Chicken Gong Mountain Site in Jingzhou

Chicken Gong Mountain Site in Jingzhou

Chicken Gong Mountain Site in Jingzhou is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

A Paleolithic site. Located in Yingbei Village, Yingcheng Town, Jingzhou District, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province. The site covers an area of about 1,000 square meters. It is the first late Paleolithic habitation site discovered in a plain area in China.

Discovered during the construction of the Yihuang Highway in 1986 and excavated in 1992. The cultural layer is 0.6 to 0.75 meters thick, divided into upper and lower layers. The upper cultural layer dates back approximately 20,000 to 10,000 years ago. It consists of yellow clayey loam rich in manganese, 0.1 to 0.25 meters thick, yielding nearly 500 stone artifacts, most of which are small scrapers and points made from quartz, flint, and quartzite. The lower cultural layer dates back approximately 50,000 to 40,000 years ago. It is composed of brownish-red clayey loam rich in manganese, about 0.5 meters thick, and represents the main part of the site. Five circular arrangements of stones surrounded by footprints were found. The outer diameter of the stone circles is about 4 meters, with interior areas of 5 to 8 square meters, containing a small number of points and choppers. It is speculated that these were remains of circular huts used by humans at the time. To the south are two stone tool processing areas where stone artifacts such as scrapers and choppers, as well as stone processing tools like hammerstones and anvils, and a large number of stone cores and flakes were unearthed. The archaeological findings at this site revealed for the first time the stratified relationship of multiple cultural types from the Paleolithic era, and also marked the first discovery of human activity remains on the plains dating back about 50,000 years, holding significant archaeological value.

Designated as part of the fourth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council in 1996.

Location

Yingbei Village, Jingzhou District, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province

Yingcheng Town: Yingcheng Town is an important part of the historic and cultural city of Jingzhou. It was the capital of the Chu State during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods over 2,000 years ago, historically a hub of commerce. Named after the ancient Yingcheng ruins, the town was established in 1998 with approval from the provincial government as a new suburban town integrating tourism, commerce, logistics, and a private economic corridor. It currently administers 13 villages, 3 neighborhood committees, and 108 villager groups. The area covers 45 square kilometers, with 10,232 mu of arable land, a population of 48,706, and an annual gross national product of 780 million yuan... More details about Yingcheng Town++

Further reading:

· Third Batch of Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Fourth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units