Wang Shuang, an archaeologist, identifies an ash pit belonging to the Neolithic Yangshao culture in Yirang village, Yangquan, Shanxi province.[Photo provided by Liu Sheng/For China Daily]

Archaeologists working in the dusty fields of Yirang village, Yangquan, in North China's Shanxi province, have uncovered a major discovery that offers fresh insight into the region's Neolithic past.

In March, a small team of researchers used traditional Luoyang spades – long-handled tools designed to extract soil samples -to probe the earth. Among the soil layers, they recovered fragments of painted pottery, weathered but clearly marked with distinctive red grid patterns.

According to Han Lizhong, director of the Yangquan Archaeological Research Center, these fragments date to the late Yangshao culture, a Neolithic civilization that flourished along the middle reaches of the Yellow River roughly 7,000 to 5,000 years ago. The culture is famous for its painted pottery, often decorated with geometric motifs and occasional human or animal figures.

This marks the first confirmed discovery of a Yangshao culture site in Yangquan.

"It fills a gap in the region's Middle Neolithic cultural record, expands the known distribution of the Yangshao culture, and demonstrates close cultural exchanges between Yangquan and areas that are now Jinzhong in Shanxi as well as parts of Henan," says Han.

The site lies on the northern bank of the Taohe River, where local farmers had previously uncovered ancient stone axes. "Our ancestors would have found this spot ideal for settlement," Han adds.

An uncovered pottery shard preserves distinctive red grid patterns.[Photo provided by Liu Sheng/For China Daily]

Han recalls that archaeologists had surveyed the area several times since the 1990s without success. That changed in March when researchers stumbled upon painted pottery fragments near a newly dug grave. As they expanded their search, they found layers containing pottery from different periods, including pits dating to the Yangshao era.

The site now covers an area of approximately 129,000 square meters – roughly the size of 20 football fields.

"When the first painted shard was found, everyone almost jumped for joy," says Wang Shuang, one of the six field team members. Over the past months, the team repeatedly trekked across hills and valleys, studying the terrain and interviewing villagers for clues about possible artifacts.

The archaeological survey began in November 2024 as part of a special initiative to explore Yangquan's early cultures.

So far, the team has identified three ash pits and one kiln, along with a remarkably continuous cultural sequence spanning the Yangshao culture, Longshan culture, Xia Dynasty (c. 21st century-16th century BC), Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC), and Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256 BC).

In Yirang village, time appears layered in the earth: painted pottery from 5,000 years ago, black Longshan pottery from 4,000 years ago, and Shang and Zhou pottery from 3,000 years ago. Together, they reveal a settlement that appears to have remained inhabited for thousands of years without interruption.

Han says Yirang village has a long history, with multiple cultural relic sites still visible. In October 2024, the team had already excavated two Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) tombs there, and recovered 34 artifacts. The current survey, launched the following month, aims to systematically investigate the region's early cultural layers.

The recovered artifacts include pottery, stone tools and bone-and-shell objects. Painted pottery makes up a high proportion, with fine red grid-and-band patterns. Researchers have also identified vessel forms, such as bowls, jars and basins, alongside smaller objects including pottery rings and perforated shell knives.

By comparing these artifacts with discoveries from similar sites, archaeologists have preliminarily dated the settlement to the late Yangshao period.

"The discovery of remains here from the Yangshao culture, Longshan culture, Xia and Shang dynasties, and Eastern Zhou periods establishes a continuous cultural sequence from the Neolithic era onward," Han says.

"It provides valuable clues for understanding the evolution and development of prehistoric societies in the Taihang Mountains."

Zhu Xingxin in Shanxi province contributed to this story.