Cave Complex along the Taizi River

Cave Complex along the Taizi River

Neolithic Period Site. The caves along the Taizi River contain both early and late-period remains. Among them, the Machengzi B Cave site, located in Machengzi Village, Nandian Town, Benxi County, has a Bronze Age cemetery on its upper level and a Neolithic site on its lower level. Excavated in 1983, it revealed one Neolithic dwelling site, which was circular in shape, with red-fired earthen platforms on the eastern and western edges, as well as remains of roe deer antlers, fish bones, wild boar teeth, and other animal bone fragments. Based on pottery analysis, the lower cultural layer of Machengzi B Cave belongs to a late Neolithic culture, dating back approximately 4,500–5,000 years. The Beidian A Cave site, located in Beidian Village, Nandian Town, Benxi County, was excavated in 1984 and yielded one dwelling site containing a stone grinding plate. A large number of chipped stone tools were found, including stone hoes and stone shovels. Pottery was mostly cylindrical jars, and many bone, horn, and tooth artifacts were also unearthed, such as bone knives and tooth knives. The Beidian A Cave site dates back around 4,500–5,000 years. The Benxi Water Cave site, located inside Benxi Water Cave, was excavated in 1983. A collection of Neolithic artifacts was discovered on the lower level of the cave, mainly including chipped stone tools and cylindrical jars decorated with incised grid and diagonal line patterns. These artifacts are all from the late Neolithic period, dating back about 5,000 years.