Yandunbao Site

Yandunbao Site

The Yandunbao Site is a cultural heritage site protected at the municipal level in Chongqing.

Era: Paleolithic Age

Type: Ancient Ruins

Region: Fengdu County, Chongqing

Batch: First Batch

The Yandunbao Site is located on Commercial Second Road, Sanhe Town, Fengdu County, Chongqing. It is distributed along the rear edge of the second and third terraces on the right bank of the Yangtze River and the front edge of the fourth terrace, covering an area of 10,000 square meters with a cultural layer 0.8–2.3 meters thick. Discovered in 1994, it was excavated during 1995, 1996, and 1998 by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The total excavation area across the three phases was 980 square meters, yielding 11,309 specimens, including 1,382 stone artifacts such as stone cores, flakes, and man-made fragments. These artifacts were categorized into scrapers, notches, end scrapers, choppers, points, and more. Since the raw materials were all pebbles—characteristic of southern pebble tool traditions—the majority of the flakes and striking platforms displayed traits typical of northern flake industries. Moreover, geographically, the site lies in a transitional zone between the distribution areas of southern and northern industries. As such, the Yandunbao Site exhibits features of both the southern and northern industries and is classified as a Paleolithic Age site. The site has been recognized for its large distribution area, abundant specimens, high density and variety of stone artifacts, and significant research value, earning it a place among the “Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries of 1996” in China. In September 2000, it was approved and announced by the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government as a municipal-level cultural heritage protection unit.