Haibei Site

Haibei Site

The Haibei Site is a cultural heritage protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Haibei Site is located to the north of Haibei Village, Shengtuo Town, Kenli County. The site stretches 390 meters from east to west and 225 meters from north to south, covering an area of 87,000 square meters. The Haibei Site in Kenli County was discovered in April 2006. In November of the same year, a trial excavation was conducted through a joint survey by the provincial archaeological research institute and the city museum, yielding a wealth of artifacts. After extensive investigation and expert evaluation, archaeologists unanimously agreed that the large quantity, variety of kilns, and diverse types of ceramic specimens found at the site were extremely rare, marking the first such discovery in the Shandong region and possessing significant academic value. Based on the unearthed relics and surveys, experts determined that the site dates back to the Song and Jin dynasties, making it the earliest ancient site discovered in Kenli County to date. In 2011, it was included in the provincial-level major site protection program. Following expert recommendations, the cultural relics management department has engaged experts from the provincial museum to conduct further investigation and survey of the site, with hopes of reaching a definitive conclusion regarding its nature.

The Kenli County Museum and numerous ceramic shard specimens unearthed at the Haibei Site were discussed, along with the kiln sites and production techniques of the ceramics found there, and the significance of the discoveries at the Haibei Site was debated and exchanged among scholars. Through the large number of ceramic shards from typical kilns of the time—such as those from the Zibo Kiln, the Hebei Ding Kiln’s white-glazed ceramics, and Jingdezhen’s shadow-blue porcelain—the attending experts unanimously agreed that the discovery of the site holds great importance for the study of maritime trade routes and the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Jin periods, affirming the role of the Haibei Site in Kenli County as a new hub of maritime transport.

Protection and Exhibition Tour

In 2011, the site was included in the list of provincial-level major site protection projects; during the third national cultural relics census, it was selected as one of Shandong Province’s “Top 100 New Discoveries” in the national cultural relics census. In October 2013, it was designated as a fourth-batch provincial-level cultural relics protection unit by the provincial government.

On March 27, 2015, the National Cultural Heritage Administration convened a meeting on the protection and application for World Heritage status of the Maritime Silk Road, officially launching the protection and nomination process for the Maritime Silk Road. Kenli County submitted the Haibei Site as a heritage point for the protection and nomination of the Maritime Silk Road. Some of the porcelain pieces unearthed from the Haibei Site participated in the national exhibition tour of the Maritime Silk Road.

Haibei Village: Haibei Village…… More detailed information about Haibei Village++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units