Xinguang Neolithic Site in Yongping County, Dali
Overview
The Xinguang Neolithic Site (永平新光遗址) is located on both sides of Xinguang Street in the eastern part of Yongping County (永平县), Dali (大理州), Yunnan Province (云南省). The newly constructed East-West Road (博南路) crosses over the site, which covers an area of 40,000 square meters and dates back to the Neolithic period.
This site can be divided into at least three phases, making it significant for studying the genealogy of Neolithic archaeological cultures in Yunnan. Situated in a border area of China, it plays a crucial role in researching the archaeological cultural landscape of ancient border regions, the relationship with Central Plain culture, cultural interactions with Southeast Asian countries, the issues of ancient cultural affiliations, and the origins of Yunnan’s Bronze culture. The site serves as invaluable material for these studies.
In September 2020, the Xinguang Neolithic Site was designated as a provincial-level cultural heritage site by the People’s Government of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (大理白族自治州人民政府).
Basic Information
- Chinese Name: 永平新光遗址
- Location: Both sides of Xinguang Street in the eastern part of Yongping County, Dali (大理州永平县城东部的新光街两侧)
- Period: Neolithic Period (新石器时代)
- Area: 40,000 m²
- Protection Level: Provincial-level cultural heritage site (第七批州级文物保护单位)
- Unearthed Artifacts: Includes jars, ceremonial vessels, pots, etc.
- Discovery Date: May 1993
- Approval Authority: People’s Government of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture (大理白族自治州人民政府)
Historical Background
The Xinguang Neolithic Site was discovered in May 1993 when construction work for a bus station and traffic police building unearthed a large number of pottery shards and stone tools. Following an investigation by the Dali Prefecture Cultural Relics Management Office and a reassessment by the Yunnan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, it was confirmed as a Neolithic site.
Archaeological excavations began on December 16, 1993, on a 1,000-square-meter area south of East Road. In March 1994, an excavation of 300 square meters was conducted on the north side of East-West Road. In May of the same year, a comprehensive survey of the entire site was performed to protect the underground relics. The two main distribution areas were identified: one behind the local police station covering 350 square meters, and another located east of the traffic police office and south of the bus station covering 700 square meters. Additional excavations continued through the 1990s.
Site Characteristics
The characteristics of the Xinguang Neolithic Site can be categorized into 19 layers and some independent archaeological features. Among these, ten layers belong to the Neolithic period, while the others date back to the Ming Dynasty (明代) and later. The Neolithic cultural layers can be over 2 meters thick in some areas, with the thinnest sections displaying only disrupted strata.
Artifacts
The site features remains typical of the Neolithic period, including ash pits, ditches, and house structures. Large quantities of charred rice and plant seeds were found at the bottom of the ditches. The houses were primarily built using stilt or semi-subterranean styles.
Artifacts unearthed include two main categories: stone tools and pottery. The stone tools are mostly polished axes, chisels, knives, sickles, and arrowheads, with a significant quantity of chisels and arrowheads. The pottery is quite complex, with primary types including jars, ceremonial vessels, pots, bowls, tanks, basins, cups, lids, and spoons, as well as some tripod vessels. The pottery was predominantly hand-made, mainly composed of sand-tempered clay, with colors ranging from gray to deep gray, brown, and increasingly more red pottery in later periods. The decorations on the pottery are intricate, featuring various patterns such as additive textures, incised designs, stamped motifs, and later appearances of scalloped edges, wavy patterns, circular designs, rhombic patterns, spiral motifs, zigzag lines, and net-like patterns. There is a clear evolutionary relationship in the forms and decorations of pottery from early to late periods, roughly classified into three phases representing different stages of cultural development.
Environmental Context
During the excavation, six bags of pollen samples were collected and analyzed by Yunnan Coal College (云南煤炭学院), revealing that the vegetation around the site consisted of sparse coniferous forests and grasslands, with a few broadleaf trees like oak, birch, hazel, willow, chestnut, and myrica scattered throughout. The area featured plains and hills, with some shallow lakes. The ancient climate was characterized by warm and humid subtropical conditions. This area is located at the edge of the Yinjing Basin (银江坝), with gentle terrain, and the Yinjing River flows slowly from the north to the south past the site, at an elevation of over 1,600 meters.
Cultural Significance
The choice of the Xinguang site by Neolithic humans for habitation reflects not only geographical convenience near water and flat land suitable for human activities but also the presence of fertile soil, vast forests, agriculture, animal husbandry, and primitive crafts. The presence of various stone tools for felling, clearing, plowing, and harvesting indicates a stable agricultural environment. Archaeobotanical studies of charred rice suggest that the crops grown were likely dryland varieties, complementing the development of livestock farming, evidenced by the discovery of cattle bones and numerous stone arrowheads and spears, highlighting the significance of hunting and gathering in the residents’ lives. The diverse pottery, textile, and architectural remains suggest substantial advancements in these industries by the late Neolithic period, with pottery production being particularly prominent.
The Xinguang site fills a historical gap in understanding the history of Yongping, pushing its known civilization back over a thousand years, thereby contributing to the recognition and prominence of Yongping.
Research Value
Radiocarbon dating conducted by Peking University (北京大学) indicates that the site dates back approximately 3,700 to 4,000 years, positioning it in the middle to late Neolithic period in Yunnan. It is the largest Neolithic site discovered in Yunnan Province as of 2019, with rich stratigraphic relationships and cultural connotations. The stone and pottery artifacts possess unique styles, particularly in pottery shape and decoration, not found elsewhere, reflecting the geographical diversity within the region between the Nu River (怒江), Lancang River (澜沧江), and Erhai Lake (洱海). Therefore, the cultural connotations represented by this site are considered a new archaeological culture, referred to by experts as the “Xinguang Type” (新光类型).
Protection Measures
On December 4, 1993, leaders and experts from the Yunnan Provincial Cultural Relics Management Committee, the Yunnan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and the Dali Prefecture Cultural Relics Management Office conducted an on-site inspection of the site, leading to a legal application for emergency excavation to the National Cultural Heritage Administration (国家文物局). In September 2020, the Xinguang Neolithic Site was officially designated as a provincial-level cultural heritage site by the People’s Government of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture.
How to Get There
To reach the Xinguang Neolithic Site from Dali (大理), you can take a local bus or taxi to Yongping County (永平县), which is approximately 38 kilometers away. The journey usually takes about an hour.
Travel Tips
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn are ideal seasons for visiting due to pleasant weather.
- Respect Local Customs: Be mindful of local practices and exhibit respect during your visit.
- Bring Supplies: If you plan to explore the area, consider packing a picnic to enjoy amidst the scenic surroundings.
- Explore Nearby Attractions: Take the opportunity to visit other cultural sites or natural parks in the vicinity to enhance your experience.
