Xinle culture

The Xinle culture (新樂文化) (5500–4800 BC^[1]) was a Neolithic culture in northeast China, found primarily around the lower Liao River on the Liaodong Peninsula in Liaoning. The culture showed evidence of millet cultivation and pig domestication. The type site at Xinle was discovered in the Huanggu District of Shenyang, Liaoning.

The site is named after an old inn, in which grounds the remains were first discovered.

Naming

The site of the ancient settlement was discovered in the grounds of an old accommodation block for an electrical factory. The accommodation block was called the Xinle Dormitory (新樂宿舍) and hence the discovery was named the Xinle Relic. When it was discovered that the settlement was that of a hitherto unknown civilization, the whole civilization was named after the relic and hence became known as the Xinle civilization. Although more recent discoveries in nearby areas have been extremely significant, especially one in Xinmin, the original name has prevailed.

Excavations

In 1973, excavations at the site discovered evidence for some 40 neolithic houses. Artifacts uncovered during the dig included stone tools, pottery, jade, bone tools, wood carvings and refined coal.

In 1978, another dig uncovered yet more artifacts including one wooden carving that was some 7,200 years old, presumably a type of totem worshipped by the clan. No other find in the whole of Shenyang has been older, the find is also one of the oldest wooden carvings found anywhere in the world.

The excavations also discovered two Khitan tombs from 1,000 years ago.

Museum

In 1984, the Museum of the Xinle Civilization (新樂遺址博物館) was founded.

The museum is divided into two sections, north and south. The southern section contains displays of the various artifacts unearthed during the various excavations that have taken place on 44-acre (180,000 m²) site. The northern section contains a reconstruction of a 7,000-year-old Xinle village. Some of the houses in the settlement contain representations of life 7,000 years ago.

Gallery

Main entrance	Statue advertising the museum	Statue outside museum gates
Wood carving	A house	Depiction of life inside a house

Notes

↑ Archaeology of Asia, pp.129

References

Stark, Miriam T. (ed.), Archaeology of Asia, 2006, ISBN 1-4051-0213-6

Prehistoric cultures of China

Paleolithic Neolithic

Northern China	Xinglongwa Zhaobaogou Hongshan Niuheliang Xiaoheyan Lower Xiajiadian Laohushan Xinle

Upper Yellow River	Dadiwan Yangshao Xishuipo Majiayao Banshan Qijia Lajia Zhukaigou

Middle Yellow River	(Nanzhuangtou) Cishan Peiligang Jiahu Dadiwan Yangshao Banpo Jiangzhai Yangguanzhai Longshan Taosi

Lower Yellow River	Houli Beixin Dawenkou Longshan Chengziya Yueshi

Middle and Upper Yangtze	Pengtoushan Bashidang Chengbeixi Daxi Tangjiagang Qujialing Shijiahe Baodun

Lower Yangtze and Huai	Hemudu Majiabang Songze Lingjiatan Liangzhu Guangfulin Maqiao

Southern China	Zengpiyan Shixia

Tibet	Karuo Qugong

Taiwan	Dabenkeng Beinan

Liao civilization Yellow River civilization Yangtze civilization

History Archaeology History

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