Photo: Courtesy of Baoji Institute of Archaeology

A new Neolithic archaeological site has recently been discovered in the city of Baoji,mk Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, offering valuable insights into the Yangshao culture. The 15,000-square-meter site, named Weizigou, yielded a rare 5,000-year-old small-mouthed, pointed-bottom amphorae, believed to have been used for alcohol brewing, marking a significant contribution to the study of Neolithic pottery, Wang Hao, director of the Baoji Institute of Archaeology, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

During a field survey on the west bank of the Mawei River in Bayu Township, archaeologists found a small red pottery shard the size of a fingernail on a cliffside. Based on this finding, it was determined that this site was likely a Neolithic Yangshao culture settlement.

The survey team then passed through a farmer's grapevine enclosure, reaching the central part of the farmland, where they discovered a cliff with unusual gray, honeycomb-like soil at the base, indicating the presence of a hearth pit. Upon closer inspection, the pointed-bottom vessel's base was exposed. The object was identified as a small-mouthed, pointed-bottom vessel, which, based on typological analysis, dates back to the Neolithic Yangshao culture, approximately 5,000 years ago.

"A large number of pointed-bottom amphoras were first found at the Banpo site in the Yellow River valley. Initially, scholars believed these amphoras to have been used for water collection because of their sharp tips, which made drawing water easier," Wang said.

However, after scientific testing of residue found at the bottom of the amphoras, yeast cells were discovered. These yeast cells were similar to those used in modern yellow wine, which led to the conclusion that these vessels were used for brewing, Wang said.

In addition, the team discovered two additional Neolithic Yangshao culture accumulation layers.

Wang noted that many archaeological sites spanning from the Neolithic period to the Han Dynasty are located along the west bank of the Mawei River, with the Poshang site occupying the northern part of the area, and the Yangjiazhuang Northwest site and the Yangjiazhuang Southeast site in the southern part of the river bank. No archaeological sites had been previously documented in the central region, which prompted further investigations in this area.

"The Mawei River's west bank had already been known to contain several archaeological sites, and this new site further confirms the overall integrity and continuity of this terrace, making it an ideal environment for settlement. This discovery holds great significance for further exploration of the Neolithic Yangshao culture," said Wang.

It's worth noting that this discovery was made possible by the 4th national cultural relics census. "The initial phase of relics protection involves understanding exactly how many cultural relics Baoji has, their distribution, and the extent of the area they cover," Wang said. He noted that the new discovery helps create a unified map of land and spatial resources, ensuring better protection and enhanced preservation of cultural heritage.

Yangshao culture was named after being discovered in Yangshao village, Central China's Henan Province in 1921. Dating back to 5,000-7,000 years ago, the Yangshao culture extended along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, with Henan as its core area. Yangshao culture was China's first identified prehistoric archaeological culture and it marks a significant transition from an egalitarian society to a hierarchical one.