An archaeological site in Taitung County, Taiwan, dating back 2,500 years, has uncovered over 2,000 slate coffins, pottery, and stone artifacts, shedding light on a thriving neolithic culture in eastern Taiwan. Now preserved as the Peinan Site Park, it is the country's largest archaeological park and a critical link to understanding ancient cultural networks in global archaeology.
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00:00From a railway dig to one of the most important discoveries in Asia,
00:07thousands of prehistorical slate coffins along with pottery and stone artifacts
00:13were uncovered in Taitung County, southeastern Taiwan in 1980.
00:19The site now features the largest archaeological park in the country,
00:25where people can come to learn about the Neolithic community they once called this place home.
00:42Spread over 100 hectares, the Beinan Site Park is not only Taiwan's largest prehistorical human settlement,
00:50its significance stretches across borders.
00:54It's a critical link to understanding the Asian cultural network in global archaeology.
01:00Decades of preservation efforts have led to the establishment of a 30-hectare archaeological park,
01:08ensuring relics are safeguarded for generations to come.
01:21The artifacts unearthed from the site are considered invaluable cultural treasures of the country,
01:27offering a glimpse into the daily lives of its earliest people.
01:32One standout discovery is this bark cloth beater, a tool used to transform bark into clothing.
01:50Knock, knock, knock, knock.
01:54Oh, look, after you've knocked on every side, you can pull the whole thing out.
02:03The site also yielded stunning jade artifacts,
02:07including the iconic human-animal-shaped ornaments now designated as national treasures,
02:14and displayed at Taiwan's National Museum Prehistory.
02:20The museum and the park serve not only as windows to the past,
02:25but as a showcase celebrating Taiwan's rich prehistoric heritage,
02:30connecting the modern world to a culture that thrived here thousands of years ago.
02:36Chris Ma and Billy Wu for Taiwan Plus.