Archaeologists have uncovered more than 10 new sites dating to the Yangshao period within a 100-square-kilometer area near the Yuncheng Salt Lake in Shanxi province, providing concrete evidence of the early development of the salt industry in Central China.

These newly discovered sites, the closest prehistoric human activity points to the salt lake, are being documented for the first time, with some locations dating back to the early Yangshao period, over 6,000 years ago.

Artifacts unearthed at the Xiaoli Huanchi Site. [Photo/Shanxi News Network]

Archaeologists noted that the late Yangshao sites are evenly distributed near the lakeshore, with red pottery long-necked jars being the predominant artifacts. Similar items have been found at salt industry sites in France, Japan, and other parts of the world, suggesting a connection to salt production and trade activities.

The survey also outlined the early boundaries of the salt lake. During the Yangshao period, its elevation was approximately 295 meters, and it did not exceed 320 meters during the Longshan and Xia-Shang (c.21st century-11th century BC) periods. Two linear dam remnants were discovered, aligning with records of the salt lake's boundaries from the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, possibly indicating dam sites from those periods.

This archaeological discovery provides tangible evidence of salt resource development at the lake, integrating it into the study of societal complexity in the Yangshao core area. It offers significant insights into the origins of regional civilization and the cultural value of the salt lake.