The Tan Tou Shan relics in Lin Yuan District, Kaohsiung, have remained hidden in the wilderness for a thousand years, preserved in excellent condition and potentially qualifying as an ancient monument. Recently, however, the site was exposed due to an influx of hikers. Not only is there a risk of damage, but the exposure has also attracted the attention of collectors of historical artifacts, who are offering money to unsuspecting fruit farmers to purchase unearthed relics—causing great concern among local cultural heritage workers.
The Kaohsiung City Cultural Affairs Bureau noted that in 1991 (the 80th year of the Republic of China), the Ministry of the Interior surveyed valuable archaeological sites nationwide, identifying seven in Lin Yuan District. Among them, the Feng Bi Tou site has already been designated as a national historic site, and the central government plans to invest NT$2.6 billion to build a museum at Feng Bi Tou to showcase locally unearthed artifacts.
Additionally, both the Tan Tou Shan and Qing Shui Yan sites were listed as valuable relics. The Tan Tou Shan site is currently under investigation by the Academia Sinica’s Institute of History and Philology, commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior. Academician Liu Yichang is studying the cultural significance of the site to determine whether it should be designated as a historic site.
Cultural heritage workers in Lin Yuan, such as Dai Jiancheng and Zhu Yongchang, a teacher at Lin Yuan Elementary School, have visited the Tan Tou Shan site multiple times and found ancient relics scattered across the ground, easily within reach.
Zhu Yongchang pointed out that the Tan Tou Shan site had remained undisturbed in the wilderness for centuries without development or damage. Although it was once occupied by military forces, their presence actually helped protect the site. After the troops withdrew, some areas were gradually turned into orchards, and a small number of relics were unearthed—but the damage was not severe.
Unexpectedly, the increasing number of hikers in recent times has exposed the site, posing a risk of damage. Even more worrying for cultural heritage workers is that collectors of historical artifacts have caught wind of the site and are approaching fruit farmers to buy unearthed relics. These precious artifacts from early settlers may end up as private property.
An unnamed fruit farmer said that while recently tidying up his orchard, he dug up half of a clay jar and two pieces that together resemble a clay plate. He plans to sell them to someone who had already made a reservation, expecting to get NT$2,000.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that although the Tan Tou Shan site has not yet been designated as a historic site, prehistoric relics cannot be privately traded. The bureau will try to persuade the fruit farmers through moral appeals to prevent the relics from being taken out of circulation.
As for the cultural significance survey of the Tan Tou Shan site conducted by Liu Yichang, it is expected to be completed by November. His findings will be submitted as soon as possible. If the site is deemed to have preservation value, it will be expedited to the review committee for discussion on whether to designate it as a municipal historic site or recommend it to the central government for national historic site status.