Home/Sites/Yaoshan Site
Overview

As an important part of the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, Yaoshan Site is a ruin that is with older history, consisting of an altar and a group of high-grade cemeteries which are superimposed.

Yaoshan Site

Yaoshan Site
Located 5km to the northeast of the City Site, the Yaoshan Site is built on a natural hill about 35m above sea level, and stands about 35m above the surrounding farmland. The plane at the mountain top has an irregular shape. The site covers an area of about 4.3 hectares. At present, archaeological findings show that the cemeteries spread over an area of about 300m2. According to archaeological research, the site was built around 3300 B.C., which is the early period of Liangzhu Culture.

Yaoshan Site

The Yaoshan Site is characterized by an integrated structure of an altar and cemeteries, and the altar was built before the cemeteries. On the south, west and north sides of the altar, a number of stone levees formed by stacks of gravel were found, which were used as protection facilities for slope protection and soil consolidation during the construction and use of the altar. The top of the altar is square, facing north and south. From inside to outside, there are three structures: red soil platform, lime soil surrounding ditch and gravel surface. Among them, the lime soil surrounding ditch is filled with lime soil to form a color that is different from that of the inner and outer surfaces. Because of its regular shape, peculiar structure and large size, and its combination with the high-grade cemeteries in Liangzhu, where jade articles are the main burial objects, this site is considered an altar for holding major sacrificial activities.

Aerial View of Yaoshan Site