Beijing Exhibition Celebrating 50th Anniversary of Hemudu Culture Discovery
The special archaeological exhibition of Hemudu Culture discovery.
On November 7th, “Prehistoric Lower Yangtze: Commemorating 50 Years of Hemudu Culture Discovery — Special Archaeological Exhibition” kicked off at the National Museum of China, with an expected duration of three months.
The exhibition showcases 324 (sets of) artifacts unearthed from archaeological sites including Hemudu, Tianluoshan, Tashan, and Jingtoushan, including pottery, stone, bone, and shell tools, wooden and woven wares, and other representative relics. Silhouetted against the “Ancient Ningbo Bay,” this commemorative event is hailed as the grandest and most detailed one since the discovery of the Hemudu Culture 50 years ago, unfolding the rich connotations of this “cultural discovery written into textbooks”.
In 1973, the discovery of the Hemudu archaeological site in Yuyao County, Ningbo, revealed extensive remains of wooden structures dating back six to seven thousand years, along with an exceptionally rich collection of plant and animal remains. Particularly noteworthy were well-preserved remains reflecting the development of rice cultivation, securing a unique role for Hemudu Culture in the field of Chinese archaeology.
This discovery enriched our understanding of the origin of the Chinese civilization, which was believed to develop on China’s Zhongyuan (the Central Plains), embraced by the Yellow River. Changing this monolithic view, the neolithic sites demonstrated that, like the Yellow River Basin, the Yangtze River Delta is also a cradle of Chinese culture.
The exhibition hall features a large number of animal remains, including shells, fish bones, turtle shells, deer antlers, and dog bones. Additionally, there are abundant remains of rice cultivation, well-preserved stilted wooden structures of mature design, unique pottery mixed with charcoal, and other exquisite handicrafts. Epitomizing the archaeological achievements of the Hemudu culture, these relics unveil the social production and lifestyle of the Hemudu people in a comprehensive way, placing visitors in a virtual ancient Jiangnan where people flourished on this “land of rice and fish,” and lived in harmony with nature.
“Hemudu culture is the pinnacle of prehistoric culture in Zhejiang and, to a certain extent, an ‘archaeological guiding star’ for Zhejiang’s history, civilization, and even Chinese civilization. Fifty years ago, its groundbreaking unveiling rewrote history and challenged the prevailing knowledge of that time,” stated Yang Jianwu, the Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau.
In recent years, a succession of relevant sites such as Tianluoshan, Jingtoushan, and the ancient rice field in Shiao were brought to the surface, adding to the significance of the Hemudu culture.
“The discovery, excavation, research, and exhibition of these ancient sites can vividly recreate the typical environmental changes along the coast of eastern Zhejiang over the past ten thousand years. It also illustrates the first step of our ancestors in adapting to and exploring the ocean. Today, we can say that the culture represented by the Jingtoushan site more than 8,000 years ago is a precursor to the Hemudu culture from six to seven thousand years ago, and they both mark the origin of the Neolithic maritime culture in China’s coastal areas,” said Sun Guoping, Director and Researcher of the Prehistoric Archaeology Department at the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.
To make the historical spectacle more vivid, the National Museum applied various presentation techniques, including scene restoration, multimedia video insertion, interactive screen setting, and schematic-board illustrations.
“Hemudu culture is one of the Neolithic cultures in China and a significant component of the Chinese civilization. The discovery and excavation of Hemudu culture not only filled the archaeological gaps in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River but also provided crucial evidence for the study of the origin of Chinese civilization. The grand opening of this exhibition is of great significance for promoting the dynamic utilization and innovative development of Hemudu culture,” said Guan Qiang, Deputy Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration during his opening speech.