湖北清江香炉石遗址的发掘

Excavation of the Xianglushi site at Qingjiang in Hubei

湖北清江隔河岩考古队1987年春至1989年发掘的香炉石遗址,出土先商、商、周时期的遗物近万件,尤以第4～6层的卜骨最为珍贵。这些卜骨大多以鱼的腮骨为原料,凿孔呈椭圆形或长方形,经烧灼,有的有兆纹,第4层出土的两枚陶“印章”也很有特色。发掘者认为,以此遗址为代表的文化遗存可定名为“香炉石文化”。

In 1987—1989,the archaeologists of the Hubei province excavated the Xianglushi site at Qingjiang, digging 22 testing squares,opening up a total area of 399 sq m and bringing to light nearly, ten thousand pieces of funeral objects ranging chronologically from pre-Shang to Zhou The cultural deposits are consisted of seven layers,with the 6th,5th and 4th layers being most remarkable for their oracle bronzes. These bones are chiefly processed with fish cheeks and bear oval or rectangular perforations. Some of them show marks of scorching, and some oracular cracles. Mention should also be made of the two pottery seals from the forth layer.Judging by the finds, fishing and hunting were a big portion of the then economy here. It is suggested that the remains represented by this site be labeled 'the Xianglushi culture'.