Lixian Ban Zhu Site

Lixian Ban Zhu Site

The Lixian Ban Zhu Site is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Ban Zhu Site is located on a sandy islet to the west of Ban Zhu Village in Lidong Township, Lixian County, Hunan Province. The Dan River flows past the western side of the site and joins the Li River. To investigate the archaeological culture of the Shang and Zhou periods in the Li River basin, from November 2013 to January 2014, the Hunan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology led an active archaeological excavation of the site. This excavation was divided into two zones, Zone I and Zone II. Zone I is located in the central part of the site, where eight 5m×5m test pits were laid out. Zone II is located in the northern part, with four 5m×5m test pits. The total excavation area of both zones is approximately 250 square meters, yielding a collection of remains from various periods including the Shang, Western Zhou, and Eastern Zhou dynasties.

The stratigraphic deposits at the Ban Zhu Site vary between Zone I and Zone II due to differences in time periods. The cultural layers from the Eastern Zhou period are mainly found in Zone II, those from the Western Zhou period are primarily located in Zone I, while the Shang Dynasty layers are only present in Zone I. Overall, the stratigraphy in Zone I can be divided into eleven layers, belonging to five periods: modern times, Ming and Qing dynasties, Eastern Zhou, Western Zhou, and Shang Dynasty. The stratigraphy in Zone II can be divided into seven layers, spanning three periods: modern times, Eastern Zhou, and Western Zhou. Among them, the remains from the Western Zhou period are the most abundant, representing the most significant findings of this excavation.

Remains from the Shang Dynasty mainly include ash pits and ash ditches, which are relatively few in number. Artifacts mainly consist of pottery shards, predominantly made of black clay pottery, with decorative patterns such as cord marks and grid patterns. Other designs observed include meander patterns and appliqué ridges. Common vessel types include tall, slender-handled ding-tripods with bamboo-joint-like stems, high-necked jars with multiple cord-marked necks, flared-rim cauldrons, large-mouthed jars, as well as ring-footed plates and he-containers. The main features from the Western Zhou period include ash pits, ash ditches, hearths, and house foundations. There are quite a few ash pits, mostly irregular in shape. Only one ash ditch was found, roughly rectangular in plan with sloping walls and a flat bottom, yielding a large number of pottery shards. Houses and hearth pits were found in small numbers and were in poor condition. The artifacts from the Western Zhou period uncovered in this excavation are extremely rich, mainly pottery, along with a small number of stone and bronze objects. Pottery is mainly gray clay pottery, decorated commonly with grid patterns, cord marks, flanges, and nipple motifs, as well as rope patterns, mesh patterns, perforations (including circular, square, and cross-shaped), taotie patterns, and appliqué ridges. The main vessel types include ding-tripods, cauldrons, jars, and ding-tripods, with other forms such as li-tripods, gui-vessels, steamers, and large-mouthed jars also found. Stone tools mainly include stone axes and supports. Only one bronze object was found—a well-preserved willow-leaf-shaped arrowhead. The remains from the Eastern Zhou period are relatively scarce, with pottery being the primary find. The pottery is mostly gray clay, with coarse rope patterns being common. Main vessel types such as li-tripods, yu-basins, jars, and ding-tripods are similar to those of the Chu culture from the Warring States period in the Jiangling area.

Overall, the cultural characteristics of the Ban Zhu Site remains from the Shang, Western Zhou, and Eastern Zhou periods show very clear differences, suggesting significant chronological gaps between them.

Location: Ban Zhu Village, Lidong Township, Lixian County, Changde City, Hunan Province

Transportation: Take a bus from Changde City to Lixian County, then transfer to a minibus to reach the site.

Lidong Township: Linnan Town: The following 12 townships have been revoked: Zhakou, Dongshi, Yangjiafang, Zhongwu, Chexi, Cennan, Lidong, Daping, Jiuyuan, Yiwan, Guanwan, and Daohe; as well as the following 7 towns: Xiaodukou, Fangshiping, Zhanggongmiao, Huolianpo, Matoupu, Linnan, and Yanjing.

6. Eight new towns have been established: Huolianpo, Matoupu, Yanjing, Chengtoushan, Cennan, Xiaodukou, Guanwan, and Linnan... Additional details about Lidong Township ++