Period: Western Zhou Period (11th century-771BC)
Listed in: 2004
Excavated by: the Cultural Relics and Archeological Research Institute of Hunan Province
Archeological team leader: Xiang Taochu

  Site description

A city wall of the Western Zhou Period was found here, bringing to light the two large-sized artificial building sites of yellow earth and uncovering two large-sized sites of houses of possible palatial buildings. Remains of moats of the same period were also discovered both inside and outside the city. Seven small-sized tombs for nobles and lords were dug up from the highland outside the city, from which a great amount of bronze wares and jade wares were excavated.

  Significance

This is the first time that an ancient city site of the Western Zhou Period was discovered in Hunan Province, something that is rare even in South China. The site has great significance on the study of Hunan's regional history, bronze culture, and the formation of early state and society. The site also provides important material objects for researching the bronze civilization in the Western Zhou Period in the Xiangjiang River Valley and the southern area as a whole.

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