Kuahuqiao
Kua Hu Qiao · Kuahuqiao Culture Site · Xiaoshan Kuahuqiao
Kuahuqiao culture 8000–7000 BP (8500–7700 calendar BCE) → Hemudu·Kuahuqiao (Lower Yangzi pre-Hemudu)·🇨🇳 Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou City, Xiaoshan District, Kuahuqiao village (Xiang Lake wetland, Qiantang River estuary south of Hangzhou), China
About
About Kuahuqiao
Pre-Hemudu pile-dwelling village (c.8000–7000 BP, 6000–5500 BCE) at Xiaoshan wetland south of Hangzhou — Kuahuqiao excavated 1990–93 by Zhejiang Institute, revealing earliest dugout canoe in China (5800 BCE, 5.6 m long pine canoe with paddles), stilt houses over Xiang Lake marsh, rice remains (8000 BP husk), and domestic pig. The 3 ha waterlogged site demonstrates Lower Yangzi estuarine rice-pig canoe economy preceding Hemudu, with ceramic and polished stone axes, plus the unique 'Kuahuqiao culture' (8500–8200 BP) bridging Shangshan incipient pottery to Hemudu paddy, now buried under 2 m colluvium after Hangzhou Bay transgression.
Why it mattersEarliest dugout canoe in China (5800 BCE) — proves Lower Yangzi maritime adaptation; 8000 BP domestic pig and rice bridging Shangshan→Hemudu estuarine.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Was pig fully domesticated 8000 BP?
Theories
- 01Kuahuqiao as coastal Yangzi rice-canoe economy before inland paddy (Jiang model)
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.8000 BP earliest marsh pile dwellings; canoe 5800 BCE
- Period
- Kuahuqiao culture 8000–7000 BP (8500–7700 calendar BCE) → Hemudu
- Culture
- Kuahuqiao (Lower Yangzi pre-Hemudu)
- Builders
- Kuahuqiao wetland rice-pig canoe farmers (pre-Hemudu)
- Purpose
- Wetland pile village and canoe transport node on Qiantang estuary marsh
- Abandoned
- c.7000 BP (Hangzhou marine transgression, site sealed by alluvium)
- Rediscovered
- 1990 bridge construction; 1990–93 rescue excavation
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.8000 BP
Earliest stilt houses on Xiang Lake, rice husk and pig
c.5800 BCE
5.6 m dugout canoe (earliest in China) and paddles in peat
1990
Xiaoshan bridge rescue dig defines Kuahuqiao culture 8500 BP
On the ground
Structures & features
30.1400° N · 120.2200° E · 4 m · 2 mapped features
Pile-Dwelling Stilt Area
settlementStilt house post rows on Xiang Lake peat with rice husk (8000 BP)
30.1405° N · 120.2205° EDugout Canoe Horizon
boat5.6 m pine dugout canoe and paddles (5800 BCE earliest China) in waterlogged peat
30.1395° N · 120.2195° E
Gallery