This year two archeological teams from National Taiwan University spent one very interesting winter break in Taitung. In fact, just about their every move seemed to make the papers, not just locally, but island wide.

Every summer and winter break a steady flow of archeology students go to Taitung to conduct research. This year marks the twentieth year that such an event has been held.

In 1968 Professor Sung Wen-hsun of the Department of Archeology and Anthropology at National Taiwan University led a group of students to Pahsien Cave near Changping Village, and discovered the earliest trace of human activities found on the island of Taiwan up to this time. The Changping culture dates back more than 15,000 years to the Paleolithic Age. The discovery made Taitung an overnight wonder in the world of archeology. Actually, there have been many such discoveries of traces of early man on the island of Taiwan: for example, the discovery of the Ta P'en K'eng culture found in the western part of the island, which dates back about 7,000 years.

Since the opening up of the eastern part of the island occurred at a rather late date, and there has been little vandalism, these vestiges have remained well preserved. As such they have been of special interest. One graduate student in the Department of Anthropology at National Taiwan University says, "There are many vestiges in Taitung, and there is an abundance of research material. This is why Taitung remains our first choice in which to conduct archeological research."

At the beginning of this year the archeological team at National Taiwan University discovered something astounding--a person from a rock-shelter.

On the morning of January 31, the team dug 90 centimeters deep. This time nothing from the Neolithic Age could be found; instead stone utensils, shells, animal bones, fish bones, and needles made from bone of the pre-ceramic period appeared.

What is known as the pre-ceramic period?

Professor Huang Shih-ch'iang explains, "The pre-ceramic culture dates back 5,000-7,000 years. People from this age depended on fishing, hunting, and gathering. Cultivation, pottery, and ground-stone implements had not yet appeared." On what evidence do researchers base their claim that the stone implements found in the eroded rock shelter belong to the "pre-ceramic culture?"

The evidence is somewhat obvious. "Firstly, it appeared under the Neolithic Age layer," says Professor Huang. "Objects dating back earlier in time appear under the bottom layers. The deeper the layer, the older the object."

Secondly, the stone implements that were found were primitive and coarse, and there is no evidence of grinding techniques. In addition to this, there was no discovery of any earthenware.

This time when the researchers were digging, everyone was filled with anticipation that the next layer would hold the "gem." Then on the afternoon of January 31, the archeology team digging 1.5-2 meters down came upon a human bone probably dating back to the pre-ceramic culture.

This rock-shelter man was buried in a squatting position, with its skull appearing first, followed by its shoulder bones. With the exception of a few decayed bones, the skeleton remains pretty much intact.

Huang Shih-ch'iang and Professor Sung Wen-hsun, an authority on archeology on Taiwan, are both very interested in this form of burying.

Professor Huang says with excitement, "This form of burying is similar to that of prehistoric cultures in southern China, and the pre-ceramic of these places is very similar to those found in Taitung, whether in shape or the techniques that were used to make them."

Professor Huang Shih-ch'iang uses geological evidence--the fact that the modern Taiwan Straits were formed about 12,000 years ago--to show that Taiwan and the mainland were once one piece of land. He says, "Before that time all one had to do was walk over."

At the Peinan vestige site 63-year-old Professor Sung Wen-hsun from the Department of Anthropology at National Taiwan University is busy at work. Although it's winter, the days are scorching. Wearing a hat, and carrying a Nikon camera around his neck, he goes about his work.

During the process of digging there are often many questions. "Is this a bone or a stone?" One of the observers asks, "Is this a stone or is it a knife made of stone?" A work-study student answers, "If it's a stone knife, then there must be traces of human work."

Sung Wen-hsun points out that objects found in the Peinan site may be divided into three categories. First is the cultural layer, where remains of daily utensils may be found. Next are the human burials, where coffins, grave-goods, and human bones may be found. In addition, there are the materials left behind which were used in construction.

Sung Wen-hsun says that during this excavation many important phenomena were discovered, such as some newer graves actually used the cover of the older grave below on which to build.

The many small stone coffins are also worthy of our attention, for they indicate that the child mortality rate was very high.

The team from National Taiwan University also dug up a miniature stone slab coffin measuring 33 centimeters by eighteen centimeters. Inside the coffin was a complete baby skeleton, possibly belonging to the youngest prehistoric person found on Taiwan up to now.

Some are curious and ask whether the people of ancient Peinan culture left any descendants behind. Sung Wen-hsun says, "They are most likely the ancestors of the present aborigines." However, the tribe which they might have belonged to cannot be determined.

One thing that is for certain though is that the Peinan culture lived on the island of Taiwan ca. 2,500-5,000 years ago. Although the vestiges provide us with valuable information, they are just a small piece in the puzzle; the remaining pieces have yet to the found.

[Picture Caption]

The vestige site in Peinan, Taitung County. An archeology team is busy digging away, while reporters stand by digging for news.

The stone graves at the Peinan vestige site all face in the direction of Tulan Mt.

This is the storehouse which was discovered during the excavation. Broken jars which contain animal bones were found on the bottom.

After they "get off work," students and teachers from the archeology team at National Taiwan University go back to the temple where they are staying, and continue recording and organizing the objects they dug up during the daytime.

This Peinan jade article was dug up by the county government many years ago. At present the piece is kept by the Taitung County government.

During this excavation the archeology team discovered many stone graves which contained many grave-goods. Among the grave-goods, many earrings were found.

This is the site at which a rock-shelter man was found in Tungho Village, Taitung County. The photos at lower right show human remains from the pre-ceramic period as they were discovered at the site. (photos courtesy of the Department of Anthropology at National Taiwan University.)

The stone graves at the Peinan vestige site all face in the direction of Tulan Mt.

This is the storehouse which was discovered during the excavation. Broken jars which contain animal bones were found on the bottom.