In a significant archaeological discovery, over 100 jade artifacts from the Hongshan Culture have been unearthed at the Yuanbaoshan site in Aohan Banner, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. The excavation, which began in May and lasted four months, revealed a rich collection of jade relics dating back approximately 5,000 to 6,500 years, offering invaluable insights into early Chinese civilization.
Among the most notable finds are three jade dragons of varying colors and sizes, with the largest measuring 15.8 centimeters long, 9.5 centimeters wide, and 3 centimeters thick. This emerald green dragon is the largest of its type ever discovered in northern China, surpassing a previous find located about 150 kilometers away at the Niuheliang site in Liaoning province.
The chubby, pig-headed dragons are emblematic of the Hongshan Culture, which played a crucial role during the Neolithic period and extended across modern-day Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, and Hebei provinces. The artifacts contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the cultural and ritual practices of this ancient society.
Dang Yu, a research librarian at the Inner Mongolia Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, highlighted the variety of jade items found, which includes loops, discs, axes, and representations of birds and insects such as cicadas and silkworms. A particularly interesting piece, a jade headgear, bears resemblance to artifacts from the Lingjiatan Culture, suggesting long-distance cultural exchanges between these two ancient communities.
During a seminar in Chifeng commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Hongshan Culture’s designation, Dang noted the significance of these discoveries. Since the early 20th century, scholars have been intrigued by the relics of this culture, initially focusing on sites in the Hongshan area, named for its distinctive red mountains.
In 1954, archaeologist Yin Da officially named the culture in recognition of its unique attributes and contributions to Neolithic history. To date, more than 1,100 sites related to the Hongshan Culture have been identified, primarily located in the West Liaohe River basin in southeastern Inner Mongolia and western Liaoning.
The archaeological work at the Yuanbaoshan site has revealed a round rubble mound tomb, measuring 23.5 meters in diameter, which is the largest of its kind discovered in Inner Mongolia. Some jade artifacts were found within and beneath its walls, providing further evidence of the cultural practices surrounding burial rituals.
Researchers are currently employing paleoenvironmental studies, laboratory tests, and various research methods to enhance understanding of the site’s topography, the dating of the artifacts, and the sequence of construction.
Jia Xiaobing, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Archaeology, emphasized that the layout of the round tomb exhibits similarities to those found at Niuheliang. This consistency indicates a shared belief system among the Hongshan ancestors across a broader geographic area.
Jia is leading an initiative to foster collaboration between his institute in Beijing and archaeological institutions in Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, and Hebei. This effort aims to enhance archaeological research and deepen our understanding of the Hongshan Culture’s enduring legacy.
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