"We should attach more importance to and put more efforts on archaeological research to carry forward the project of tracing the origins of Chinese civilization," stressed Chinese President Xi Jinping during his recent inspection tour to Anyang city, Henan province. Henan, cradle of the Chinese nation and civilization, is not only the birthplace of modern Chinese archaeology, but also the core area for tracing the origins of Chinese civilization. Together with the Development and Reform Commission of Henan Province and the Administration of Cultural Heritage of Henan Province, we are launching the "Towards Civilization" bilingual series featuring 13 key archaeological sites in Henan to help you catch a glimpse of wonderful Henan and brilliant Chinese civilization. Here is the 4th episode of the series: Ancient "Heluo Kingdom" in Gongyi, Henan.
近日，习近平总书记考察了殷墟遗址，提出考古工作要继续重视和加强，继续深化中华文明探源工程。河南是中华民族和中华文明的重要发祥地，中国现代考古学从河南起步，中华文明探源从河南开始。11月5日起，大河网联合省发展改革委、省文物局推出《追寻文明的足迹》系列报道，一起走进厚重河南。今日推出第四期：《“河洛古国”——双槐树遗址》。
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Located in Shuanghuaishu village of Gongyi city, Central China's Henan province, the Shuanghuaishu site is 2 kilometers south of the Yellow River and 4 kilometers east of the Yiluo River. In 2021, it was listed among both China's top 10 new archaeological discoveries of 2020 and top100 archaeological discoveries of the past century.
双槐树遗址位于河南省巩义市伊洛河与黄河交汇处南岸双槐树村南台地上。距黄河南岸2公里，伊洛河东4公里，被评为“2020年度全国十大考古发现”之一，入选“百年百大考古发现”名单。
Red star shows the location of the Shuanghuaishu site. [Photo provided to dahe.cn]
The remaining area of the Shuanghuaishu site is about 1.17 million square meters, over 4,000 square meters of which have been excavated so far, with 3 large ring moats, a large central residential area defended by both the inner ring moat to its north and the defensive walls with external accesses to its south, 4 public cemeteries, 3 rammed-earth altars, and 3 rammed-earth foundations for building courtyards discovered. Besides, a large number of painted pottery wares of the Yangshao Culture period (around 5,000-2,700 BC) and cultural relics relevant to Chinese silk history have also been unearthed.
经过多年的考古调查勘探及发掘，确认遗址现存面积约117万平方米，重点发掘4000余平方米。重要发现：仰韶文化时期大型环壕3条，内壕与带有瓮城结构门道的围墙合围大型中心居址区1处，墓地4处，夯土祭坛3处，夯土院落基址3处，还出土了一大批仰韶文化时期彩陶以及与丝绸起源相关的文物。
The Shuanghuaishu site dating back to around 5,300 years is the highest-standard settlement with the nature of a capital city during the mid-to-late Yangshao Culture period discovered so far in the Yellow River basin, providing key proof of the Chinese civilization origin. The site was proposed by archaeologists to be named "Heluo Kingdom" after its location in the center area of Heluo region, where the Yellow River (known as He in ancient China) and the Luohe River meet.
双槐树遗址是距今5300年前后经过精心选址的都邑性聚落遗址，是迄今为止在黄河流域发现的仰韶文化中晚期规模最大的核心聚落，填补了中华文明起源关键时期、关键地区的关键材料，因其位于河洛中心区域，被专家命名为“河洛古国”。
Boar tusk carving of a silkworm. [Photo provided to dahe.cn]
A large number of crop remains and a boar tusk carving of a silkworm unearthed at the Shuanghuaishu site, together with the crop and silk remains of the same period discovered at the surrounding sites of Qingtai and Wanggou in Xingyang city, Henan province, have proved that a relatively high-level civilization of farming and sericulture has been formed in the Central Plains more than 5,300 years ago.
双槐树遗址浮选出大量的农作物和正在吐丝的牙雕蚕，连同青台、汪沟发现的农业和丝绸实物遗存，实证了5300多年前的中原地区已经形成了较为完备的农桑文明。（编译/赵汉青 播音/杨佳欣 视频/何蒙贺 审校/丁岚）
