Banpo Neolithic Village Xi'an - 2008

5. Neolithic Village

The archaeological site of Banpo is a Neolithic village and cemetery on the Wei River in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China. Banpo belongs to the early Yangshao culture, and was occupied between about 4800-4000 BC. The site was excavated in the 1950s by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and was the first large-scale excavation of the People's Republic of China; nearly 10,000 square meters were excavated. The site has two phases, the earliest (Banpo phase) dates between 4800-4300 BC. Forty-six houses have been excavated at Banpo, most of which are circular, semi-subterranean or ground level structures.