The Neolithic Cultures Along Huairiver And In The Changjiang-Huairiver Area In Anhui

Anhui province lies in eastern China. There are many other provinces neighbour on it, such as Jiangsu province to the east, Shandong province to the north-east, Henan province to the north-west, Hubei province to the south-west, Jiangxi province to the south, Zhejiang province to the south-east. Yangzi River and Huai River across Anhui province from east to west and divide the province into three natural areas: northern Huaihe, Changjiang-Huairiver area, southern Anhui. Natural environment along Huairiver and in the Changjiang-Huairiver area is extremely good, the land is fertile, the rainfall isplentiful, soespecially fit for the growth of crops, very suitable for primitive mankind's survival and propagation. Here is the middle region where cultures from north to south communicate and influence with each other, so the factors of culture are very affluent. At paleolithic period, we found Hexian homo erectus, Chaoxian homo sapiens, the group of paleolithic locality in Changgang in Chaoxian, and some scattered paleolith in Zongyang and so on. To Neolithic age, the place distributed large number historical remains of fossil man and is the most intensive area of the neolithic sites in Anhui.The neolithic sites spread intensively along Huairiver and in the Changjiang-Huairiver area in Anhui. Entering 1980s, a group of neolithic sites were excavated in the area and large numbers historical relics were found. To now, we have identified seven kinds of neolithic cultural remains.The Xuejiagang site in Qianshan was discovered in 1977. Since then, six excavations had been conducted. Meanwhile, we excavated or test excavated some other sites: Tianningzhai in Qianshan, Wangyangmiao in Wangjiang county, Wangjiadun in Taihu county, Huanglong Yangjiazui in Huaining county, Citanggang in Yuexi county, and so on. Because the kind of the site's cultural appearance has striking characteristic, a crowd of typical complete set of artifacts, some local distinctions and spread rang. It is obviously different from some primitive cultures in its neighbourhood and therefore raised the name "Xuejiagang culture". The archaeological culture is admitted and emphasized by most archaeologists now. Many related questions are discussed warmly and deepen our realization of Xuejiagang culture.The institute of Archaeology of Anhui Province excavated Huangshanzui neolithic site for three times from 1981 to 1984. Its unearthed relics are much different from Xuejiagang site and its age greatly corresponded with the first phases of Xuejiagang culture. So I agree it is a new culture type.Houjiazhai site in Dingyuan county is the earlist neolithic site we discovered in Changjiang-Huairiver area. From 1985 to 1986, two excavations were conducted by the institute of Archaeology of Anhui Province. The culture remain represented by the lower layer of Houjiazhai is "Houjiazhai type" that has a group of pottery combination which distinguishes to other cultures, has particular culture distinction and represents a new type of primitive culture along Huairiver in Anhui. The site's discovery and excavation is very important to study the source and flow of primitive of Changjiang-Huairiver in Anhui and relations between every culture types.The Excavation of Feixi Gugeng was conducted by the institute of Archaeology of Anhui Province in 1983 and 1987. The site could be divided into early and late phases. Earlier remains may correspond with the middle phase of Dawenkou, later remains belong to the period of Longshan, there is a bigger interval between them at the age. The culture remains represented by the upper layer of Houjiazhai and lower layer of Gugeng are named "Gugeng-Houjiazhai type".The Museum in Bangbu City conducted three excavations in Shuangdun site in 1986, the spring of 1991, the autumn of 1992. The site has a complete set of artifacts different from other cultures, is typical of originally early and middle Neolithic sites in the middle Huairiver. So we named the culture remain that has typical connotation as "Shuangdun Culture". The other similar sites excavated are Shuanggudui in Huaiyuan(lower layer),Xiaosungang in Huainan,Xiashankou in Fengtai county and so on.The Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology conducted four excavations at the neolithic site of Lingjiatan in Hanshan county in June 1987, November 1987, the autumn of 1988 and October 2000. The excavations exposed an area of 2675sqm, found 44 burials and unearthed a large number finely made ceramic, stone and jade artifacts, especially noticeable. The excavation briefing thought the remain's culture character was the culture remain of the autochthon nation-ancient Huaiyi Tribe in Changjiang-Huairiver area, was a new culture type.The culture remains at the period of Longshan were found much more in the Changjiang-Huairiver area and were widespread. The kind of remains mainly are: the sixth phase of Xuejiagang site, Gugeng(upper layer of later culture), the second phrase culture of Dachengdun in Hanshan, Wudadun in Feidong, and so on.Among the seven kinds of primitive cultures found along Huairiver and in the Changjiang-Huairiver area, Shuangdun culture and noujiazhai type are early cultures; Gugeng-Houjiazhai type, Huangshanzui type, Xuejiagang culture, Lingjiatan type are middle cultures; cultures at the period of Longshan in Changjiang-Huairiver are late cultures. The three different development stages not only have some essential difference, but also have some certain inner relations and basically represent the development clue of primitive culture along Huairiver and in the Changjiang-Huairiver area in Anhui. Meanwhile, in the process of themselves development, the seven types of primitive cultures were influenced by primitive cultures in the neighbourhood at different extent. They contacted and collided with each other, and finally to mix together. Therefore, take a wide view at the appearance of primitive cultures in the Changjiang-Huairiver area, the primitive culture has its own development system that is local chiefly and transitional secondary.Through the excavation of every site and exposure of culture appearance, we can also find as a part of Chinese civilization, civilization factors of Neolithic sites along Huairiver and in the Changjiang-Huairiver area in Anhui are very prosperous. These are profitable to promote the development of civilizable process.