Definition
The Hemudu culture was a Neolithic archaeological culture that flourished in the lower Yangtze River region of eastern China, primarily in present‑day Zhejiang province, during the period circa 7,000–6,000 years BP (approximately 5000–4500 BCE).
Overview
First identified in the 1970s through excavations at the site of Hemudu (河姆渡) near modern Cixi, Zhejiang, the culture is recognized for its early evidence of rice domestication, sophisticated water‑management systems, and distinctive material culture. Over a dozen Hemudu‑type settlements have been uncovered, indicating a network of riverine communities that engaged in agriculture, fishing, and hunting. The culture succeeded the earlier Majiabang culture and predates the later Liangzhu culture, representing a crucial transitional phase in the development of complex societies in the lower Yangtze basin.
Etymology/Origin
The term “Hemudu” derives from the name of the type‑site (河姆渡, Hémǔdù), where “hé” means “river,” “mǔ” is a phonetic component, and “dù” means “pier” or “dock.” The name therefore reflects the settlement’s location near water and its probable function as a riverine hub.
Characteristics
- Settlement pattern: Sites are typically located on low‑lying alluvial plains near rivers or estuaries, with evidence of raised‑platform houses built on wooden pilings to mitigate flooding.
- Economy: Archaeobotanical remains reveal the cultivation of rice (Oryza sativa) as a staple crop; millet, soybeans, and water‑melon have also been identified. Faunal assemblages include domesticated pigs, dogs, and waterfowl, alongside wild deer and fish, indicating mixed farming and hunting.
- Technology: The culture produced cord‑wrapped pottery with incised or impressed designs, as well as bone and jade tools such as spearheads, adzes, and small ornamental blades. Evidence of early weaving and basketry has been inferred from preserved plant fibers.
- Water management: Excavations have uncovered dugout canals, dykes, and drainage ditches, suggesting organized irrigation and flood control practices.
- Burial customs: Skeletal remains are often found in shallow pits or simple graves without elaborate grave goods, contrasting with the later Liangzhu culture’s ritual burial practices.
- Chronology: Radiocarbon dating places the primary phase of Hemudu between 7,000 and 6,000 years BP, with some peripheral sites extending into the early third millennium BCE.
Related Topics
- Majiabang culture – a preceding Neolithic culture in the same region.
- Liangzhu culture – a contemporaneous culture in the Yangtze Delta known for jade cong and elaborate burial sites.
- Yangtze River Delta – the broader geographic area encompassing Hemudu settlements.
- Rice domestication in China – the process of cultivating Oryza sativa that the Hemudu culture exemplifies.
- Neolithic China – the period of early agriculture, settled life, and technological innovation across the Chinese subcontinent.
- Archaeological methods in wet‑site excavation – techniques employed to recover organic materials preserved in waterlogged conditions, crucial for Hemudu research.