Archaeological site from the Neolithic Age to the Shang Dynasty

Location: Anyang, Henan Province

Period: 4000-1100 BC

Excavated in 1931

Significance: It is for the first time that the relative dates of the Yangshao Culture, the Longshan Culture, and the Shang Culture of the central plains were clarified on the three overlapping layers of the site.   

Introduction

Hougang Site is one of an important part of the Yin Ruins. Based on the three overlapping layers of the site, it is for the first time that the relative dates of the Yangshao Culture, the Longshan Culture, and the Shang Culture of the central plains were clarified.

 Yin Ruins

Yin Ruins, the capital city of the late Shang Dynasty (17th century-11th century BC), is the first capital ruins with historic records and reconfirmed by oracle and archaeological excavations. It is located in the north suburb of Anyang, one of the China's historical and cultural cities. Yin Ruins has a history over 3,300 years. Since 1,300 BC emperor Pangeng moved the capital to Yin till the year 1,046 BC, here remained as Shang Dynasty's center of politics, economy, military and culture for 255 years.

Yin Ruins covers an area of 24 square kilometers. This area has preserved many ruins such as palaces and ancestors' temple, emperors' mausoleum, tribes, family's graveyards, caverns of oracle, jade making workshops and bone workshops. Large quantities of bronze vessels, jade and bone articles were unearthed. All of them can epitomize the essence of this unique culture and the fantastic capital city of the Shang Dynasty.