Ancient Stone House Ruins at Lanzhouwanzi

Ancient Stone House Ruins at Lanzhouwanzi

The Ancient Stone House Ruins at Lanzhouwanzi is a cultural tourism attraction.

Ancient Stone House Ruins at Lanzhouwanzi

In 1983, a massive stone house structure site built from large pebbles was discovered 700 meters west of Lanzhouwanzi. Locals call it the "Ebo." This site is a cultural remnant from the Bronze Age and is also one of the most representative prehistoric human activity sites. The site covers an area of nearly 200 square meters, with remaining walls nearly 2 meters high and up to 3 meters thick. Near the base, the walls slope inward, dividing the structure into front and rear chambers. The main chamber is located in the south, covering 100 square meters, with column holes in the floor where remnants of wooden pillars remain. The northern part has an attached room, aligned north-south, connected via a passageway. An entrance faces east from the attached room. The building materials consist of large pebbles abundant on the nearby mountainsides, and the interior walls of the stone house are smooth. The site was once inhabited three times before being destroyed by fire. Artifacts unearthed include large ring-footed bronze objects, small ring-handled knives, double-handled red pottery jars with bulging bodies, pottery files, as well as bones of horses, sheep, and deer, and carbonized wheat grains. Additionally, 17 intact skeletal remains were found, which were identified as having distinct Mongoloid features and dated to 3285±75 years ago, corresponding to the late Shang Dynasty in central China. The excavation of the Lanzhouwanzi stone house ruins indicates that as early as 3,200 years ago, Barkol had large-scale grassland stone structures, making it of high archaeological value. In 1990, it was listed as a regional-level key protected site.

From July 24 to August 5, 2002, a survey led by Professor Wang Jianxin, head of the Cultural Relics and Museology Department at Northwest University, was conducted. During this period, 11 groups of architectural ruins totaling over 100 structures, more than 200 ancient tombs, and over 1,000 rock carvings were discovered. Professor Wang said, “There are five such clusters of prehistoric human ruins in the northwest region, but the Lanzhouwanzi ruins preserve their original appearance most completely. Such well-preserved ancient site clusters are rare in Xinjiang and uncommon in China. With effective protection and appropriate restoration, they have the potential to be nominated as World Heritage Sites.” In response, our county has taken emergency protective measures, increased conservation efforts, and actively initiated the process of applying for World Heritage status.

Meanwhile, there are numerous rock carvings within Barkol County. The surfaces of the carvings are heavily weathered. Judging by their style, the carving techniques are simple and rough, reflecting primitive rock art craftsmanship. Many rock carvings can be found at Lanzhouwanzi, where the images are quite distinct—most depict scenes of hunting and herding.