New Archaeological Findings in Henan Reveal the History of Past 500 Years

New Archaeological Findings in Henan Reveal the History of Past 500 Years

一处剖面 直观展现500余年朝代更替

 

News from the administration of the ruins of the ancient city of Han (202 BC-220 AD) and Wei (220-265) dynasties in Luoyang on September 15 -- Recently, the site of the Ximingmen (Ximing Gate) Neidajie (Neidajie Street) was first discovered by archaeologists at the ruins of the ancient city of Han (202 BC-220 AD) and Wei (220-265) dynasties in Luoyang, which not only uncovered an east-west main road within the city at that time, but also revealed the history of dynasty alternations over the past 500 years.

9月15日，记者从河南省洛阳市汉魏故城遗址管理处获悉，日前，考古人员首次发掘内城西明门内大街遗址，不仅让汉魏洛阳故城的一条东西向主干道得以再现，还直观展现了500余年的朝代更替。

The ruins of the ancient city of Han (202 BC-220 AD) and Wei (220-265) dynasties in Luoyang. [Photo provided to Henan Daily]

As the ruins of the ancient city of Han (202 BC-220 AD) and Wei (220-265) dynasties with the most dynasties and the longest history in China, it was composed of three parts, namely imperial city, inner city and outer city. Measuring 34 meters in width and 2.5 kilometers in length, the Ximingmen (Ximing Gate) Neidajie (Neidajie Street) was an east-west road at the southernmost part of the inner city, connecting the inner city’s Ximingmen (Ximing Gate) in the west and the Qingyangmen (Qingyang Gate) in the east. Today, it is located at the west Longhutan Village of Shouyangshan Street, Yanshi City.

汉魏洛阳故城遗址是中国历经朝代最多、使用时间最长的都城遗址，由宫城、内城、外郭城三个城圈组成。西明门内大街是内城最南侧的一条东西向道路，宽约34米、长约2.5公里，连接着内城西城墙的西明门和东城墙的清阳门。如今的位置处于偃师市首阳山街道龙虎滩村村西。

 

5 excavation sites were selected by the archaeologists in their preliminary explorations, and the means of “linking points to lines” was carried out in the process of exploration.

据了解，考古人员经过前期勘探选取了5个解剖发掘点，通过“以点连线”的方式开展研究。

 

At the excavation sites, the reporter found different soil layers of various phases on the road sections. At one of the excavation sites, some obvious ruts of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) on the surface of a road were found.

记者在这些解剖发掘点看到，道路剖面呈现多期路土叠压痕迹。在其中一处解剖发掘点，北魏时期的路土表面有明显的车辙痕迹。

 

“More than 500 years of the capital city’s history are reflected on the road sections.” According to Guo Xiaotao, an associate research fellow of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' excavation team for the ruins of the ancient city of Han (202 BC-220 AD) and Wei (220-265) dynasties in Luoyang, judging from the broken potteries found in the road sections, it has been confirmed that the various phases ranged from Han (202 BC-220 AD) to Wei (220-265) dynasties, which is consistent with the historical records that Luoyang was the capital of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), the Wei Dynasty (220-265), the Western Jin Dynasty (266-316) and the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534).

“500多年的都城史被浓缩在了剖面上。”中国社会科学院考古研究所洛阳汉魏城工作队副研究员郭晓涛介绍，通过分析路土中夹带的陶片，已经确定这多期路土上至汉代、下至北魏，与历史文献中汉魏洛阳故城主要作为东汉、曹魏、西晋、北魏四朝都城的记载相吻合。

 

At the bottom of an excavation site, the archaeologists also discovered some brick structures for water supply and drainage. Guo Xiaotao remarked that there were more potentials for the further studies on the historical properties, structure functions, etc.

在一处解剖发掘点的最下方，考古人员还发现了砖结构的给排水设施。郭晓涛表示，其历史属性、结构功能等信息还有待进一步研究。

 

According to Lyu Jinsong, head of the administration of the ruins of the ancient city of Han (202 BC-220 AD) and Wei (220-265) dynasties in Luoyang, the findings of the Ximingmen (Ximing Gate) Neidajie (Neidajie Street) will be included into the protection and exhibition project of the ruins of the ancient city of Han (202 BC-220 AD) and Wei (220-265) dynasties in Luoyang. In the future, the road pattern will be reproduced simulatedly, and part of the original excavation sites will meet the public.

洛阳市汉魏故城遗址管理处处长吕劲松介绍：“西明门内大街的发掘成果将被纳入汉魏洛阳故城遗址保护展示工程。未来，这条道路的格局将被模拟重现，部分发掘现场将原址展示。”（中文来源/河南日报 翻译/赵汉青 审校/焦丹）