Mapping a city's rise and fall
Vast archaeological site unearths new research materials for comprehending the formation of urban society approximately 6,000 years ago, Wang Qian reports.
According to Zhou, 194 tombs from the Majiabang and Songze cultural periods, 13 houses, and 12 burnt earth accumulations have been excavated. Nearly 1,800 artifacts, including pottery, stoneware, jade, porcelain, and bronze ware, have been unearthed.
With most of the ceramic pieces made from reddish sandy clay, items such as bowls, tripods and cooking pots point to a community with established domestic habits and cultural customs.
Necessitated by the construction of a new expressway, which started survey in 2023, the excavation is the result of the county's policy, which mandates archaeological surveys before beginning any major construction projects.
Since July 2024, a joint archaeological team with members from provincial and national institutions, including the Jiangsu Provincial Institute and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has carried out a large-scale excavation.
