Prehistoric Hong Kong
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Prehistoric Hong Kong is the period between the arrival of the first humans in the modern Hong Kong region and the start of recorded in Chinese history. The history of the region is reckoned to begin in 214 BC with Qin Shi Huang defeating the Baiyue tribes and creating the Jiaozhou province. The prehistorical period can be divided into Stone Age and Bronze Age. Archaeology evidence suggests the earliest human settlement was in the Chek Lap Kok area dating back to 33,000 - 37,000 BC.[1]
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[edit] Stone Age
[edit] Palaeolithic
Evidence of an Upper Paleolithic settlement in Hong Kong was found at Wong Tei Tung in Sham Chung beside the Three Fathoms Cove in Sai Kung Peninsula. There were 6000 artifacts found in a slope in the area and jointly confirmed by the Hong Kong Archaeological Society and Centre for Lingnan Archaeology of Zhongshan University.[2] It is believed that the Three Fathom Cove was a river valley during that period and ancient people collected stone tools from the lithic manufacturing site in Wong Tei Tung to the settlement in near Tolo Harbour and Mirs Bay.
[edit] Neolithic
Hong Kong is located on the coast of South China. Unlike northern China, the settlers in this area were the Che people (輋族). Excavated Neolithic artifacts suggest a difference from northern Chinese Stone-Age cultures, including the Longshan. Excavated sites in Hong Kong were largely located on the western shores of Hong Kong. This location was most likely chosen to avoid strong winds from the southeast and to collect food from the nearby shores. Settlement can be found in Cheung Chau, Lantau Island and Lamma Island.
Evidences of using fire were found from Chung Hom Kok on the Hong Kong Island. In late Neolithic, their settlement extends from shores to the hills nearby.
Stone circles were found in Fan Lau and other areas in Hong Kong. Its purpose is still unidentified but some suggests it is related to worship.
[edit] Bronze Age
The coming of the Warring States Period brought an influx of Yuet people from north into the area. They probably avoided the instabilities at the north and went south. Bronze fishing, combat and ritual tools were excavated on Lantau Island and Lamma Island. Ma Wan was the earliest settlement with direct evidents in Hong Kong. Another one is Lung Kwu Tan. Bronze tools were found on Lantau Island, Cheung Chau, Chek Lap Kok as well. Regular holes on ground were found in Ha Pak Nai. It is believed they are the foundation of grand houses of that period.
Yuet people were competing and assimilating with indigenous Che people. It is believed that there were wars between them. Qin Shi Huang of the Qin Dynasty sent large numbers of soldiers and Qin subjects to Guangdong and made the competition harder.
There are still no written documents or artefacts related to Qin rules and early Han Dynasty rules. The excavation of Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb of later Han dynasty effectively brings Hong Kong out of prehistory.
[edit] Rock Carvings
Eight rock carvings have been discovered and listed a declared monuments:
- Po Toi Island[3][4]
- Tung Lung Island[5]
- Kau Sai Chau[6]
- Cheung Chau[4][7]
- Shek Pik on Lantau Island[8]
- Wong Chuk Hang[9]
- Big Wave Bay on Hong Kong Island[4][10]
- Lung Ha Wan (龍蝦灣) in Sai Kung[11]
All are believed to date back to what was the Bronze Age[12] in northern China, approximately Shang Dynasty in China. The carvings are also believed to have been intended to pacify the bad weather.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "The Trial Excavation at the Archaeological Site of Wong Tei Tung, Sham Chung, Hong Kong SAR". Hong Kong Archaeological Society. January 2006. http://www.hkarch.org/en_news.html. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
- ^ 2005 Field Archaeology on Sham Chung Site
- ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carvings on Po Toi
- ^ a b c S.G. Davis, Shirlee Edelstein, Madeleine H. Tang, "Rock Carvings in Hong Kong and the New Territories", 26 September 1973
- ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carving on Tung Lung Chau
- ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carving on Kau Sai Chau
- ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carving on Cheung Chau
- ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carvings at Shek Pik
- ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carvings at Wong Chuk Hang
- ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carvings at Big Wave Bay
- ^ Antiquities and Monuments Office: Rock Carvings at Lung Ha Wan
- ^ Meacham, William (2008). The Archaeology of Hong Kong. Hong Kong University Press. pp. 123–129. ISBN 9789622099258.
[edit] External links
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