Leisure and Cultural Services Department - Antiquties and Monuments Office

What's New >

Relics Found at the Works Site in Mongkok

Discovery

The Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) received a citizen's report on 7 May 2004 that relics were found at the works site at the junction of Soy Street and Tung Choi Street. Hence, staff of AMO rushed to site to inspect what were discovered.

With the assistance rendered by the consultant and contractors of the Drainage Service Department (DSD), the staff of AMO reconstructed how the relics were found in the trench and investigated the soil and layers that might have relics. The original landscape of the site had been changed drastically, and frequent disturbances caused by recent urban development were shown. The trench is now full of pipes and piles. The relics might be deposited in a brownish sandy layer, between the modern disturbed layer and the greyish sand of marine deposit. Four flat-bottomed pottery pots were found on that day.

On 10 May, the staff of AMO monitored the works and noticed other relics in the trench. At the request of the AMO, the DSD and its contractor suspended the works and immediately provided assistance in clearing the soil. Over 100 pieces of objects were collected in this operation, including a broken pot, fragments of pottery cauldron, kiln debris and associated furniture, various ceramic sherds and green bricks. Since there was no further discovery, the site was returned to the DSD on 11 May 2004 (4 pm).

Important Relics

The important relics collected from the site include pottery pots, fragments of pottery cauldron, kiln debris and associated furniture. There are five pottery pots, of which four are complete and attributed to Jin dynasty (AD 265 - 420). Completeness of pottery pots implies they might be burial objects. Fragments of pottery cauldron are one rim and two body sherds which could be dated back to Han dynasty (206 BC - AD 220). About 121 pieces of kiln debris and furniture might be the remains of Tang dynasty (AD 618 - 907).

Exhibition

All the important relics are now displaying at the Main Lobby of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum for public viewing. Details are as follows:

Address:
1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin, New Territories

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday and public holidays: 10 am to 7 pm
Closed on Tuesdays (except public holidays).

Admission fee:
Free

Exhibition period:
Until 20 September 2004

Enquiries

Antiquities and Monuments Office: 2721 2326
Hong Kong Heritage Museum: 2180 8188

Back to "What's New" index page

Top

End of page