Jiujiang Shendun Site

Jiujiang Shendun Site

The Shendun Site is situated in Xinhe Township, Jiujiang. To support the construction of the Dasha Railway, and after obtaining approval from the central Ministry of Culture via the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Culture, the provincial cultural relics team carried out two salvage excavations in the autumn and winter of 1984 and 1985. The total area excavated was 900 square meters, yielding a wide range of cultural artifacts and over 400 restorable objects.

Based on the findings from the two excavations, the Shendun Site contains stratified deposits and cultural relics from three periods: the late Neolithic Age and the Bronze Age, specifically the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Among these, the Zhou dynasty layers are relatively thick, and the evolutionary sequence of the unearthed cultural relics is quite clear, allowing them to be further divided into early, middle, and late phases. The cultural strata at this site span a continuous period of 2,000 years. Therefore, in every respect, the Shendun Site stands out as one of the most significant ancient cultural remains discovered in Jiangxi to date. It will provide extremely important physical evidence and a benchmark for studying and establishing the chronological framework of Jiangxi’s archaeological culture, as well as for exploring the interactions and integration between the ancient cultures of Jiangxi and those of surrounding provinces.

The excavation of the Jiujiang Shendun Site offers a glimpse into the complex relationships and exchanges between the ancient cultures of Jiangxi and the primitive and Bronze Age cultures of surrounding regions. Figuratively speaking, it serves as a window into these interactions.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units