Xishanping Site

Xishanping Site

The Xishanping Site is a cultural heritage protection unit of Gansu Province.

The Xishanping Site is located 1 kilometer north of Gejianxinzhuang Village, Taijing Township, Qincheng District, Tianshui City. It is a large settlement site from the early Yangshao Culture period. Covering an area of approximately 200,000 square meters, the cultural layer is 1–5 meters thick, with exposed ash layers, ash pits, tombs, and white lime-plastered dwelling remains. Excavations carried out from 1986 to 1987 showed that the lower layer is the first phase of Xishanping, while the upper layer is the second phase. Stone tools from the first phase were primarily made by chipping pebbles and include pointed tools, axe-shaped implements, shovels, chopping tools, and stone pendants; bone tools consist of needles, awls, chisels, and saws; pottery was mostly sandy red and gray-brown, handmade, decorated with interlaced cord marks, and painted pottery features red broadband patterns. Vessel shapes include round-bottomed and tripod bowls, ring-footed cups, flat-bottomed cylindrical jars, tripod jars, and small-mouthed bulging jars. In the second phase, stone tools were mostly polished, such as chisels and grinding stones, while pottery included sandy red and gray-brown wares decorated with cord marks, nipple patterns, appliqué patterns, and stamp impressions. Vessel types comprise flat-bottomed bowls, tripod cylindrical jars, and tripod bulging jars. The site is well-preserved and holds significant value for studying the origin, development, and relationship of early Neolithic cultures in Gansu with the Dadiwan Phase I and Laoguantai cultures.

Further Reading:

· First to Third Batches of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Gansu Province