Site of Yuzhubao Relics

Site of Yuzhubao Relics

The Site of Yuzhubao Relics is a cultural relics protection unit of Hunan Province.

The Site of Yuzhubao Relics was discovered in the 1980s. In 1989, an investigation and trial excavation were conducted at the site, and in May 1990, it was designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit by the People's Government of Yuanjiang City.

The site is situated on an irregular hillock in the southwest of Group 1, Yuzhubao Village, Chapanzhou Town, Yuanjiang City, Yiyang City. In the early years of the People's Republic of China, the area was reclaimed to form the Chapanzhou Farm. The site lies on the alluvial plain of Dongting Lake, surrounded by silt deposits one to several meters deep. It stands 1–2 meters above the surrounding area, taking the form of an irregular hillock containing a significant amount of fine yellow sand. The current area of the site is approximately 30,000 square meters, and it is oval-shaped and irregular. The cultural deposit layers vary in thickness, and the preservation condition also differs across sections. Within a radius of about 5–6 kilometers, multiple Neolithic sites have been discovered, together forming a cluster of settlements with this site.

The current area of the site is about 30,000 square meters. The terrace was formed by the deposition of river sand. The cultural deposit layers are relatively well-preserved, although their thickness varies. The layers are 0.3–1 meter thick. According to the 1989 investigation and trial excavation, stone tools unearthed include axes, adzes, arrowheads, and others; pottery fragments consist of clay red pottery, sandy red pottery, sandy black pottery, and carbonaceous black pottery. The decorative patterns include stamping, pressing, and incising. The vessel forms include tripods, jars, cauldrons, plates, bean pots, cups, lids, and cylindrical vessels. A large number of jade artifacts were also excavated. This site belongs to the Daxi Culture remains, and a wealth of valuable information has been obtained.

Excavations have confirmed that the Site of Yuzhubao Relics is an important Neolithic settlement site. In 1987, it was included in the Hunan volume of the Atlas of Chinese Cultural Relics Distribution. Since its discovery in the 1980s, the site has been relatively well-preserved. Nowadays, the surface soil around the site is planted with numerous trees and economic crops such as rapeseed. A large cattle farm has been built at the southern end of the site, which has caused some degree of impact. Part of the site has been damaged by human production activities and urgently requires protection.

The Site of Yuzhubao Relics is an important cultural remnant from the middle to late Daxi Culture period in the Dongting Lake region. Together with contemporaneous cultural relics in the Dongting Lake area and the middle and lower reaches of the Xiang River, it forms a cohesive cultural entity, occupying an important position within the Neolithic culture of Dongting Lake.

1. The Site of Yuzhubao Relics exhibits notable features among Neolithic sites in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Firstly, pottery is commonly mixed with fine sand, giving the objects a hard texture. Secondly, the shapes of the artifacts are similar or identical to those found in the middle to late phases of the Fushanyuan site near Yueyang. Together with the sites of Caijiayuan, Mayantang, Simiaoling in Yiyang, and Duiziling in Xiangtan, they form a complete cultural system and type, making it a typical representative of the Daxi Culture in the Dongting Lake region.

2. A relatively large number of jade artifacts (some referred to as crystal artifacts) have been unearthed at the Site of Yuzhubao Relics, showcasing distinct local characteristics. This site is the only one among dozens of Daxi Culture remnants in the entire Dongting Lake area where a significant number of jade artifacts have been discovered. These jade items are exquisitely crafted and aesthetically pleasing, reflecting the high aesthetic taste and pursuit of a better life among people at the time.

3. Some pottery items and a group of jade artifacts unearthed at the Site of Yuzhubao Relics share many similarities with contemporaneous remains of Neolithic culture in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. They may have had intricate connections with the people of the same era in the lower Yangtze region, or possibly originated from a tribe that migrated from there. This site provides crucial information for studying ethnic migration, integration, and cultural exchange during the Neolithic Age.

4. Investigations and excavations confirm that the Site of Yuzhubao Relics is a large-scale Daxi Culture Neolithic site that is well-preserved. It is surrounded by a moat, which, together with the ancient river channel, forms a protective barrier for the settlement. The site includes functional zones such as production areas, living quarters, and burial grounds, with clear divisions. It offers the most original data for understanding the morphology and evolution of prehistoric settlements.

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units in Hunan Province