The excavation in the southwest site at Daming Lake in Jinan, Shandong province. [Photo by Su Ting for chinadaily.com.cn]
A recent archaeological discovery in Jinan, Shandong province, has pushed back the city's origins by about 1,500 years, experts said on Thursday.
The findings from the southwest site of Daming Lake indicate that Jinan's history as an urban settlement dates back approximately 4,200 years—far earlier than the previously assumed 2,700 years, said Luan Fengshi, a professor at Shandong University's Research School of Archaeology, during a press conference held at the excavation site by the Information Office of Jinan People's Government.
The site was first identified in April 2024 during a routine archaeological survey ahead of a subway construction project. Following more than a year of excavation, researchers have uncovered evidence of continuous human activity going back to the Longshan culture period of roughly 4,000 years ago.
Artifacts made from pottery, porcelain, and iron, unearthed from the southwest site at Daming Lake in Jinan, Shandong province. [Photo by Xu Zhou for chinadaily.com.cn]
To date, the dig has revealed 206 structural features, including city walls, moats, platforms, and house foundations. Archaeologists have also recovered more than 460 artifacts made from pottery, porcelain, iron, copper, bone, stone, and wood, alongside over 130 coins.
"The most notable revelation is the remains of a planned settlement from the Longshan culture, characterized by well-preserved defensive walls," said Luan.
"Carbon-14 dating of these structures confirms they were built around 4,200 years ago," he added.
Remains of a city wall from the Longshan culture, discovered at the southwest site at Daming Lake. [Photo by Xu Zhou for chinadaily.com.cn]
Remains of a water well from the Tang Dynasty (618-907), unearthed at the southwest site at Daming Lake. [Photo by Xu Zhou for chinadaily.com.cn]
An ash pit from the Warring States period (475-221 BC), unearthed at the southwest site at Daming Lake. [Photo by Xu Zhou for chinadaily.com.cn]
