Yinshan Wulashan Table Mountain — Southern Scarp Petroglyphs
Wulashan Rock Art · Zhuozi Shan South
Neolithic to Xiongnu–Han (3000 BCE – 200 BCE)·Hetao farming to steppe nomad Xiongnu transition·🇨🇳 Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Bayannuur City, Urad Front Banner, Wulashan (Table Mountain) south scarp, China
About
About Yinshan Wulashan Table Mountain — Southern Scarp Petroglyphs
Southern scarp of Wulashan (Table Mountain, Zhuozi Shan) in the Yinshan arch, overlooking the Hetao Yellow River bend at 1850 m. Contains 800+ panels with Late Neolithic to Xiongnu vehicle glyphs, 34 chariots counted in Daqingshan–Wulashan inventory including 25 at Piaolan Temple zone east, and shamanic face masks. Associated with the Wuyuan basin agricultural edge. Surveyed 2011 Demattè.
Why it mattersSouthernmost Wulashan group shows Yinshan art follows Yellow River bend frontier, bridging to Helan
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chariot wheel spoke count chronology debate
- 02Face masks shaman vs ancestor
Theories
- 01Pastoralist mark claiming Yellow River frontier
- 02Shamanic vehicle procession rite
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.3000 BCE masks; chariots 1200–700 BCE
- Period
- Neolithic to Xiongnu–Han (3000 BCE – 200 BCE)
- Culture
- Hetao farming to steppe nomad Xiongnu transition
- Purpose
- Steppe–oasis frontier shrine and vehicle procession way
- Abandoned
- c.200 BCE Xiongnu script
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.3000 BCE
Face masks pecked
1200 BCE
Chariot glyphs peak
1980
Modern rediscovery Jan 28
On the ground
Structures & features
40.8500° N · 108.5000° E · 1850 m · 3 mapped features
Chariot Procession Panel
petroglyph panel7 two-wheeled chariots with drivers and horses
40.8510° N · 108.5010° EShamanic Mask Row
petroglyph4 face masks with rayed headdress 60 cm each
40.8495° N · 108.4990° EPiaolan Temple Overlook
viewpointTemple promontory with 25 chariot glyphs below
40.8520° N · 108.5020° E
Gallery