Nanshan Site

Nanshan Site

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

Era: Neolithic Age to Shang and Zhou Dynasties

The Nanshan Site is located in Mingxi, Sanming. During the first trial excavation of Cave 3 within the site in 1988, a thick layer of human habitation paved with red burnt soil was discovered inside the cave. In the second trial excavation in 2005, traces of human habitation were found in Cave 4, along with the discovery of a scraper made from quartz crystal dating back to the Paleolithic Age. Surprisingly, a large number of polished black pottery fragments were also found in this cave—the highest quantity ever uncovered in Fujian’s archaeological history. These fragments, in terms of craftsmanship, date back to the Neolithic Age approximately 4,500 to 5,000 years ago. Additionally, within a 4-square-meter test pit, 300 carbonized rice grains and a small number of fruit pits were discovered, marking the first such find in Fujian’s inland regions and providing valuable material for the study of the origin and spread of rice cultivation.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Provincial-Level Archaeological Site Parks in Fujian Province

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units