The Pucheng Tumulus Tomb Cluster

Pucheng Tumulus Tomb Cluster

The Pucheng Tumulus Tomb Cluster is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Period: Western Zhou to Spring and Autumn

The Pucheng Tumulus Tomb Cluster is located in Guanjiu Village, Xianyang Town, Pucheng County, as well as Shangtong Village and Paizha Village, Zhongxin Town, Pucheng County, Fujian Province, China. It is a cluster of tumulus tombs dating from the Xia to the Spring and Autumn period. The tombs are distributed along both banks of the Zhexi River. In 2005 and 2006, 34 tumulus tombs were excavated, totaling 41 burial sites. A total of 300 artifacts were unearthed, including 68 pieces of proto-porcelain, mainly in the forms of dou (food vessels), guan (jars), zun (wine vessels), weng (urns), gui (food vessels), yu (basins), and pans; 146 pieces of stamped pottery, mainly consisting of guan, gui, dou, zun, and zhong (small cups); and 72 bronze items, primarily short swords and spears, as well as ge (dagger-axes), ben (adzes), -, scrapers, arrowheads, and zun, pan, and zhong-shaped vessels. In addition, there were 7 jade tube ornaments and 7 stone tools.

The discovery of the Pucheng Tumulus Tombs fills a gap in the distribution of tumulus tombs in southeastern China. Their dating from the Xia-Shang, Western Zhou to the Spring and Autumn period also bridges a missing link in Fujian’s pre-Qin archaeological sequence. The tumulus tombs featuring black-glazed pottery as the main funerary object are of significant importance to the study of the origins of southern tumulus tombs. Moreover, these tombs exhibit various burial forms such as flat-ground interment, shallow pits, and vertical shaft deep pits, providing important physical evidence for the study of the development and evolution of burial systems and customs during China’s pre-Qin period.

Listed in the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units in May 2013.

Guanjiu Village: Guanjiu Village is the second largest village in Xianyang Town, Pucheng County, situated upstream along the Nanpu River in Pucheng County. It lies in a mountainous area known for its beautiful scenery. The village is 16 kilometers from the county seat, bordering Guancuo Township to the east at the foot of Baixiang Mountain, and connecting to Lian Village in the same town to the west. It is close to Jiuli’ao Mountain to the north and borders Zhongxin Town and Guanjiu Town to the south. It is 6 kilometers from Taimu Mountain and 5 kilometers from the town center. The entire village covers an oval-shaped area of 10.5 square kilometers, with 762 households and a population of 2,818, spread across 12 natural villages and 16 villager groups. It was rated as... Detailed information about Guanjiu Village++

Further reading:

· Seventh Batch of Fujian Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units