Located 10 kilometers northwest of Lixian County, Changde, the 6000-year-old Chengtoushan Cultural Site, is the earliest city that China discovered. The site has twice been listed top ten archaeological discoveries nationwide, in 1992 and 1997, selected as one out of hundred key archaeological discoveries during the 20th century in China in 2001, and displayed in 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The site reserves the amazing world's earliest rice fields, well-preserved pottery kiln and hierarchical tombs.
From 1991 to 2012, Hunan Cultural Relics Archaeological Institute conducted 13 archaeological evacuations and unearthed over 16000 pieces of cultural relics. Besides, the world's earliest paddy field site, well preserved China's most complete layout of the ancient city, as well as the castle and the most distinct formation culture were discovered here. The site, representing the development of the neolithic culture in the Yangtze River Basin, is comparable to the ancient civilization of the Yellow River Basin known as the cradle of Chinese civilization.
Lixian Chengtoushan Site
Translator: Shen Zuolin
Source: Hunan Official Web Portal