Bashidang
Ba Shi Dang · Lixian Bashidang
Pengtoushan late 7000–5000 BCE → Zaoshi 5800–5000 BCE·Pengtoushan (Middle Yangzi late) → Zaoshi transitional·🇨🇳 Hunan Province, Changde Pref., Li County, Bashidang circular moat town south of Pengtoushan on Li River swamp plain, China
About
About Bashidang
Moated Neolithic town (c.7000–5000 BCE, Pengtoushan culture late phase) at Bashidang on the Li River swamp south of Pengtoushan — 3 ha circular settlement with earthen wall and ditch, excavated 1993–96 by Pei Anping. Bashidang yielded early walled town ditch (circular 100 m diameter), red slip pottery with white paint, jade sliders, star-shaped wooden ritual objects, and the largest Pengtoushan-culture cemetery (300+ pit burials) with grave goods proving emerging rank before Yangshao. Star-shaped wooden items (possible sun symbols) are unique to Bashidang, linking Pengtoushan late to Zaoshi.
Why it mattersEarliest moated Middle Yangzi town with cemetery (6500 BCE) — proves communal earthwork 3000 years before Chengtoushan walls; star objects unique sun ritual.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Star wooden objects — sun worship or shaman drum?
Theories
- 01Bashidang as Pengtoushan → Zaoshi transitional ritual center
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.6500–6000 BCE earthwork and cemetery
- Period
- Pengtoushan late 7000–5000 BCE → Zaoshi 5800–5000 BCE
- Culture
- Pengtoushan (Middle Yangzi late) → Zaoshi transitional
- Builders
- Pengtoushan Late villagers with moat-cemetery ritual
- Purpose
- Moated cemetery town with sun-ritual star objects controlling Li swamp rice grounds
- Abandoned
- c.5000 BCE (flood from Li River swamp)
- Rediscovered
- 1993 drainage rescue excavations; defined as Pengtoushan late variant
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.6500–6000 BCE
Circular moat ditch 100 m diameter with earth wall and cemetery 300 burials
c.6000–5000 BCE
Star wooden ritual deposits and early jade sliders
1993
Pei Anping excavates defining Pengtoushan late walled burial
On the ground
Structures & features
29.3800° N · 112.1200° E · 30 m · 2 mapped features
Circular Moat and Wall
earthwork100 m diameter earthen wall and 10 m ditch enclosing settlement
29.3805° N · 112.1205° ECemetery with Star Objects
cemetery300 burials with jade sliders and star wooden ritual items
29.3795° N · 112.1195° E
Gallery