Archaeologists in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, have unearthed a well-preserved ancient settlement dating back 2,500 years, belonging to the Yue State of the early Warring States period (475-221 BCE). This important discovery clarifies ancient Chinese building techniques, urban planning, and daily life on the outskirts of the Yue capital.
The finding was made in June 2024 while the Shaoxing Binhai New Area was under construction when workers observed unusual soil layers. A subsequent emergency study by the Zhejiang Insтιтute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology verified the existence of a waterfront settlement from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Located 4.47 kilometers north of the old Cao’e River, the site—known as the Baicaoyuan site—was an economic and maritime hub.
The discovery of sophisticated wooden architecture is among its greatest aspects. Two major wooden structures measuring approximately 1,300 square meters were identified. The first was a stilted, terraced house with walls made of interwoven wooden posts, thatch, and reeds, bound together by grᴀss ropes. The second structure consisted of wooden piles laid out in ten parallel rows and capped with horizontal beams and layers of bark, suggesting another elevated construction.
The Baicaoyuan archaeological site in Shaoxing, East China. Credit: Shaoxing Insтιтute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
Dr. Zhou Xiaolong, a specialist in timber structures, emphasized the importance of these discoveries by stating: “This wasn’t haphazard construction. The mortise-and-tenon joints show precision we typically ᴀssociate with later dynasties. These builders thought in 3D.”
Archaeologist Xu Tianjin stated that this site, together with the Tingshan and Nanshantou sites, formed a functional part of the capital city of Yue, consistent with historical accounts found in the Book of Yuejishu that describe “the great city of Shanyin.” The wooden construction system, analyzed by Chen Zhiyong’s team at the Harbin Insтιтute of Technology, revealed advanced engineering properties, surpᴀssing even some buildings of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) in terms of structural integrity. In particular, a foundation treatment technology was used, utilizing bamboo gabions and driving piles 2.3 meters into the marshy ground. It predates similar Song Dynasty methods by 1,500 years.
The excavation uncovered many more artifacts. A primitive porcelain cup, red pottery tripods, impressed hard pottery urns, and bronze drill bits were among the discoveries. Also identified at the site were the remains of domestic animals, particularly dogs, pigs, and cattle. There was also a large amount of marine debris; this included clamshell middens and tuna vertebrae, indicating that fishing activities were of great importance to the economy, possibly linked to trade networks.
One fascinating find was the ritual pig burials, with their complete skeletons laid out facing the ancient Cao’e River, suggesting certain religious or cultural practices. Archaeologists identified hydraulic facilities that could possibly have played a role in maritime defense strategies in ancient times.
Further contextualization was provided by the July 2024 excavations of the Jizhong site, where clear evidence of large Yue structures within the ancient city was found. While Jizhong appears to have been an administrative center, Baicaoyuan, located on the outskirts, functioned as a working-class settlement with dockside workshops for artisans processing salt-cured fish and repairing ships.
The site also revealed 38 relics dating back to the Six Dynasties (220-589 CE), with evidence suggesting that later occupants repurposed ancient wooden materials.
Archaeologists and urban planners are working to establish protective measures: The most fragile structures will be reburied in geotextiles with the goal of creating the first “archaeological time capsule” in China for future generations. A virtual reality reconstruction of the site is set to debut at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum in the fall of 2024.
