Prehistoric Hong Kong
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Prehistoric Hong Kong is the period between the arrival of the first humans in
]The prehistorical period can be divided into Stone Age and Bronze Age. Archaeology evidence suggests the earliest human settlement was in the Wong Tei Tung area dating back to 38,000 BC.[1]
Stone Age
Palaeolithic
Evidence of an
Neolithic
The Neolithic Era began approximately 7,000 years ago in Hong Kong. Excavations of Tung Wan Tsai North (Ma Wan) and Sha Tau Kok reveal evidence of pottery during this time, but it does not reveal if there was pottery before this time due to the lack of absolute dates. The Neolithic period in this area was divided into four different phases. Phase one was when the Neolithic era began around 7000 years ago. The second phase was around 6500–6000 BP when white and painted chalkware were present along with ground adzes and axes along with flaked points. The third phase began around 6000–5000 BP, identified by white chalkware with incisions and shouldered stone implements. The final phase was around 5000–3500 BP with the presence of pottery with geometric patterns, stepped adze, shouldered adze and more ground stone implements.[4]
Hong Kong is located on the coast of
Evidences of using fire were found from Chung Hom Kok on the Hong Kong Island. In late Neolithic, their settlement extends from shores to the hills nearby.
Bronze Age
The coming of the
The Yuet people were competing and assimilating with indigenous Che people. It is believed that there were wars between them. Qin Shi Huang of the Qin dynasty sent large numbers of soldiers and Qin subjects to Guangdong and made the competition harder. According to recent archaeological findings, there were possibly many significant differences between the Yue civilisation and the Qin-Han dynasties.[5] According to the historical records written during the Han dynasty, the Yue people (who originated in the Southern region of the current China along the Pearl River) were mainly barbarians with little or no civilisation. However, there is archaeological evidence suggesting that the Yue civilisation was sophisticated and advanced.[6]
There are still no written documents or artefacts related to Qin rules and early
Rock Carvings
Nine rock carvings have been discovered and are listed as declared monuments:
- Big Wave Bay on Hong Kong Island[7][8]
- Cape Collinson on Hong Kong Island. Discovered in October 2018.[9]
- Cheung Chau[7][10]
- Kau Sai Chau[11]
- Lung Ha Wan in Sai Kung District[12]
- Po Toi Island[13][7]
- Shek Pik on Lantau Island[14]
- Tung Lung Island[15]
- Wong Chuk Hang[16]
All are believed to date back to what was the Bronze Age[17] in northern China, approximately Shang dynasty in China. The carvings are also believed to have been intended to pacify the bad weather.
Prehistoric sites
Besides the stones circles and the rock carvings, several prehistoric sites have been studied in Hong Kong. They include:
- Ma Wan – Prehistoric remains have been found from the Mid-Neolithic Age (about 3000 BC), the late Neolithic Age (about 2000 BC), the early to late Bronze Age of coastal South China (1500–500 BC).[18]
- Wong Tei Tung, on the Sai Kung Peninsula[19]
- Other excavations of the Hong Kong Archaeological Society
See also
References
- ^ Wu, Weihong; Wang, Hong; Tan, Huizhong; Zhang, Zhenhong (2004). "2004 Trial Excavation at Wong Tei Tung Spot, Sham Chung, Archaeological Site, Hong Kong SAR" (PDF). Hong Kong Archaeological Society. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- ^ 2005 Field Archaeology on Sham Chung Site Archived 3 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- doi:10.11141/ia.26.8. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ Lu, Tracey. "The Origin and Development of Neolithic Cultures in Hong Kong" (PDF). Department of Anthropology, CUHK. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ISBN 978-9622099258.
- OCLC 1500813.
- ^ a b c S.G. Davis, Shirlee Edelstein, Madeleine H. Tang, "Rock Carvings in Hong Kong and the New Territories", 26 September 1973
- ^ "Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carvings at Big Wave Bay". Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ Rock Carving at Cape Collinson
- ^ "Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carving on Cheung Chau". Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ "Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carving on Kau Sai Chau". Archived from the original on 5 May 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ "Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carvings at Lung Ha Wan". Archived from the original on 13 August 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carvings on Po Toi
- ^ "Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carvings at Shek Pik". Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carving on Tung Lung Chau
- ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carvings at Wong Chuk Hang
- ISBN 978-962-209-925-8.
- ISSN 2041-9015.
- ^ Report on the Date of the Wong Tei Tung Archaeological Assemblage, Tracey L-D Lu, Dept. of Anthropology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 30 April 2007
External links
- Hong Kong Archaeological Society
- List of Sites of Archaeological Interest in Hong Kong (as at Nov 2012)
- Geographical Information System on Hong Kong Heritage
- Preservation of Nine Rock Carvings in Hong Kong. January 10, 2010
- Declared Rock Carvings and Rock Inscription in Hong Kong
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