Remains of Nancheng Village

Nancheng Village Site

The Nancheng Village Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Period: Neolithic Age, Shang Dynasty, Han Dynasty

The Nancheng Village Site is located in the northwest of Nancheng Village, Nancheng Township, Ci County, Handan City, Hebei Province. To the north lies the ancient Jian River. The entire site is situated on the terrace south of the main channel of the ancient Jian River, serving as an important relic from the Neolithic Age through the Shang and Han Dynasties. It was discovered during a survey in the summer of 2002, re-examined in the autumn and winter of 2003, and trial-excavated in the autumn of 2004. It is one of the key cultural heritage archaeological projects under the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. In May 2013, it was announced by the State Council as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

From September 2007 to December 2008, the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics conducted archaeological surveys, explorations, and excavations at the Nancheng Village Site in Ci County. The exploration area covered 270,000 square meters, and the excavation area reached 6,480 square meters. A total of 358 features were cleared, including 204 ash pits, 8 house foundations, 21 ash ditches, 5 wells, 2 kiln sites, 111 tombs, 2 burnt earth features, and 669 catalogued artifacts. Major discoveries include a pre-Shang Dynasty tomb cluster, with 78 tombs identified. These were vertical pit-style graves, relatively concentrated within an area approximately 5 kilometers long from north to south and 25 meters wide from east to west. The graves were relatively shallow, some with wooden coffins, including two featuring both inner and outer coffins. The deceased were all buried in an extended supine position. Analysis showed that most were women and children. Burial objects were placed in front of the head, at the waist, and at the feet, with instances of shell face covers. Sixty-six burial items were unearthed, including 52 pottery pieces such as ding (tripods), li (tripod cauldrons), dou (stemmed bowls), basins, gui (food vessels), and urns, along with jade and shell ornaments.

The stratigraphic deposits at the Nancheng Village Site are well-defined. The earliest finds include artifacts from the late Yangshao period, followed by relics from the Longshan, pre-Shang, Han, Northern Dynasties, Tang, and Song periods. The deposits are rich, especially with the first-ever collection of pre-Shang tombs in Hebei Province. The Longshan-period remains represent another significant discovery following those at Handan’s Jian Gully, Turtle Platform, Xiapanwang, Yongnian Taikou, and other sites. They show a close relationship with Henan Longshan culture, sharing similarities but also exhibiting distinct characteristics. The Han Dynasty canals and ditches are also rare finds. The discovery of the Nancheng Village Site plays a crucial role in studying the origin, development trends, and cultural exchanges of the region.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units