Jinan's urban origins trace back 4,200 years with new finds

english.jinan.gov.cn | Updated: 2025-12-12

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Archaeological excavations at the Daming Lake site in Jinan's Lixia district have traced the city's urban history back to roughly 4,200 years ago, according to a news conference on Dec 11.

Discovered in April 2024, the site underscores Jinan's longstanding cultural and historical significance.

Key findings include a city wall and moat dating to the Longshan culture period (3000–1900 BC). The wall, measuring 22.5?meters long and 28?meters wide, contained polished black pottery fragments and a human skull, suggesting possible ritual activities during its construction. This evidence traces human activity in this area back to around 5,000 years ago, during the mid-Dawenkou culture period (4000–2600 BC).

The moat spans over 50?meters in width and reaches a depth of about 9.8?meters, with alternating layers of silt and mud. Pottery fragments from the Dawenkou culture period were recovered from the lowest silt layer, while the upper layers contained more artifacts from the Longshan culture period, suggesting continuous human occupation.

In total, archaeologists have uncovered 206 features, including city walls, moats, foundation platforms, and tombs spanning from the Longshan culture period to modern times. More than 460 artifacts made of pottery, porcelain, iron, and other materials were found, as well as over 130 coins and around 1,000 boxes of pottery and porcelain sherds from various historical periods.