Zhaoling Site

Zhaoling Site

The Zhaoling Site is located in Zhaoling Village, southwest of Zhangpu Town, Kunshan City, approximately 27 kilometers west of downtown Suzhou. It is an artificially built earthen mound about 3 kilometers south of the Wusong River, covering an area of 10,000 square meters and standing more than 8 meters above the surrounding terrain. It is surrounded by ancient river channels and is a typical platform-type site in the Taihu Lake region. To the west are the Caoxieshan site in Weiting, Wu County, the Zhanglingshan site in Luzhi, and the Shaoqingshan site in Qiandeng, Kunshan, while to the east lies the Fuquanshan site in Qingpu, Shanghai—all ancient ruins situated along the same latitude.

This site was first discovered in early 1984. During the winters of 1990 and 1991, the Nanjing Museum, the Suzhou Museum, and the Kunshan Cultural Relics Management Committee conducted two phases of archaeological excavation, uncovering a total area of over 1,000 square meters.

The cultural deposits at the site reach a depth of 9 meters. The upper layer belongs to the Spring and Autumn period, while the middle layer, primarily from the Liangzhu culture, constitutes the main remains. At its center lies a large artificially built earthen platform, about 4 meters thick, 60 meters long from east to west, and 50 meters long from north to south, covering an area of nearly 3,000 square meters. Beneath this platform lies sediment from the Songze culture.

In 1990, 19 tombs were discovered concentrated on the northwest slope of the platform, arranged in three rows from north to south. These tombs had no burial pits or coffins, with very few grave goods. The orientation of the human remains varied, with many showing signs of dismemberment, missing heads or limbs, and some with severed hands and feet. Analysis showed that most were adolescents, especially males, clearly indicating sacrificial victims. Such a concentrated, large-scale, and diverse case of collective sacrifice is the first of its kind found in Liangzhu culture archaeology.

In 1991, 66 tombs were discovered mainly in the central-western part of the platform, roughly distributed across three layers. Each layer had dense and orderly arrangements, typically including burial pits, coffins, and grave goods. The pits were relatively shallow, rectangular or trapezoidal in shape, and the coffins were mostly log coffins coated with reddish pigment. Most human skulls faced south, and burial positions were primarily supine with extended limbs. Stone artifacts included well-shaped axes, adzes, and chisels. Among the pottery items were precious painted and incised ceramics. Jade artifacts such as bi discs, cong tubes, rings, bracelets, tubes, cone-shaped objects, headdress ornaments, bead strings, and pendants were all finely crafted from soft jade, totaling over 200 pieces. Of these, 125 came from a single early Liangzhu noble tomb. Featuring exquisitely carved designs of deities and birds or beasts, these transparent jade ornaments were uniquely shaped, vividly crafted, and masterfully made—true masterpieces of Liangzhu jade art.

The two excavations at the Zhaoling Site greatly enriched our understanding of Liangzhu culture's social structure, broadened research perspectives, and provided important new data for exploring the origins of Chinese civilization.

The significant discoveries at the Zhaoling Site were ranked among China’s Top Ten Archaeological Finds in 1992.

Zhangpu Town: Located in the golden triangle between Shanghai, Suzhou, and Kunshan, Zhangpu Town is one of the key open towns in the Yangtze River Delta. The town covers an administrative area of 116.27 square kilometers and includes 1 industrial and commercial management zone, 2 subdistrict offices, 5 community committees, and 18 administrative villages. It has a permanent population of 66,000 and nearly 70,000 migrant residents.

The town features distinct industrial characteristics and an elegant environment. Airport Road, which runs east-west through the town, naturally divides modern industry and ecological agriculture, highlighting the harmony between humans and nature. Airport Road also serves as the boundary that forms the layout of “gardens to the south and urban areas to the north…” More details about Zhangpu Town++