Banpo
半坡 | |
Reconstructed diorama of a village at Banpo | |
| Location | Shaanxi, China |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°16′23″N 109°03′04″E / 34.273°N 109.051°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 4700 BC |
| Abandoned | c. 3600 BC |
| Periods | Neolithic China |
| Cultures | Yangshao culture |
| Site notes | |
| Discovered | 1953 by Shi Xingbang |
Banpo is a Neolithic archaeological site located in the Yellow River valley, east of present-day Xi'an, China. Discovered in 1953 by Shi Xingbang, the site represents the first phase of the Yangshao culture (c. 5000 – c. 3000 BCE) and features the remains of several well organized settlements—including Jiangzhai, which has been radiocarbon dated to c. 4700 – c. 3600 BCE). An area of 5 to 6 hectares (12 to 15 acres) was surrounded by a ditch, probably a defensive moat 5 to 6 meters (16 to 20 ft) wide. The houses at Banpo were circular, built of mud and wood on low foundations, with overhanging thatched roofs. There also appear to have been communal burials.