With the approval of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the archaeological excavation area of Lingjiatan site this year and next year is 2,000 square meters, and the planned excavation area is 1,000 square meters this year
▲ Lingjiatan ruins at sunset. Photo by Xu Minhao
Lingjiatan site, located in Tongzha Town, Hanshan County, is a Neolithic central settlement site dating back to 5800-5300 years ago, with a total area of about 2.2 million square meters. The Lingjiatan site was discovered in 1985 and is famous for the many jade artifacts unearthed during previous excavations. To the north of the moat is the burial area, which is at the highest point of the hill, with a slightly rectangular altar as the core. On the altar and around it, there are dozens of tombs, and the burial goods are mainly jade tools, and the more representative jade objects are people, turtles, plates, eagles, dragons, etc.
From 2021 to 2022, archaeological excavations made significant discoveries. Archaeologists excavated the area of the rest square of the site park on the west side of the burial area, and found a sacrificial pit, in which archaeologists unearthed more than 140 pieces of stone tools, more than 70 pieces of jade, and more than 40 pieces of pottery, including the largest stone Yue found in Lingjiatan so far, and a beautiful dragon's head-shaped jade.
▲ The largest stone Yue unearthed. Photo by Xu Minhao
▲ Dragon's head-shaped jade ornament
In 2023, archaeologists conducted further excavations in the expanded area of the sacrificial pit on the west side of the Lingjiatan burial area, and found that the sacrificial pit is located on a large pedestal, which should be a sacrificial activity site carefully designed and built by the ancestors of Lingjiatan, which is closely connected to the burial area or plays an important role in the social life of the Lingjiatan people. The archaeological discoveries in 2023 have expanded the scope of the Lingjiatan tomb sacrifice area and deepened the understanding of the Lingjiatan tomb sacrifice area.
▲ This is the tomb sacrifice area of the Lingjiatan site taken on October 29, 2021 (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhou Mu
According to reports, the 1,000 square meters planned to be excavated this year are located on the west side of the tomb sacrifice area. Currently, preparations for archaeological excavations are underway. At the site, the construction and installation of the archaeological greenhouse is intensifying and can be completed in recent days.
Source | Ma On Shan Daily
责编 | 顾盼 编辑 | 王玲
Organizer | Anhui Provincial Government Information Office, Provincial Internet Information Office
Platform construction and technical support | Anhui New Media Group