The excavation of the Wujiachang Cemetery in Fuquanshan Site, Shanghai in 2010

Abstract

Fuquanshan Site is a central settlement site of the Liangzhu Culture. The 2010 excavation in the Wujiachang locality of Fuquanshan Site was productive. The relatively small excavation area of 231sqm yielded six burials, 14 ash pits, three ash ditches, and one water well. Four of the burials were dated to the Liangzhu Age. The Liangzhu grave goods assemblage was exceptionally rich. It comprised more than 400 artifacts that included sumptuous objects of jade cong-tubes, jade bi-discs, jade yue-battle axes, ivory scepters, etc. Their presence suggested that M204 and M207 were elite burials. The complete removal of feature M207 from the field allowed meticulous excavation of the burial in the convenience of laboratory environment, as well as the immediate preservation of the uncovered cultural relics. The deposition indicated that Wujiachang was an artificial mound cemetery of the elites of the Liangzhu Culture.