The Banpo Site is a large Neolithic
site of the Yangshao Culture dating back about 6,000 years ago, with an area of
about 50,000 square meters. Divided into three parts, namely residential
quarters, pottery making area and burial ground, the site is abundant in
cultural relics, including 45 houses, 2 fencing sites, 200 storage pits, 6
pottery kilns, and 250 adults' tombs and children's burial jars.
The residential quarters
are enclosed by a moat with a purpose of protection and flood discharge.
Houses were built in various sizes, most of which are half-pit house, including
public storehouses and private family houses. Among these houses, the big
one probably belonged to the clan chief and also acted as the conference hall
for clan members to discuss public affairs. Tombs in the burial ground were concentrated
at one place and arranged orderly according to consanguinity. The dead
were buried either with limbs bended or in a lying pose while facing upward.
Objects contained in the graves are mostly wares of everyday use, such as
pointed-bottom bottles and earthen pots. Most of these objects are ancient painted
pottery, mainly with a red background on which were painted such black
patterns as geometry or animal and plant figures. These unearthed relics show
that Banpo people have not only mastered the technique of making pottery but
also developed their own artistic creativity. The illegible symbols painted on
the potter are probably the embryonic form of early characters.
The Banpo Site proves
that primitive people of that period had already entered into an agricultural
society. At present, the site is the largest and most integrated commune village
site typical of the Matriarchy clan society in the Yellow River Valley. It has a
great scientific value for the research into the history of Chinese primitive
society as well as the different periods of the Yangshao Culture.
In 1957, the first
museum of Neolithic site was founded in China, displaying restored houses and
various utensils and tools through which the visitors could draw a vivid picture
of the life of Banpo people.