Shinian Mountain Site

Shinian Mountain Site

The Shinian Mountain Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Neolithic Age

The Shinian Mountain Site is located to the east of Shinian Village, Shuibei Town, Yushui District, Xinyu City. About ten li to its southwest lies the sunny side of Mengshan Mountain, while the Meng River system flows around its southeast, south, and north sides. It is a platform-type ancient cultural site, covering an area of approximately 6,000 square meters. The site was discovered during an archaeological survey in October 1984; three archaeological excavations have been carried out successively, unearthing over 4,000 stone artifacts such as picks, hoes, and axes, as well as pottery items including tripods, jars, gui vessels, and cups. A total of 136 tombs were also cleared. Large-scale excavation and research reveal that the Shinian Mountain Site is an ancient village settlement with distinct layout features. The entire site is surrounded by a natural moat several meters higher than the surrounding land. Its northern part served as the residential area, the southern part as the communal cemetery, and the eastern part as the workshop area. The cultural characteristics of the first phase are similar to those of the Majiabang Culture and the Daxi Culture, with a dating of about 5,500–6,000 years ago. The second phase resembles the third phase of the Xuejiagang Culture, dating back about 5,000–5,500 years. The third phase is related to the Shixia Culture, the lower layer of Zhuguo City, the lower layer of Fan Chengdui, and the lower layer of Yinjiaping, dating to approximately 4,500–5,000 years ago. This three-phase cultural division marks the first chronological study of Neolithic remains in Jiangxi. It reflects, from one aspect, the significant role Jiangxi played in ancient cultural exchanges and helps fill in gaps in the Neolithic archaeological chronology of the province. The site has uncovered uniquely ordered circular house foundations, cluster burials in both tomb and non-tomb pits, and jar burials in the communal cemetery—practices rarely seen or unique within the province’s prehistoric archaeology. The rich cultural content has drawn keen interest from the archaeological community. The Shinian Mountain Site is not only a treasure trove for studying Jiangxi’s prehistoric culture but also a key site for exploring ancient southern cultures. In July 2000, it was listed as a Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit. In May 2013, it was approved and announced by the State Council as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units