An Extraordinary Discovery: 2,000-Year-Old Wooden Houses Unearthed in Shaoxing, China

An extraordinary discovery of well-preserved wooden houses has taken archaeologists back over 2,000 years, to the Warring States period (475 BC to 221 BC), in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China. This find sheds light on the construction techniques, structural designs, and daily lives of people living on the outskirts of the Yue State capital.

During preliminary surveys conducted from June to July 2024, archaeologists from the Shaoxing Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology identified ancient river channels, wells, and other relics beneath the site. Radiocarbon dating has confirmed that the structural remains date back to around 400 BC, with thatched roofing remnants indicating the dwellings were built approximately 2,390 years ago.

The excavations revealed two key architectural foundations covering roughly 1,300 square meters. One structure consists of stilted, terraced wooden houses with walls made from interwoven wooden posts and thatch, bound together with grass ropes. The second foundation features wooden piles arranged in ten parallel rows, reinforced with horizontal beams and bark layers, suggesting another stilted structure. Experts noted that while these terraced houses are simpler than those found in the city, they reflect an architectural style adapted to the coastal environment.

Wang Renfang, a deputy director of the institute and head of the archaeological team, emphasized the significance of this find, stating, “It is an exceptionally rare archaeological discovery in the Yue State capital, both in terms of scale and preservation.” The intact thatched roofs and bamboo-wood walls provide critical material evidence for studying Yue architecture, offering new insights into construction methods and the way of life in the capital’s outskirts.

In addition to the wooden structures, the excavation revealed artifacts such as primitive porcelain cups, red pottery tripods, impressed hard pottery urns, and bronze drill bits. The site also contained remains of domestic animals, including dogs, pigs, and cattle, alongside large quantities of marine resources, suggesting that the area was once a key departure point for sea voyages and that fishing was integral to daily life.

The discovery is further contextualized by findings from the Jizhong site, where large-scale Yue structures dating back approximately 2,500 years were confirmed. The Baicaoyuan site, located 4.47 kilometers north of the Cao’e River, lies on the outskirts of this ancient capital, providing a broader understanding of the urban landscape of the Yue State.

Moreover, the excavation at the Baicaoyuan site revealed hydraulic facilities from the Warring States Period, which, although yet to be confirmed, may provide insights into the maritime defense strategies and coastal activities of the Yue people. The architectural wisdom displayed in these structures, including the use of standardized mortise and tenon joints and flexible hemp ropes, reflects advanced construction techniques that predate similar methods by centuries.

As Shaoxing grapples with rapid urban development, the site offers unexpected lessons for modern engineering, particularly in earthquake-resistant designs and flood mitigation applications. Plans are underway to protect the most fragile structures, creating China’s first “archaeological time capsule” for future generations. A virtual reality reconstruction is set to debut at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum, allowing visitors to experience the ancient fishing quarter firsthand.

This discovery not only enriches our understanding of the Yue State’s architectural heritage but also connects us to the daily lives of its inhabitants, painting a vivid picture of a thriving coastal metropolis over two millennia ago.

Cover Image Credit: New Hanfu