Xianrendong Cave
Paleolithic to Early Neolithic (20000–7500 BCE; pottery 12000 BCE)·Xianrendong–Diaotonghuan culture (world's earliest pottery)·🇨🇳 Jiangxi, Wannian County, Dayuan Basin, Xianrendong cave and Diaotonghuan rockshelter, China
About
About Xianrendong Cave
Xianrendong Cave is the type site for the world's earliest pottery (12000 BCE) — 20 000-year stratigraphy with oldest pottery sherds, wild rice phytoliths (12000 BCE), and Paleolithic tools in Jiangxi.
Why it mattersKey Xianrendong–Diaotonghuan culture (world's earliest pottery) cave with stratified sequence and regional trade significance.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Territorial marker
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.20000 BCE
- Period
- Paleolithic to Early Neolithic (20000–7500 BCE; pottery 12000 BCE)
- Culture
- Xianrendong–Diaotonghuan culture (world's earliest pottery)
- Purpose
- Ancient city and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- 13th century
- Rediscovered
- 1970s excavation
- Excavation
- Excavated
On the ground
Structures & features
28.7300° N · 117.0800° E · 40 m · 3 mapped features
Xianrendong Main Cave
caveMain cave with pottery horizon 12000 BCE (oldest pottery)
28.7303° N · 117.0803° EDiaotonghuan Rockshelter
caveRockshelter 20 m with wild rice phytolith layer
28.7297° N · 117.0797° EPottery Sherd Layer
midden5-m stratigraphy with 12000 BCE pottery sherds
28.7300° N · 117.0800° E