Zhongwei Rock Carvings

Zhongwei Rock Carvings

The Zhongwei Rock Carvings are divided by the Yellow River, with clusters located on the Xiangshan Mountain to the south bank and the Weining North Mountain to the north bank. The densest concentration of rock carvings is found in the Damaidi area of the North Mountain. Since their discovery in 1986, the Damaidi Rock Carvings have been surveyed multiple times, uncovering over 3,000 individual carvings (with more than 10,000 individual images). Within a 6-square-kilometer area around Damaidi, over 1,000 carvings have been discovered, averaging more than 180 images per square kilometer.

The Zhongwei Rock Carvings are typical examples of northern petroglyphs. Judging from their geographical environment and terrain features, they were mostly created in areas abundant in pastures and suitable for hunting and herding in ancient times. The carvings are often found on wind-sheltered, sun-facing mountain ridges, valleys, and peaks. In terms of craftsmanship, techniques such as grinding, chiseling, carving, line engraving, and grinding-carving were used. Regarding their time of creation, the rock carvings on the South Mountain are mostly grinding carvings and are generally older than those on the North Mountain; while some of the North Mountain carvings are products of the Stone Age, the majority date back to the Metal Age.

The Zhongwei Rock Carvings are rich and spectacular in content. The images are densely arranged, mysterious and intriguing, full of charm, and rendered in a bright and lively style. They visually document the struggles for survival, social practices, and pioneering development of ancient humans through the ages.