New discoveries at the Lushan Mao archaeological site in the Baota district of Yan'an in China's Shaanxi province push the date of the Yan’an fortification complex back by at least 2,300 years.
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File photo shows a full view of Lushan Mao relics site, in Baota district
of Yan’an of Shaanxi province [Credit: VCG] |
The "2017 Shaanxi provincial new archaeological discoveries seminar", cohosted by Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau and Social Science Association of Shaanxi Province, was held on Jan 23, 2017. It gave a detail report on the archaeological discoveries at the Lushan Mao archaeological site.
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File photo shows a jade ware unearthed from Lushan Mao relics site, in Baota district
of Yan’an of Shaanxi province [Credit: VCG] |
The Lushan Mao archaeological site, covering an area of more than 2 million square metres, is one of the largest prehistoric settlements site ever discovered in China.
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File photo shows an inscribed roof tile unearthed from Lushan Mao relics site, in Baota district
of Yan’an of Shaanxi province [Credit: VCG] |
After two years of archaeological excavation, ruins of houses, ovens, rammed earth walls have been found, and a large amount of pottery, stoneware, bone artefacts, and jade ware have been unearthed.
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File photo shows a cultural relic unearthed from Lushan Mao relics site,
in Baota district of Yan’an of Shaanxi province [Credit: VCG] |
Duyuan, an expert from School of History and Culture, Yan 'an University, said that according to historical documents, the earliest fortification history of Yan’an can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 220), about 2,200 years ago.
However, the new discoveries at the Lushan Mao archaeological site suggest that it is at least 4,500 years old.
Source: China Daily [January 26, 2018]
