Sites of the Warring States and the Han Dynasty and Tombs from the Western Zhou to the Sixteen States in Yuantaizi in Chaoyang

(Abstract)

In the year 1979, the Chaoyang cultural relics investigation team unearthed the Yuantaizi Site and the Wangfenshan Tombs in Yuantaizi Village, Chaoyang County, Liaoning Province.

The excavated area covers 955 square metres. History of the area can be divided into two stages. Remain of the first stage is the site of Yan State Culture of the Warring States. The Liucheng Site of the Western Han belongs to the second stage. In addition, 162 tombs were unearthed at and near the Wangfenshan Mountain. The building of the tombs of eleven types can be divided into four stages: the Linghe Culture period from the Western Zhou to the Warring States, in this period the tomb occupants were Shanrong nationality; the period of the Yan State of the Warring States; the Western Han period; and the period from the Eastern Han to the Sixteen States.

In Yuantaizi area, remains of the Shanrong nationality of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties were found. This area became capital of the State of Yan in the Warring States, named Youcheng City. In the Western Han, it was Liucheng County belonged to Liaoxi Prefecture. The Liucheng County had been very prosperous with its political, economic and cultural success. Some tiles of the Western Han with stamp "柳" (Liu) were collected here. In the Eastern Han, it was occupied by Wuhuan.In the Northern Yan, the governor Murong Huang moved the capital to Longcheng (the modern Chaoyang City), thus the downfall of Yuantaizi area began. In the Sui and Tang period, this area developed into an important northeast city in prefecture of Yingzhou.

This report provides material objects for the study of the Shanrong, Eastern Hu, and Murong Xianbei nationalities in ancient China. So it could be useful for both archaeologists and historians.