Jiahu

Jiahu (贾湖pinyin: Jiǎhú ) was a Neolithic settlement on the Yellow River in the central plains of ancient China, today Wuyang, Henan Province. Archaeologists, the archaeological site is one of the earliest examples of the Peiligang culture. Settled it was 7000-5800 BC, after which it was abandoned and flooded later. Jiahu was surrounded by a moat and covered an area of ​​55000 square meters. She was discovered by Zhu Zhi in 1962, excavations found until much later instead. The majority of the archaeological site has not yet been excavated.

Archaeologists have divided Jiahu into three phases. The oldest phase ranges 7000-6600 BC, the middle phase 6600-6200 BC and the last phase 6200-5800 BC The last two phases are Peiligang culture, during the earliest phase unique in Jiahu.

The inhabitants of Jiahu cultivated foxtail millet and rice. While the millet cultivation was common, the rice cultivation in Jiahu is unique. This rice cultivation is one of the earliest discovered and the northernmost at such an early stage in history.

More than 300 graves with grave goods, were excavated. These offerings range from ceramics to turtles and clams. One of the most important were playable tonal flutes. They were made by wing bones of Mandschurenkranichs. The oldest phase at Jiahu only contains two flutes, a three-note and a pentatonic. The middle phase contains several flutes, including an interesting pair hexatonischer flutes. One of the flutes was broken, and the other flute seems to be a replica of the first one. The second phase is evidence of refinements to adjust the pitch. An invention of the last phase were the heptatonic flutes.

In Jiahu some of the oldest pottery were found in the Neolithic China. Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania presented using the chemical analysis in the vessels, evidence of alcohol from fermented rice, honey and hawthorn, firmly.

In Jiahu, archaeologists identified eleven signs of the Jiahu script, nine on tortoise shells and two on bone, the evidence for early writing or preform are. Belonging to the medium phases. Some of the markings are very similar to the later Chinese characters: the character for eye (目) and sun (日).

The Jiahu - site ( Jiahu Yizhi贾湖 遗址) in Wuyang is on the list of monuments of the People's Republic of China ( 5-65 ) since 2001.