Four well-preserved residences in an ancient village were
unearthed in two large excavation projects in 2003 and 2005 in
Henan Province, providing an insight into rural life dating
back 2,000 years.
The village in Neihuang County of Henan dates back to the late
Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - AD 25), according to Sun Xinmin,
director of the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and
Archaeology.
"With the excavation, archaeologists were able to map out the
layout of the ancient village and the architecture of village
residences in the Western Han Dynasty for the first time," Sun
said.
The unearthed residences are separated by surrounding farmland,
contrary to what archaeologists first thought. Sun argued that this
shows the basic social structure in rural areas at that time, which
is one of the most valuable findings.
Every residence has tile roofs, a courtyard and its own well and
consists of a gatehouse, wing-rooms, porches and washrooms.
Archaeologists believe there used to be mulberries, elms, crops
and alleyways outside the courtyards.
The roofs, which are well-preserved in their original state, are
considered extremely precious by archaeologists.
The village is near the ancient Yellow River and was probably
submerged by a flood, where it lay silent for many years,
archaeologists said.
(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2006)