Surveys and excavations in 2014–2016 at Shijiahe Site in Tianmen City, Hubei

Abstract

In 2014 through 2016, archaeological surveys and excavations were conducted in the central area of the Shijiahe Site. The walled site at Locus Tanjialing found in the coring tests and excavations was the predecessor of the Shijiahe walled site, and its discovery provides important clues for understanding the formation and development of this latter site. The sacrificial remains at Locus Yinxintai (Seal Terrace) and the pottery workshop at Locus Sanfangwan are important discoveries related to an in-depth understanding on the functional differences across the Shijiahe Site. In addition, the jades unearthed in the excavations are richly diverse and were made with complicated techniques. They represent the highest level of the jade art in prehistoric China and contribute substantially to research on the development of Chinese Civilization.