The Chenjia Kiln Site

The Chenjia Kiln Site

The Chenjia Kiln Site is a cultural heritage conservation unit of Shandong Province.

The ancient Chenjia Kiln Site is located 1,000 meters northeast of Chenjia Village, Botou Town, Zhanhua County, south of the confluence of the Chao River and the Xiangyang River. It stretches 120 meters from east to west and 50 meters from north to south, covering an area of approximately 6,000 square meters. The site was discovered in 1973 during the excavation of the Xiangyang River, and its surface consists of open flatland. The Xiangyang River runs from north to south through the site, with large amounts of gray and reddish pottery shards as well as some red-fired earth blocks exposed along both banks. The cultural layer lies more than three meters below the ground surface and consists of brown soil containing gray pottery, red pottery general’s helmets, gray pottery jars, gray pottery dou vessels, and other artifacts and fragments, as well as traces of red-fired earth and ash pits. Above the cultural layer lies a Yellow River alluvial deposit composed of alternating layers of red and sandy soil. Artifacts collected from the site include relatively intact items such as general’s helmets, gray pottery dou vessels, painted pottery pots, gray pottery basins, gray pottery filtering vessels, gray pottery huang-shaped objects, and gray pottery net sinkers. A gray pottery figurine leg and a bronze sword were also collected. In 1984, the “Four Haves” work was carried out at the kiln site to implement scientific protection, which continues to this day. Except for the section where the Xiangyang River passes through, which has been damaged, the rest of the kiln site remains well-preserved underground. In January 2004, it was announced by the Binzhou Municipal People's Government as one of the first batch of municipal-level cultural heritage conservation units. In October 2013, it was designated by the Shandong Provincial People's Government as part of the fourth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage conservation units.

Botou Town: Botou Town is the “southern gateway” of Zhanhua County. It borders Dongying City to the east, Bincheng District to the south, and the county seat to the north. Covering an area of 108.5 square kilometers, it governs 36 administrative villages with a population of 32,000. In 2005, the per capita income reached 4,000 yuan. Provincial Highway Bin’gu runs north-south through the town for 11 kilometers, directly connecting to National Highway 205, providing convenient transportation. The county’s largest Yellow River irrigation canal — the Guotu Canal — meanders through the entire area, facilitating irrigation and drainage.

Botou Town is a major agricultural hub in Zhanhua County. In recent years, the town’s Party committee and government have continuously guided and assisted various villages in significantly adjusting their production... More detailed information about Botou Town ++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Heritage Conservation Units