Yicheng Xinzhuang Site

Yicheng Xinzhuang Site

The Yicheng Xinzhuang Site is a cultural heritage protection unit of Henan Province.

The Xinzhuang Site is located in Dengwafang Village, Laojie Subdistrict Office, Yicheng District. It sits on a second-level terrace on the north bank of a tributary of the Lianhe River, with the river flowing around it from west to east, and is now farmland. The southwestern part has developed a cliff due to erosion by the tributary of the Lianhe River, but the rest of the site is well-preserved. The site is divided into two parts: the first part is rectangular in shape, with a raised surface on the ground, measuring 130 meters from north to south and 120 meters from east to west, covering a total area of 15,600 square meters; the second part is square, measuring 120 meters from north to south and 120 meters from east to west, with an area of 14,400 square meters. The total area of the site is 30,000 square meters.

The cultural layer deposits can be observed from the deep trenches on the eastern side of the site and the riverbank cliffs. The cultural layer is 0.4 to 1.5 meters thick, with abundant relics and artifacts, including a large number of red-fired clay blocks, charcoal fragments, and pottery shards, as well as important features such as ash pits and kiln sites.

Specimens collected by staff include pottery shards, stone tools, and animal bones. The pottery shards are mainly gray pottery, with a small amount of red, black, and brownish hues. The textures are either clay-based or mixed with sand. The decorative patterns include cord marks, appliqué ridges, fingertip pits, string patterns, and plain surfaces. Identifiable vessel shapes include wide-mouthed zun, li tripod feet, dou stems, jars, bowls, and vessel lids. Production tools consist of stone axes, adzes, chisels, knives, and pottery spinning wheels, along with animal bones and deer antlers. Based on the shapes and decorative features of the collected specimens, this site is a typical village settlement from the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

The site was discovered during a cultural relics survey in 1985. In 2006, it was designated as part of the fourth batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units by the People's Government of Henan Province.

The discovery of this site provides valuable physical material for the study of Zhumadian’s history and the production and daily life of its people during the Shang and Zhou periods.

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units