Site for sacrifice of the Hongshan Culture

Location: On the border of Lingyuan County and Jianping County, Liaoning Province

Period: 3,770-2,920 BC

Excavated from 1983 to the present

Significance: The find has disclosed the sacrifice activities of the Neolithic Hongshan Culture, supplying precious materials for the study of society, ideology, religion, construction, painting, and arts of the Neolithic Age.

 Introduction

Jade dragon looking like a pig: ritual vessel (up-right, height 14 cm); Colored sculpture of goddess' head: (bottom, height 22.5 cm)

Site of Niuheliang, covering an area of 50 square kilometers, consists of the Temple of the Goddess, stone tombs and sacrificial altar. It belongs to the Neolithic Hongshan Culture, dating back to 5,000 years ago. The excavated Temple of the Goddess has two groups of wooden buildings. It yielded wall paintings, large clay figures and painted pottery ritual vessels. The stone tombs were made by piling up rocks, either square or round. Many exquisite jade articles were found in them, the most famous of which are the colored sculpture of goddess' head and jade dragon looking like a pig.

The central part of the site is in a forest of pine trees, integrated harmoniously with the natural environment. It features places of worship and sacrifice. The site is part of the evidence of the origin of the 5000-year civilization of China.