Doushan Ruins in Wuxi. [Photo/Wuxi Daily]

Doushan Ruins in Wuxi, Jiangsu, are considered one of China's earliest prehistoric city sites, according to Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.

Dating back around 6,000 years to the Majiabang Culture, this is the first discovery of its kind in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

"The dating of the Doushan city site is very accurate, with pottery shards found in the moat all belonging to the Majiabang Culture period," said Zhou Runken, deputy director of the Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. Carbon-14 dating of charcoal and plant seeds from the early moat confirms an age of about 6,000 years.

Situated on the west side of Doushan village in Xishan district, Wuxi, the Doushan Ruins are located about 30 kilometers north of the Yangtze River and 25 km south of Taihu Lake, spanning approximately 250,000 square meters. The site primarily contains remnants from the Majiabang and Songze cultures, marking a large, dense prehistoric settlement.

The pottery unearthed from the moat is predominantly sand-tempered red pottery, featuring cauldrons, tripods, and dou vessels—typical of the Majiabang Culture. Additionally, archaeologists have uncovered significant relics from the Songze Culture period, including high-status tombs.

During a recent symposium in Wuxi, specialists agreed that the Majiabang Culture city site at Doushan is the earliest in the lower Yangtze River region and among China's earliest. It has significant academic value for researching Chinese civilization's origins.