The Tawentaerha Site

The Tawentaerha Site

The Tawentaerha Site is a cultural heritage protection unit of Dulan County.

The Tawentaerha Site

Located in Balong Township, Dulan County, Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, north of the 546-kilometer milestone on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. In Mongolian, "Tawentaerha" means "five hills." Between these small hills lies a plaza, and both the hills and the plaza floor are scattered with pottery shards, animal bones, stone tools, and woolen fabrics, though these are less densely distributed within the plaza. Cliff exposures at the hills reveal remains such as ash layers, ash pits, and wooden post structures. The pottery shards include unadorned sandy pottery and fragments of double-handled jars, vats, urns, basins, and bowls decorated with mat patterns, incised lines, and other designs. Woolen items consist of wool cloth, ropes, and belts, while stone artifacts include stone axes and pestles. Based on the artifacts, the site is identified as belonging to the Nuomuhong Culture. It is a county-level key cultural heritage protection site.

Balong Township: Balong Township is situated in the central-southern part of the county. It is 109 kilometers from the county seat. The population is 4,000, predominantly Mongolian, accounting for 64% of the total. The township covers an area of 5,705 square kilometers and administers 14 village (pastoral) committees: Wulastai, Nuomuhong, Hatu, Xiatu, Yikegao, Buluge, Tuotuo, Kemu, Ke’er, Hexi, Qingquan, Sanhe, Yahatu, and Xinlong. Established in 1956, Balong Township merged with Zongjia Township in 1958 to form the Balong Commune. In 1962, the Balong Commune was re-established, and in 1984, it was restructured into Balong Township. ... More detailed information about Balong Township++