Archaeological discoveries in many regions of China have injected new vitality into the study of Hongshan culture, an important prehistoric archaeological culture dating back roughly 5,000 to 6,000 years.

Hongshan culture's distribution covers three regions, which are located in the west of Liaoning Province, the north of Hebei Province and the east of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Among these, Liaoning is the core area in terms of Hongshan culture distribution and the focal region for studying this culture.

NEW DISCOVERIES

Multiple Hongshan culture sites were discovered in the city of Lingyuan, in northeast China's Liaoning Province, said the provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology in March.

The found sites are located in the Wubaiding site complex, where archaeologists from the institute conducted a systematic archaeological survey covering approximately 285,000 square meters.

During this survey, archaeologists collected pottery shards and stone artifacts from various periods and found a total of 53 sites, among which four have been confirmed as relic sites of Hongshan culture.

These archaeological exploration efforts have revealed the composition and spatial distribution characteristics of the relic sites, which provides detailed evidence for the study of the social norms of late Hongshan culture, said Yu Huaishi, a researcher from the institute.

Meanwhile, in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, three new jade dragons were unearthed in 2024, marking the largest number of such artifacts to be found in recent years -- offering new evidence of the brilliance of ancient Chinese civilization.

A jade dragon, measuring 15.8 cm in length, 9.5 cm in width and 3 cm in thickness, was excavated from a stone tomb in Yuanbaoshan in Aohan Banner, the city of Chifeng in Inner Mongolia. It is the largest jade dragon ever discovered, providing valuable new insights into the study of this ancient civilization. Alongside the dragon, over 100 other jade artifacts, including rings, discs, silkworms and owls, were also found.

Chifeng, the birthplace of Hongshan culture, has more than 700 known Hongshan sites. The discovery of the Yuanbaoshan site adds to the region's rich archaeological heritage.

According to Dang Yu, a researcher at the regional institute of cultural relics and archaeology, the Yuanbaoshan site dates back about 5,000 years and represents a late Hongshan culture burial and ceremonial complex.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The Niuheliang site, discovered in 1981 in the city of Chaoyang, Liaoning, represents a milestone in the study of China's Hongshan culture. A large number of exquisite jade articles, painted pottery, stone tools and stone tombs were unearthed there.

According to Wang Xuanlong, curator of the Niuheliang relic site museum, the Niuheliang site, centered on the temple of the goddess and surrounded by altars and stone tombs, is a large-scale prehistoric burial and religious worship site independent of the residence. It was the place where Hongshan people worshiped both their ancestors and heaven and earth more than 5,000 years ago.

"The ruins and buildings of Niuheliang reflect the early state form of the combination of theocracy and royal power, and are important witnesses of the origins of civilization in China and even Northeast Asia," said Guo Dashun, an expert in Hongshan culture who had previously presided over Hongshan culture excavations.

Archaeological excavation endeavors regarding Hongshan culture reveal the continuity and unity of migration and evolution from north to south and to the Central Plains, which strongly proves that the Chinese civilization has not stopped since its birth, provides key support for figuring out the early development of Chinese civilization, and serves as the core link for exploring the origins of Chinese civilization.

Notably, Hongshan, Lingjiatan and Liangzhu are known as the three major jade cultural centers in prehistoric China. Although more than 1,000 km apart, Hongshan culture experienced close exchanges with the Lingjiatan and Liangzhu cultures, according to Sun Jinsong, director of the Inner Mongolia regional institute of cultural relics and archaeology.

"The jade owl of Hongshan culture and the jade eagle of Lingjiatan culture both reflect the prehistoric ancestors' yearning and reverence for flying. The shape of the jade dragon unearthed from Liangzhu is very close to that of Hongshan culture jade carving. It is this kind of exchange and integration that eventually merged into the diversified and integrated Chinese civilization," Sun said.

The jade ritual system and jade culture, which originated from Hongshan culture and gradually expanded to East Asia, have become important sources of the unique cultural identity of Chinese civilization -- and have profoundly influenced the etiquette system and cultural traditions of later generations.

MODERN INHERITANCE

The legacy of Hongshan culture continues to thrive in modern life. In the city of Chifeng, themed research activities have been organized, directly involving children by letting them make pottery and jade articles by themselves, thereby allowing them to immerse themselves in the charm of Hongshan culture. Symphonies and plays have also been staged to reveal more about this culture.

"We will make further efforts in terms of the protection of these relics sites and the pursuit of their inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with the aim of making Hongshan culture shine with new brilliance in Chifeng and to make this culture the pride and love of the people," said Zhang Guohua, vice mayor of Chifeng.

In the future, via the deep integration of science and technology and culture, Hongshan culture is expected to break through geographical and time boundaries, enabling it to reach a wider audience with the assistance of technologies such as digital display and virtual reality.

At the Niuheliang national archaeological relic site park, an archaeological team is ready to continue the archaeological excavation efforts -- seeking to reveal more secrets about the social organization structure, religious beliefs and economic life of Hongshan culture, while injecting new vitality into the study of ancient civilizations. 

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