Machang Neolithic Site in Ludian County, Zhaotong
Chinese Name: 昭通鲁甸县马厂新石器
English Name: Machang Neolithic Site in Ludian County, Zhaotong
Location: Machang Neolithic Site is located in Hulukou Village, Ciyuan Township, 5 kilometers east of Ludian County town, Zhaotong.
Site Description: The Machang Neolithic Site covers an area of over 100,000 square meters. It is situated near mountains and water, with the cultural layers primarily located on the eastern, southern, and western edges of a hill, close to the water.
The cultural layers at the site are up to 1.3 meters thick in the western section, and are divided into two layers: the upper layer is reddish-brown, while the lower layer is dark gray. Both layers contain red burnt clay fragments, charcoal, and pottery shards. Over 500 pottery pieces have been unearthed, with the majority being gray pottery, while the rest are sand-tempered gray pottery and black pottery. Identifiable vessel types include bowls, single-handled jars, flat-bottomed bottles, spouted bottles, single-handled bottles, closed-mouthed jars, long-necked small-mouth small-bottomed pots, and barrel-shaped, flat-bellied round-bottomed vessels. Some artifacts are covered with black pottery glaze, which is unique among Neolithic artifacts found in Yunnan.
Stone tools found at the site include knives and axes, made from hard stone with finely polished surfaces and advanced perforation techniques.
How to Get There
To visit the Machang Neolithic Site in Ludian County, Zhaotong:
- By Air: The nearest airport is Zhaotong Airport. From the airport, you can take a taxi or arrange private transportation to Ludian County.
- By Train: You can take a train to Zhaotong Railway Station. From there, you can take a taxi or local bus to Ludian County.
- By Bus: Regular bus services run from major cities in Yunnan to Ludian County. Upon arriving at the Ludian County bus station, you can take a taxi or local transportation to Hulukou Village.
- By Car: If driving, follow the G5611 expressway to Ludian County. Once in Ludian, follow local signs to Ciyuan Township and then to Hulukou Village.
