Archaeologists in eastern China have identified one of the oldest prehistoric civilizations ever found in the lower Yangtze region. The Baojia site in Liyang, Jiangsu Province, dates to roughly 7,500 to 8,100 years ago, researchers announced on Sunday.
The discovery makes it the earliest known site in the area surrounding Taihu Lake, reshaping the understanding of early cultural development in this part of China.
Experts say the find fills a major gap in regional prehistory and offers rare evidence for tracing the origins of the Yangtze River civilization.
Excavation teams uncover a large Neolithic settlement
The site covers an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 square meters (215,000 to 323,000 square feet). Excavations began in 2023 after approval from the National Cultural Heritage Administration. A joint team from the Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and the Nanjing Museum has carried out continuous fieldwork.
Researchers have focused on mapping the settlement’s layout and documenting layers linked to some of the earliest human activity ever recorded in Jiangsu Province.
Ancient river channels hold deep cultural deposits
One of the most significant finds is an ancient river channel running east to west. Beneath it lies an even earlier watercourse. Lead archaeologist Hu Yingfang said this older channel contains deposits up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) deep, filled with organic remains and artifacts from early human activity.
These layered river systems show how early communities lived in wetland environments and adapted to shifting waterways thousands of years ago.
Waterlogged soil preserves rare organic materials
Because the site sits in a water-saturated environment, many fragile items survived. Archaeologists recovered pottery, wooden tools, plant remains, and animal bones, including those of mammals. They also found woven objects such as hemp or grass ropes—materials that rarely survive at Neolithic sites.
Hu said the waterlogged soil preserved valuable organic matter that offers key environmental and cultural information. The remains help researchers reconstruct daily life, resource use, and ecological conditions at the time.
Radiocarbon tests confirm early Neolithic timeline
Radiocarbon dating of plant seeds from different layers confirmed the site’s age at 7,500 to 8,100 years. The results place Baojia firmly within the early Neolithic period and show it predates all other known prehistoric sites in the broader Taihu Lake region.
Excavations on an eastern terrace also uncovered more than 200 ash pits. One contained a complete dog skeleton, providing new clues about early animal use and possible domestication practices.
Scholars call Baojia a breakthrough for Yangtze civilization research
Nearly 10 experts from major institutions—including the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Nanjing University, Zhejiang University, and Renmin University of China—reviewed the findings on-site. They concluded that Baojia is the earliest prehistoric settlement identified so far around Taihu Lake.
Specialists say the site displays unique cultural traits and fills a critical gap in the region’s Neolithic record. The discovery also provides new evidence for studying how the Yangtze River civilization began to take shape.
Researchers expect continued analysis to reveal even more information about how early communities lived, built settlements, and interacted with their environment nearly 8,000 years ago.
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