Guangcun Site

Guangcun Site

Guangcun Site is a Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Guangcun Site (First Batch Provincial-Level Protected Site)

Era: Neolithic

Location: About 100 meters north of Guangcun Village, approximately 5 kilometers northwest of Xinjiang County

It lies at the northern foot of the Lüliang Mountains, with the Fen River to the east, situated on a gently sloping piedmont plain at the edge of the Linfen Basin. The terrain slopes from north to south, covering an area of about 500,000 square meters. Discovered in the 1950s, more detailed surveys were conducted in 1993 and 1994. The site features mainly Yangshao culture remains and encompasses the early Yangshao period through the Miaodigou culture, the upper layer of Xiwangcun culture, and the second phase of Xiwangcun culture. Its cultural characteristics are primarily reflected in pottery. The pottery is mainly red and gray, predominantly plain-surfaced with some painted examples. Decorative patterns include dots, hooked leaves with curved lines, triangles, and others. Designs became particularly intricate and ornate during the middle period, predominantly black with white outlines. Other decorative motifs include string patterns, appliqué ridges, and petal-like designs, with the latter becoming increasingly common. Common vessel types include bowls, cups, basins, pointed-bottom bottles (jars), narrow-mouthed urns, flared-bellied jars, and sand-tempered jars. The Miaodigou Phase II culture is mainly represented by gray pottery, often featuring basket-weave and cord-marked surfaces. Key vessel types include cauldrons, tripods, small-necked high-necked jars, flared-bellied sand-tempered jars, basins, lidded jars, and urns, forming a distinct set of features differing from those of the Yangshao period.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units