan, an institute archeologist, said the period dating back 8,000 years was very significant in Chinese history. Scientists have found two similar prehistoric sites in northeast China and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Remarkably, Shunshanji reveals a well planned village and evidence of rice growing, which suggests primary agriculture practices at the time.

In addition, findings have uncovered a multicultural aspect in that unearthed pottery pieces bear some relation to that of another civilization in Shandong Province. As research continues,it might help scientists find the source of other prehistoric civilizations in the area, Chen said.

City ruins

The Neolithic Shimao site in Shenmu County has been dated to 4,000 years ago. With an area of over 4 million square meters, it is the largest city ruins of the period found thus far.The discovery provides important evidence regarding the primary stage of Chinese civilization.

According to preliminary estimates, Shimao was built in the middle period of the Longshan Civilization, falling into ruin during the Xia Dynasty (about 2070-1600 B.C.). The ancient city was constructed according to sophisticated design, consisting of an imperial palace as well as an inner and outer city, surrounded by stone walls. The east gate is the earliest such stone structure in China.

Archeologist Zhu Yanping said a multitude of jade ware had been discovered in the area during the previous century.

Tianshan stone maze

The Adunqiaolu site and cemetery, located 41 km west of Wenquan County, dates back to the Bronze Age (about 1800 B.C. in China).

While archeologists had previously found similar sites in areas of Kazakhstan and Russia, Adunqiaolu is a first for China. Based on its scale and remains, the site mighthave functioned as a ritual center within the Bortala valley or even further. Large-scale stone architecture and tombs are significant in the exploration of early Bronze Age culture in the western Tianshan Mountain area.From June to September 2012, archeologists excavated three linked houses and nine stone burial chambers, traced back to the 19th and 17th centuries B.C.

3. BURIAL GROUND: Scientists work on the Jiwanggu Tomb site in Shandong Province on April 16, 20124. DIGGING DEEP: Archeologists unearthed a great number of Buddha statues at the Yecheng site in Hebei Province in March 2012

Li Shuicheng, an archeologist of Peking University, said Adunqiaolu provides important material for research into the cultural link between northwest China and Central Asia during the Bronze Age.

The site also begs the question as to how ancient residents were able to cut, shape and transport such large pieces of stone using primitive technology and limited manpower.

Spring and Autumn tombs

The Jiwanggu Tomb of the late Spring and Autumn Period is located 40 km northwest of Yishui County. The tomb was accidentally uncovered by construction workers in early 2012. Later, archeologists excavated many bronze artifacts, including eight horse statues, four carriages and sacrificial wares. The scale and shape of the tomb suggests that Jiwanggu was meant for the upper class of the time.

Liu Xu, a Peking University archeologist,said the tomb reveals a unique structure.The cof fin chamber as well as the horse and carriage pit were situated inside the same grotto. The east side of the pit consists of rows of pillars, which is rare among tombs of the period.

Buddhist artifacts

A royal Buddhist temple from the Eastern Wei and Northern Qi dynasties was found at Yecheng in March 2012.

In a pit nearby, archeologists have unearthed 2,895 stone Buddha statues, mainly made of white marble. It is the largest hoard ever discovered in China. Yecheng served as the ancient capital of six successive dynasties across several centuries.

Archeologist Li Yuqun, said findings from Yecheng provide valuable evidence in the study of Buddhism in China.

Native chieftain fortress

The Hailongtun fortress, located in Zunyi, was constructed by the Bozhou Tusi government in 257 during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) and destroyed during the war against Ming Dynasty rule in 1600.

The term Tusi refers to local minority chieftains during Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties. For hundreds of years, imperial officials governed remote areas and borderlands via such hereditary leaders.

The well preserved site is surrounded by a 6-km-long wall and consists of a combination of fortresses, an administrative office as well as palace of varying ages.

Bai Yunxiang, an archeologist, said Hailongtun fortress provides important clues as to the local Tusi system, which was eventually abolished during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). ■