The Ancient Coconut Mound Site

The Ancient Coconut Mound Site

The Ancient Coconut Mound Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Neolithic Age

The Ancient Coconut Mound Site: In 2006, due to the construction of the Guangming Expressway, the deeply buried Gao'an Ancient Coconut Mound Site, which had been hidden underground for thousands of years, was revealed to the world. Archaeologists discovered three unrotted human-made wooden artifacts at the Ancient Coconut Mound Site — the first such finds in the Lingnan region.

The most exciting discovery in the Ancient Coconut Mound archaeological excavation was 20 well-preserved grains of rice. These rice grains were completely uncarbonized and remained intact within sealed clay layers and waterlogged conditions. Experts at the time stated that the archaeological significance of discovering these rice grains at the Ancient Coconut Mound was on par with the findings at the Hemudu Site. Judging from the shape of the rice grains, they were cultivated by humans, providing valuable physical evidence for the study of the origins of rice cultivation in the Lingnan region.

In early 2007, the results of China's Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries of 2006 were announced, and the Gao'an Ancient Coconut Mound Site was included, becoming Foshan’s first archaeological site to receive this honor.

In May 2013, it was designated by the State Council as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units