Erlitou Site

Erlitou Site

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

Erlitou Site Located on the northern slope of Erlitou Village in Hongshan District, Chifeng City, the site covers an area of approximately 30,000 square meters and is one of the six major archaeological discoveries of 2009.

Originally, this place was not called the "Erlitou Site" but rather the "Da Hui Bao" Site. Reportedly, the Xiajiadian Lower Culture site was commonly referred to as the "Da Hui Bao" for specific historical reasons. Ancient people had certain requirements when choosing a settlement: a sunny location, access to water sources nearby, and the ability to control a certain farming area. After houses were built, the ashes from daily use of fire were dumped into ash pits beside the houses or simply piled around them. Over time, as the houses gradually deteriorated and collapsed, the external piles of ashes grew larger. The ancients would then backfill the old houses with these ashes and build new ones on top of the old foundations. After many years, the houses were built higher and higher, eventually forming what is known as a "Da Hui Bao."

Architectural Scale

The Erlitou Site in Chifeng City covers a total area of nearly 30,000 square meters and is a medium-to-small settlement of the Xiajiadian Lower Culture. The site slopes from east to west, with natural gullies on both the southern and northern sides. Today, the settlement’s moats on the eastern, southern, and northern sides can still be faintly seen, and wall ruins have been discovered along the inside of the moats. The northeastern section of the wall is the best preserved. The wall was built by stacking layers of yellow earth, with multiple layers of grass-mixed mud applied to the outer surface. The construction of house foundations inside the wall generally coincided with the maintenance and heightening of the wall. As the wall continued to rise and be repaired, the residential structures within the settlement were built layer upon layer, creating a raised "platform city" that stands above the surrounding terrain.

Cultural Value

In May 2013, it was designated and announced by the State Council as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units