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Archaeology > What is Archaeology? | Archaeological Work in Hong Kong | Middle Neolithic | Late Neolithic | Bornze Period | Recent Archaeological Discoveries | Selective Archaeological Artetacts
Middle Neolithic Period (c.4000-2500B.C.)
Archaeological relics suggest that Hong Kong was inhabited by early settlers around 6,000 years ago. Middle Neolithic deposits have been discovered at Chung Hom Wan on Hong Kong Island, Tai Wan on Lamma Island, Fu Tei Wan on Chek Lap Kok and Yung Long in Tuen Mun. The pottery discovered includes cooking vessels and food containers, mostly decorated with designs painted in red, or impressed with a fine cord pattern. A variety of stone tools and stone decors have also been found, suggesting that the inhabitants there lived simply on hunting and fishing.
Similar cultural remains were found in sandbar and shell midden sites in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhuhai and Macau. The shapes and decoration of the pottery and stoneware unearthed are more or less identical to those discovered in Hong Kong.
Stone hammer
Middle Neolithic period
Excavated from Yung Long, Tuen Mun
Length: 19cm Width: 9.5cm
Coarse corded pottery fu with incised wavy-line pattern
Middle Neolithic period
Excavated from Sham Wan, Lamma Island
Height: 14cm Body diameter: 18cm
Pottery stem cup with incised pattern and perforations
Middle Neolithic period
Excavated from Fu Tei Wan, Chek Lap Kok
Height: 25cm Rim diameter: 12.5cm
Pottery basin with perforated ring-foot
Middle Neolithic period
Excavated from Tai Wan, Lamma Island
Height: 7cm Rim: 17cm
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