The Dawn of Southern China’s Prehistoric Societies

Between 4000–3000 BCE, the southern regions of China—encompassing modern Fujian, Taiwan, the Pearl River Delta, and Guangxi—were home to vibrant prehistoric cultures. These societies left behind rich archaeological evidence, including the Xiantouling Culture (Shenzhen/Hong Kong), Dingshishan Phase IV Culture (Nanning), Keqiutou Culture (Fujian), and Dabenkeng Culture (Taiwan). Emerging during the Neolithic period, these groups developed distinct pottery styles, burial customs, and subsistence strategies, reflecting adaptations to coastal, riverine, and island environments.

Archaeological discoveries since the 1980s—such as the 1985 excavation of Xiantouling in Shenzhen—have reshaped our understanding of southern China’s early history. These cultures interacted through trade networks, shared technologies (e.g., bark-cloth beaters), and possibly migration, creating a mosaic of cultural exchange long before written records.

Xiantouling Culture: The Pearl River Delta’s Artistic Pioneers

### Discovery and Chronology
First identified in 1985 through collaborative excavations by the Shenzhen Museum and Sun Yat-sen University, the Xiantouling Culture spans over 30 sites across the Pearl River Delta, including:
– Shell midden sites: Gaoyao Xiankezhou, Zengcheng Jinlansi
– Sand dune sites: Shenzhen Xiaomeisha, Hong Kong Chung Hom Wan

Radiocarbon dating places Xiantouling between 4000–3000 BCE, with key dates:
– Black Sand Bay, Macau: 6400±195 BP
– Dahuangsha, Shenzhen: 6255±260 BP

### Material Culture and Innovations
Pottery:
– Sand-tempered ware (60–92% of finds): Round-bottomed fu cauldrons, decorated with cord marks, incised waves, and shell impressions.
– Painted pottery (8–40%): Red-ochre designs on polished bowls/plates, featuring geometric patterns (triangles, zigzags) akin to Hunan’s Tangjiagang Culture (5000–4000 BCE).
– White pottery: Rare vessels with pressed “S”-shaped motifs, suggesting elite exchange.

Stone tools:
– Bark-cloth beaters (for textile production)
– Shouldered axes and polished adzes

### Social Structure and Rituals
At Xiankezhou, 24 graves revealed:
– Flexed burials (side-crouched or squatting), a practice linked to Guangxi cultures.
– Grouped graves, possibly marking clan divisions.
– Tooth ablation in some individuals, a ritual practice also seen in the Pearl River’s Hedang Culture.

Dingshishan Phase IV: Guangxi’s Agricultural Transition

### Sites and Chronology
Centered in Nanning, this culture includes:
– Early phase (4500–3000 BCE): Dingshishan IV, Wuming Lazhushan
– Late phase (3000–2000 BCE): Pingnan Shijiaoshan

Unlike earlier shell midden societies, Dingshishan IV shows a shift to agriculture, with no mollusk remains in deposits.

### Technological Advances
– Pottery: Wheel-thrown high-necked jars with comb-patterned designs.
– Bone tools: Exquisitely polished axes and fishhooks.
– Stone tools: Shouldered hoes for rice cultivation.

Cultural links exist with Guangdong’s Shixia Culture, evidenced by shared cord-marked pottery styles.

Keqiutou Culture: Fujian’s Coastal Foragers

### Key Sites
Discovered at Pingtan’s Keqiutou (1985) and Kinmen’s Fuguodun, this culture thrived on marine resources.

Artifacts:
– Pottery: Gritty, low-fired vessels with “shell-edge” stamped designs.
– Tools: Shell spades (beisi), the earliest known in China.

Dated to 4000–3500 BCE, Keqiutou people hunted deer, wild boar, and harvested oysters, with no evidence of farming.

Dabenkeng Culture: Taiwan’s First Settlers

### Origins and Spread
Taiwan’s oldest Neolithic culture (4000–3000 BCE) includes:
– Northern sites: Taipei’s Dabenkeng (type site)
– Southern sites: Tainan’s Bajiacun, with distinct shell-stamped pottery.

Subsistence: Reliant on fishing (stone net sinkers) and foraging, lacking domesticated crops.

Cultural Exchange and Legacy

### Cross-Regional Connections
– Painted pottery: Xiantouling’s designs mirror Hunan’s Tangjiagang, suggesting a Yangtze-to-coast exchange network.
– Burial practices: Flexed burials in Xiankezhou hint at ties to Guangxi’s Dingshishan traditions.

### Modern Relevance
These cultures laid foundations for:
1. Lingnan’s Bronze Age (e.g., Yue people)
2. Austronesian migrations from Taiwan (Dabenkeng’s descendants).

Ongoing research, including DNA studies of skeletal remains, continues to unravel their complex histories—offering insights into China’s southern frontier as a hub of ancient innovation.

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