Chengtoushan

Chengtoushan (Chinese城 头 山, Pinyin Chengtoushan ) is a Neolithic archaeological site of the Daxi culture in Li County of Hunan Province.

It is regarded as currently the oldest fortified complex in China. The wall was first built around 4000 BC, destroyed by constant struggle it was rebuilt four times until 2800 BC the settlement was abandoned. The large, fixed, made ​​of rammed earth wall is 26.8 meters wide at the base and is still high five to six meters. Outside the wall is a 35-50 meter wide moat. The wall spans about 80,000 square meters.

In the east wall there was a 100 -square-meter paddy field, dated to the time of Tangjiagang culture ( 4500-4300 BC). This is one of the earliest known rice fields in the world.

Furthermore, the settlement consisted of a Qujialing residential area and several large cemeteries of the Daxi culture. A large, the Daxi culture associated platform ( 250 m²), apparently served as an altar. Here more than 40 animal victims and some human sacrifices were found.

The Chengtoushan - site ( Chengtoushan Yizhi城 头 山 遗址) is since 1996 on the list of monuments of the People's Republic of China (4-17 ).