Ancient Yangtze Delta Ruins Reveal Early Urbanization Insights

Chinese archaeologists have unearthed the ancient ruins of the earliest known settlement in the Yangtze River Delta, dating back approximately 6,000 years. This discovery was made at the Doushan site in Wuxi, located in Jiangsu province, during large-scale excavations that began in July 2022.

Previously, the oldest urban site in the delta was the Liangzhu culture site near Hangzhou, which dates back about 5,300 years. More than two dozen experts convened at the Doushan site recently to evaluate the ongoing excavation progress and examine the extensive network of city walls and moats.

The Xishan district government reported that these structures are likely not defensive but rather part of a water management system. This suggests that the origin of cities in the Yangtze River basin may have been driven by the need to manage water resources effectively for the benefit of the population.

The Doushan site was initially discovered during a survey for a highway construction project in 2023, in compliance with Chinese legal requirements for archaeological surveys prior to major construction.

The site spans nearly 25 hectares, approximately 61 acres, and is being excavated by a joint team from various provincial and national institutions.