Hemudu

An Early Neolithic site in Zhejiang Province, China, dating back to the late 6th and early 5th millennia BC. Two radiocarbon dates of c 5000 and c 4800 BC are the earliest yet for rice cultivation and it is the type-site of the southern rice-growing regime (millet was grown in the north). Pigs, dogs, and water buffalo were domesticated. Hoes or spades made from cattle scapulae have been found in large quantity; stone tools were few and crude. Timber houses show the use of a mortise-and-tenon technique. The low-fired handmade pottery includes shallow Ding tripods. It was succeeded by the Qingliangang culture in the Early Neolithic and by the Daxi, Qujialing, and Liangzhu cultures in the Middle Neolithic, c 3800-2800 BC.

[Ho-mu-tu]. Neolithic site excavated in 1973-4 in Yuyao Xian, south of Hangzhou Bay in northern Zhejiang province, China. The remains cover about 40,000 square metres. Four levels, counted from the top, were distinguished. The upper levels 1 and 2 correspond to the two phases of the Majiabang culture; level 2 yielded a radiocarbon date of c3700 bc. Levels 3 and 4 define the Hemudu culture, the earliest known stage of the east-coast Neolithic (seeLoNGSHAN, 2). Two radiocarbon dates from level 4 of c5000 and c4800 bc are the earliest yet obtained for rice cultivation: in level 4 deposits of rice grains, stalks, and husks were half a metre thick in places, and covered an area of 400 square metres, perhaps a threshing floor. Pigs, dogs, and perhaps water buffalo were domesticated. Hoes or spades made from cattle scapulae, contrasting with the stone hoes typical of Yangshao sites, were found in large quantity; stone tools were few and crude. Timber houses show the use of a mortice-and-tenon technique. The low-fired handmade pottery includes shallow ding tripods.