Xianren Cave: Difference between revisions

Xianren Cave
	Location in China
Location	Jiangxi
Region	Southern China
Coordinates	29°33′56″N 115°57′31″E / 29.56556°N 115.95861°E
History
Material	Limestone Karst
Founded	20,000 BP
Abandoned	17,800 BP
Periods	Paleolithic China

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The Xianren Cave (Chinese: 仙人洞, Xiānréndòng), together with the nearby Diaotonghuan (Chinese: 吊桶环, Diàotǒnghuán) rock shelter, is an archaeological site in Dayuan Township (大源乡), Wannian County in the Jiangxi province, China^[1] and a location of historically important discoveries of prehistoric pottery shards that bears evidence of early rice cultivation. The cave's name refers to the legendary Chinese enlightened people, the Xian "immortals". The cave is 7 m (23.0 ft) high, 11 m (36.1 ft) wide, and 14 m (45.9 ft) deep.

A 2012 publication in the Science journal announced that the earliest pottery yet known anywhere in the world was found at this site dating by radiocarbon to between 20,000 and 19,000 years before present, at the end of the Last Glacial Period.^[2]^[3] The carbon 14 datation was established by carefully dating surrounding sediments.^[3] Many of the pottery fragments had scorch marks, suggesting that the pottery was used for cooking.^[3]

These early pottery containers were made well before the invention of agriculture (dated to 10,000 to 8,000 BC), by mobile foragers who hunted and gathered their food during the Late Glacial Maximum.^[3]

Inside the cave
20,000–10,000-year-old pottery found in the cave, with re-construction repairs.^[4]
Xianrendong cave pottery fragment, radiocarbon dated to c. 20,000 BP^[3]

References

^ "The unusual Xianren Cave (奇特的仙人洞)" (in Chinese). 31 August 2008. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
^ Stanglin, Douglas (2012-06-29). "Pottery found in China cave confirmed as world's oldest". USA Today.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Wu, X; Zhang, C; Goldberg, P; Cohen, D; Pan, Y; Arpin, T; Bar-Yosef, O (June 29, 2012). "Early Pottery at 20,000 Years Ago in Xianrendong Cave, China". Science. 336 (6089): 1696–1700. Bibcode:2012Sci...336.1696W. doi:10.1126/science.1218643. PMID 22745428. S2CID 37666548.
^ Huan, Anthony (13 April 2019). "Ancient China: Neolithic". National Museum of China.

This Jiangxi location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "The unusual Xianren Cave (奇特的仙人洞)" (in Chinese). 31 August 2008. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2011.

[2] Stanglin, Douglas (2012-06-29). "Pottery found in China cave confirmed as world's oldest". USA Today.

[Science-3] Wu, X; Zhang, C; Goldberg, P; Cohen, D; Pan, Y; Arpin, T; Bar-Yosef, O (June 29, 2012). "Early Pottery at 20,000 Years Ago in Xianrendong Cave, China". Science. 336 (6089): 1696–1700. Bibcode:2012Sci...336.1696W. doi:10.1126/science.1218643. PMID 22745428. S2CID 37666548.

[4] Huan, Anthony (13 April 2019). "Ancient China: Neolithic". National Museum of China.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|Cave and archaeological site in China}}
+{{Distinguish|Fairy Cave (Jiujiang)}}
 {{infobox ancient site
 |name        = Xianren Cave
@@ Line 10: / Line 11: @@
 | map_size = 240
 | relief         = 1
-| coordinates    = {{coord|29|33|56|N|115|57|31|E|source:kolossus-zhwiki|display=title}}
 | location       = [[Jiangxi]]
-| region         = southern China
+| region         = Southern China
+| coordinates    =   {{coord|29|33|56|N|115|57|31|E|region:FR-75|display=inline,title}}
 | type           =
 | part_of        =
@@ Line 21: / Line 22: @@
 | builder =
 | material = [[Limestone]] [[Karst]]
-| built          = [[18,000 BCE|18,000 BP]]
+| built          = [[18,000 BCE|20,000 BP]]
 | abandoned      = 17,800 BP
 | epochs         = [[Paleolithic China]]
 | cultures       =
 }}
-The '''Xianren Cave''' ({{zh|s=仙人洞}}, ''Xiānréndòng''), together with the nearby '''Diaotonghuan''' ({{zh|s=吊桶环}}, ''Diàotǒnghuán'') [[rock shelter]], is an archaeological site in Dayuan Township (大源乡), [[Wannian County]] in the Jiangxi province, China<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-08/31/content_9745287.htm|title=The unusual Xianren Cave (奇特的仙人洞)|language=Chinese|date=31 August 2008|accessdate=February 26, 2011}}</ref> and a location of historically important discoveries of prehistoric [[pottery]] shards and it bears evidence of early [[rice]] cultivation. The cave's name refers to the legendary Chinese enlightened people, the [[Xian (Daoist)|Xian]] "immortals". The cave is {{Convert|7|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} high, {{cvt|11|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} wide, and {{cvt|14|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} deep.
+The '''Xianren Cave''' ({{zh|s=仙人洞}}, ''Xiānréndòng''), together with the nearby '''Diaotonghuan''' ({{zh|s=吊桶环}}, ''Diàotǒnghuán'') [[rock shelter]], is an archaeological site in Dayuan Township ({{lang|zh-Hans|大源乡}}), [[Wannian County]] in the Jiangxi province, China<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-08/31/content_9745287.htm|title=The unusual Xianren Cave (奇特的仙人洞)|language=zh|date=31 August 2008|access-date=February 26, 2011|archive-date=12 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312200112/http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-08/31/content_9745287.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> and a location of historically important discoveries of prehistoric [[pottery]] shards that bears evidence of early [[rice]] cultivation. The cave's name refers to the legendary Chinese enlightened people, the [[Xian (Daoist)|Xian]] "immortals". The cave is {{Convert|7|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} high, {{cvt|11|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} wide, and {{cvt|14|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} deep.
-A 2012 publication in the ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]'' journal, announced that the earliest pottery yet known anywhere in the world was found at this site dating by radiocarbon to between 20,000 and 19,000 years before present, at the end of the [[Last Glacial Period]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/06/pottery-found-in-from-china-cave-confirmed-as-worlds-oldest/1#.UDiyGtZlRv0|title=Pottery found in China cave confirmed as world's oldest|author=Stanglin, Douglas|publisher=''[[USA Today]]''|date=2012-06-29}}</ref><ref name=Xianrendong>{{cite journal|title=Early Pottery at 20,000 Years Ago in Xianrendong Cave, China|journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]]|date=June 29, 2012|volume=336|issue=6089|pages=1696–1700|doi=10.1126/science.1218643|url=http://www.sciencemag.org/content/336/6089/1696|accessdate=June 29, 2012|bibcode = 2012Sci...336.1696W|pmid=22745428|author1=Wu|first1=X|last2=Zhang|first2=C|last3=Goldberg|first3=P|last4=Cohen|first4=D|last5=Pan|first5=Y|last6=Arpin|first6=T|last7=Bar-Yosef|first7=O}}</ref> The carbon 14 datation was established by carefully dating surrounding sediments.<ref name=Xianrendong/><ref name="Science">{{cite journal |last1=Bar-Yosef |first1=Ofer |last2=Arpin |first2=Trina |last3=Pan |first3=Yan |last4=Cohen |first4=David |last5=Goldberg |first5=Paul |last6=Zhang |first6=Chi |last7=Wu |first7=Xiaohong |title=Early Pottery at 20,000 Years Ago in Xianrendong Cave, China |journal=Science |date=29 June 2012 |volume=336 |issue=6089 |pages=1696–1700 |doi=10.1126/science.1218643 |url=https://science.sciencemag.org/content/336/6089/1696 |language=en |issn=0036-8075}}</ref> Many of the pottery fragments had scorch marks, suggesting that the pottery was used for cooking.<ref name="Science"/>
+A 2012 publication in the ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]'' journal announced that the earliest pottery yet known anywhere in the world was found at this site dating by radiocarbon to between 20,000 and 19,000 years [[Before Present|before present]], at the end of the [[Last Glacial Period]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/06/pottery-found-in-from-china-cave-confirmed-as-worlds-oldest/1#.UDiyGtZlRv0|title=Pottery found in China cave confirmed as world's oldest|author=Stanglin, Douglas|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=2012-06-29}}</ref><ref name="Science">{{cite journal|title=Early Pottery at 20,000 Years Ago in Xianrendong Cave, China|journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]]|date=June 29, 2012|volume=336|issue=6089|pages=1696–1700|doi=10.1126/science.1218643|bibcode = 2012Sci...336.1696W|pmid=22745428|last1=Wu|first1=X|last2=Zhang|first2=C|last3=Goldberg|first3=P|last4=Cohen|first4=D|last5=Pan|first5=Y|last6=Arpin|first6=T|last7=Bar-Yosef|first7=O|s2cid=37666548 }}</ref> The carbon 14 datation was established by carefully dating surrounding sediments.<ref name="Science"/> Many of the pottery fragments had scorch marks, suggesting that the pottery was used for cooking.<ref name="Science"/>
-These early pottery containers were made well before the [[invention of agriculture]], by mobile foragers who hunted and gathered their food during the Late Glacial Maximum.<ref name="Science"/>
+These early pottery containers were made well before the [[invention of agriculture]] (dated to 10,000 to 8,000 BC), by mobile foragers who hunted and gathered their food during the Late Glacial Maximum.<ref name="Science"/>
 <gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="4">
-File:Wannian Xianrendong yizhi 8805.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Inside the cave.
+File:Wannian Xianrendong yizhi 8805.jpg|Inside the cave
-File:National Museum of China 2014.02.01 14-43-38.jpg|thumb|left|200px|20,000-10,000 year old pottery with re-construction repairs found in the cave.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Huan |first1=Anthony |title=Ancient China: Neolithic |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonyhuan/32661009357/in/album-72157706522993001/ |website=National Museum of China |date=13 April 2019}}</ref>
+File:National Museum of China 2014.02.01 14-43-38.jpg|20,000–10,000-year-old pottery found in the cave, with re-construction repairs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Huan|first1=Anthony|title=Ancient China: Neolithic|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonyhuan/32661009357/in/album-72157706522993001/|website=National Museum of China|date=13 April 2019}}</ref>
+File:Xianrendong Cave Pottery - 2.jpg|Xianrendong cave pottery fragment, radiocarbon dated to {{c.|20,000 BP}}<ref name="Science"/>
-File:Xianrendong Cave Pottery - 2.jpg|Xianrendong cave pottery fragment, radiocarbon dated to circa 20,000 BP<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bar-Yosef |first1=Ofer |last2=Arpin |first2=Trina |last3=Pan |first3=Yan |last4=Cohen |first4=David |last5=Goldberg |first5=Paul |last6=Zhang |first6=Chi |last7=Wu |first7=Xiaohong |title=Early Pottery at 20,000 Years Ago in Xianrendong Cave, China |journal=Science |date=29 June 2012 |volume=336 |issue=6089 |pages=1696–1700 |doi=10.1126/science.1218643 |url=https://science.sciencemag.org/content/336/6089/1696 |language=en |issn=0036-8075}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Marshall |first1=Michael |title=Oldest pottery hints at cooking's ice-age origins |journal=www.newscientist.com |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21985-oldest-pottery-hints-at-cookings-ice-age-origins/}}</ref>
 </gallery>
 == See also ==
+{{Continental Asia in 20000 BP|right|{{center|Location of the Xianren culture}}|{{location map~ |Continental Asia |lat=30|N |long=115|E |label=|position=|label_size=|mark=Orange dot (semi-transparent).png|marksize=18}}}}
 * [[List of caves in China]]
+* [[List of Neolithic cultures of China]]
 ==References==
 {{reflist|2}}
+{{commons category|Xianrendong & Diaotonghuan Site}}
 {{Caves of China}}
@@ Line 52: / Line 57: @@
 [[Category:Archaeological sites in China]]
 [[Category:Shangrao]]
+[[Category:Paleolithic sites in China]]
 {{Jiangxi-geo-stub}}

v t e Notable caves of China
East	Binghu Cave Hualong Cave Shuanglong Cave Taiji Cave Xianren Cave Yilong Cave
South Central	Fuyan Cave Huanglong Cave Jiangzhou Cave System Reed Flute Cave Seven-star Cave Tenglong Cave
Southwestern	Er Wang Dong Furong Cave Shuang River Cave Group Shuanghedong Xueyu Cave Zhijin Cave Zhong Cave
Southeast	Luobi Cave Macaque Cave
North	Tianyuan Cave Zhoukoudian
Northeast	Benxi Water Caves
Northwestern	Ah-ai Grotto Kizil Caves Kizilgaha caves Kumtura Caves Simsim caves Bezeklik Caves Maijishan Grottoes Dunhuang Caves (Mogao Caves, Western Thousand Buddha Caves, Eastern Thousand Buddha Caves, Yulin Caves, Five Temple Caves)
Caves of China

v t e Prehistoric Asia
Paleolithic	Dmanisi hominins Japanese Paleolithic Java Man List of Paleolithic sites in China Natufian culture Paleolithic Mesopotamia Peking Man Riwat Sangiran Soanian Solo Man South Asian Stone Age Ubeidiya Xiaochangliang
Neolithic	Fertile Crescent Early Neolithic settlements Khiamian culture Trialetian culture Nemrikian culture Zarzian culture Neolithic China Neolithic Tibet Neolithic Korea Neolithic Revolution Neolithic South Asia Ohalo Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (Mesopotamia) Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (Mesopotamia)
Chalcolithic	Daimabad Halaf culture Uruk period
Bronze Age	Andronovo culture Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex Bronze Age Anatolia Bronze Age Caucasus Bronze Age China Bronze Age India Bronze Age Korea Bronze Age Levant List of Bronze Age sites in China Seima-Turbino phenomenon
Archaeological periods Time periods