The Dongshancun Site

The Dongshancun Site

The Dongshancun Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Dongshancun Site is located in Dongshan Village, Nansha Township, Zhangjiagang City, approximately 500 meters west of Xiangshan Mountain and 2.5 kilometers north of the Yangtze River. Preliminary surveys indicate that this ancient cultural site stretches 150 meters from north to south and 300 meters from east to west, covering an area of about 30,000 square meters. In 1989 and 1990, the Suzhou Museum and the Zhangjiagang Cultural Relics Management Committee conducted two excavations, uncovering remains of the Majiabang and Songze cultures.

The Majiabang culture remains include house foundations with circular and semi-circular postholes, as well as relics such as reeds, straw, bamboo and wood, rice grains, ash pits, and red burned earth. Pottery, stone, and jade artifacts were also unearthed. The site slopes in three directions—east, south, and north—with varying thicknesses of cultural layers ranging from 2.5 to 3 meters. There are extensive areas of connected red burned earth and a large number of pottery fragments, indicating a large primitive village site. Unearthed items include pottery jars, tripods, pots, plates, beans (dou), cups, bowls, stone adzes, chisels, axes, knives, whetstones, and jade bracelets and huangs.

A total of eight tombs from the Majiabang and Songze cultures have been excavated at the site, all of which are shallow earthen pit graves. The burial objects generally range from 4 to 12 items. In addition to features characteristic of the local culture, some items also show influences from other cultures.

In 2009, the site was selected as one of the “Six Major Archaeological Discoveries in China” announced by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. In May 2013, it was designated as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units