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Prehistoric Hong Kong is the period between the arrival of the first humans inHong Kong and the start of recorded Chinese history during theHan dynasty. The history of the southern region (which may possibly include Hong Kong) is reckoned to have been first recorded in 214 BC withQin Shi Huang conquering theBaiyue and creating theJiaozhou province.[citation needed]
The prehistorical period can be divided intoStone Age andBronze Age. Archaeology evidence suggests the earliest human settlement was in theWong Tei Tung area dating back to 38,000 BC.[1]
Evidence of anUpper Paleolithic settlement in Hong Kong was found atWong Tei Tung inSham Chung beside theThree Fathoms Cove inSai Kung Peninsula. There were 6000artefacts found in a slope in the area and jointly confirmed by theHong Kong Archaeological Society and Centre for Lingnan Archaeology ofZhongshan University.[2] It is believed that the Three Fathom Cove was ariver valley during that period and ancient people collected stone tools from the lithic manufacturing site in Wong Tei Tung to the settlement in nearTolo Harbour andMirs Bay.[3]
The Neolithic Era began approximately 7,000 years ago in Hong Kong. Excavations of Tung Wan Tsai North (Ma Wan) andSha Tau Kok reveal evidence of pottery during this time, but it does not reveal if there was pottery before this time due to the lack of absolute dates. The Neolithic period in this area was divided into four different phases. Phase one was when the Neolithic era began around 7000 years ago. The second phase was around 6500–6000BP when white and painted chalkware were present along with ground adzes and axes along with flaked points. The third phase began around 6000–5000 BP, identified by white chalkware with incisions and shouldered stone implements. The final phase was around 5000–3500 BP with the presence of pottery with geometric patterns, stepped adze, shouldered adze and more ground stone implements.[4]
Hong Kong is located on the coast ofSouth China. Unlike northern China, the settlers in this area were theChe people (Chinese:輋族). ExcavatedNeolithic artefacts suggest a difference from northern ChineseStone-Age cultures, including theLongshan. Excavated sites in Hong Kong were largely located on the western shores of Hong Kong. This location was most likely chosen to avoid strong winds from the southeast and to collect food from the nearby shores. Settlement can be found inCheung Chau,Lantau Island andLamma Island.
Evidences of using fire were found fromChung Hom Kok on theHong Kong Island. In late Neolithic, their settlement extends from shores to the hills nearby.
Stone circles were found inFan Lau and other areas in Hong Kong. Its purpose is still unidentified but some suggests it is related to worship.
The coming of theWarring States period brought an influx ofYue people from the north into the area, prob who probably migrated south to avoid the instabilities in the north.Bronze mining, fishing, combat, and ritual tools were excavated on Lantau Island and Lamma Island.Ma Wan was the earliest settlement with direct evidence in Hong Kong. Another one isLung Kwu Tan. Bronze tools were found on Lantau Island, Cheung Chau,Chek Lap Kok as well. Regular holes on the ground were found inHa Pak Nai. It is believed they were the foundations of grand houses of that period.
The Yuet people competed and assimilated with the indigenousChe people. It is believed that there were wars between them.Qin Shi Huang of theQin dynasty sent large numbers of soldiers and Qin subjects toGuangdong, which toughened the competition. According to recent archaeological findings, there were possibly many significant differences between the Yue civilisation and theQin andHan dynasties.[5] According to the historical records written during the Han dynasty, the Yue people (who originated in the Southern region of the current China along the Pearl River) were mainly barbarians with little or no civilisation. However, there is archaeological evidence suggesting that the Yue civilisation was sophisticated and advanced.[6]
There are still no written documents or artefacts related to Qin rule and earlyHan dynasty rule. The excavation ofLei Cheng Uk Han Tomb of later Han dynasty effectively brings Hong Kong out of prehistory.
Ninerock carvings have been discovered and are listed asdeclared monuments:
All are believed to date back to what was theBronze Age,[17] which, in northern China, approximately corresponds to theShang dynasty in China. The carvings are also believed to have been intended to pacify the bad weather.
Besides the stones circles and the rock carvings, several prehistoric sites have been studied in Hong Kong. They include:
