Tongjiayao Site

Tongjiayao Site

The Tongjiayao Site is a cultural heritage conservation unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Tongjiayao Site is located in the fields of the northern part of Tong’ao Village, Henghe Town, Cixi City, Zhejiang Province, and the northeastern part of Dabutou Natural Village, covering a total area of over 20,000 square meters. It is a Neolithic site of the Hemudu Culture.

In 1955, local villagers discovered animal bones, deer antlers, pottery, and other relics underground while digging pond mud. In 1979, trial excavations by the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Archaeology unearthed a number of polished stone tools such as adzes and axes, as well as pottery items including cauldrons, fire storage zun vessels, jars, bowls, lids, and supports. Culturally, these findings are quite similar to the fourth cultural layer of Hemudu, with some artifacts exhibiting characteristics of the third cultural layer. It is estimated that the site dates back approximately 6,000 to 7,000 years. During the Third National Cultural Relics Survey, the Cixi Survey Office conducted extensive drilling at the site in March 2009 and found that the cultural layer generally lies between 110 and 260 centimeters below the surface, with a maximum thickness of about 1.5 meters, thinning out toward the periphery. The cultural layer is characterized by grayish-brown soil mixed with a significant amount of sand particles and organic remains. The distribution spans approximately 200 meters from east to west and 200 meters from north to south, mainly located in the fields north of Dabutou Village, south of Tiaotou, west of Meihu Lake, and east of the Yuci Railway, with the main remains covering an area of over 20,000 square meters. Based on preliminary analysis of the drilling results, the cultural content of the site is similar to that of the Moshan Site in Yuyao and the Fujia Mountain Site in Ningbo, with deposits primarily belonging to the early Hemudu Culture.

The cultural layer of the site is buried deep and has been well preserved since its discovery, with minimal disturbance apart from local villagers' river dredging activities. The surrounding environment of the site is also relatively well maintained, although nearby mountain areas have seen considerable quarrying, which has somewhat damaged the environmental landscape.

The Tongjiayao Site is rich in content and well preserved, making it a significant relic of the Hemudu Culture type. It holds considerable cultural value for studying the natural environment, geographical changes, and human civilization history of eastern Zhejiang. In August 1986, the Cixi County People's Government designated the Tongjiayao Site as a third batch cultural heritage conservation unit. In January 2011, the Zhejiang Provincial People's Government listed it as a sixth batch provincial-level cultural heritage conservation unit.

Henghe Town: Henghe Town is located in the southern suburbs of Cixi City, with plains to the north and hills to the south. It enjoys convenient transportation and a superior geographical location. The Cixi Connection Line of the Hangzhou–Ningbo Expressway runs through the town. It is 185 kilometers from the provincial capital Hangzhou, over 80 kilometers from Ningbo Lishe Airport, and faces Shanghai across Hangzhou Bay to the north. The town covers an area of 88.34 square kilometers and has a population of 63,000.

Since the reform and opening up, Henghe Town has experienced rapid economic development. In 2004, the town achieved a gross domestic product of 2.34 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 11%; fiscal revenue reached 221 million yuan... More details about Henghe Town++

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Conservation Units