A century of discoveries

New era

Entering the 21st century, new technologies and closer multidisciplinary collaboration have ushered in a new era. Archaeologists have increasingly used scientific methods to examine sites — analyzing their internal spatial functions, social organization and subsistence patterns to gain a better understanding of how Chinese civilization originated and how the country took form. It was against this backdrop that the latest work at the Xiyin site started in 2024.

As of now, the ongoing excavation has confirmed a settlement with two layers of moats from the middle period of Yangshao culture, enhancing understanding of the settlement's layout, defense system and functional zones, says Wu Yangyang, a researcher at the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology who is taking part in the third round of excavations.

Wu says prehistoric moats were often made for defense or water drainage. The two-layered moats at this site were probably built for such functions, supporting the stable development of the settlement.

Besides the moats, archaeologists have also discovered many tools for making painted pottery, including pigment palettes, grinders and grinding discs. They indicate how ancient people created the items.

"Xiyin is one among many prehistoric sites in China. What makes it special is that its three excavations coincide with key stages in the development of China's modern archaeology," says Zheng.

"That is why the site's century-long history of archaeological research can be seen as a demonstration of the growth of China's archaeology. Generations of scholars continue to make studies of the same site. From interpreting objects to reconstructing society, and from reading stratigraphic layers to comprehending civilization, such sustained research sheds light on Chinese civilization with solid evidence," she adds.