The Caiyuan Site

The Caiyuan Site

The Caiyuan Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Caiyuan Site is located in Zhongwei City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It is one of the most typical Neolithic sites. Large-scale excavations began in 1987 and lasted for four years.

The site complex includes three settlement sites—Mayingzi Liang, Shigou, and Linziliang—and five burial grounds—Qiedaoba, Zhaiziliang, Erlingziwan, Wanguanzui, and the western slope of Linziliang. These date back about 4,500 years and belong to late Neolithic cultural remains. Over a hundred tombs, more than ten house foundations, and dozens of ash pits and cellars have been discovered, along with a large number of pottery, stone, bone, and lacquerware artifacts.

The archaeological community unanimously agrees that the excavation of the Caiyuan Site is of great reference value for studying Neolithic culture in northwest China, especially in providing important physical materials for research on dwellings, burial customs, and lamps. Meanwhile, the variety and well-preserved state of the cave-style houses at the Linziliang Site are rare in the history of ancient Chinese architecture and can be considered a major discovery in the study of ancient architectural history.

In May 2006, the Caiyuan Site was designated as part of the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council, recognized as a Neolithic site.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units