Dawn of Civilization: A Journey to the 8,000-Year-Old Dadiwan Ruins

The Cradle of Chinese Neolithic Civilization

1.Located on the loess terraces of the Qingshui: River in Qin'an County, Tianshui City, the Dadiwan Ruins represent one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in modern China. Spanning over 3,000 years of the Neolithic period (approx. 8,000 to 5,000 years ago), this site covers 2.75 square kilometers and provides a continuous record of the transition from early hunter-gatherers to advanced agricultural societies. It is often hailed as a "Living Fossil" of the loess plateau, offering a direct window into the origin of the Chinese people and their early culture.

The Magnificent "Ancient Palace" (F-901)

The centerpiece of the ruins is house site F-901, a massive structure that archeologists refer to as an "Ancient Palace". Measuring 420 square meters in total, with a main hall of 131 square meters, it is the largest and most complex building of its time discovered in China. The engineering is particularly noteworthy for its refined floor, which uses a mixture of burnt lime and gravel to create a smooth, hard surface comparable to modern cement—marking the earliest use of such materials in human history. This "palace" served as a central hub for tribal meetings and religious ceremonies, showcasing advanced social organization.

Firsts in Arts, Agriculture, and Script

Dadiwan is the site of several global and national "firsts" that defined early Chinese civilization. It houses the world's earliest floor painting at the 411 site, depicting human and animal figures with carbonized pigments, reflecting the spiritual life of ancient residents. Furthermore, the site has yielded the earliest carbonized millet (broomcorn and foxtail millet) in China, proving that the loess plateau was a primary birthplace of dry-land agriculture. Archaeologists also discovered various pottery symbols on red bowls, which are considered the prototypes of Chinese characters and the origin of the written script.

A Cultural Legacy Linked to Fuxi

In local folklore and cultural history, the Dadiwan area is deeply connected to the legends of Fuxi and Nüwa, the mythical ancestors of the Chinese nation. The transition through the Dadiwan, Yangshao, and Changshan cultures illustrates the evolution of pottery techniques—from primitive redware to the iconic painted pottery of the Yangshao culture. Today, the Dadiwan Museum houses these treasures, including the famous "Head-shaped Color Pottery Jar," allowing visitors to stand in the very spot where a grand civilization first flickered to life 8,000 years ago.