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Row houses from the Yue Kingdom during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) are unearthed at the Baicaoyuan site in Shaoxing's Yuecheng district. [Photo/Shaoxing Institute of Cultural Relics]

Archaeologists have uncovered well-preserved row houses from the Yue Kingdom during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) at the Baicaoyuan site in Shaoxing's Yuecheng district, marking the first discovery of its kind in the city.

The excavation, led by the Shaoxing Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, began in June 2023 as part of a preliminary survey for local development. Initial findings revealed underground river channels, wells, and other relics. Following approval from the National Cultural Heritage Administration, full-scale excavation commenced, covering approximately 2,000 square meters.

The site yielded extensive wooden structural remains, including interwoven wooden pillars, ancient bark, thatch, and bamboo fragments. Carbon-14 dating confirmed that some of the structures date back nearly 2,400 years, with certain artifacts from as late as 400 AD.

Among the most significant discoveries is a 1,300-square-meter stilted wooden residential complex with a well-preserved thatched roof and bamboo-wood walls.

According to Wang Renfang, deputy director of the Shaoxing Institute of Cultural Relics and lead archaeologist on the project, this find provides an unprecedented glimpse into the construction techniques, architectural layout, and daily life of commoners living on the outskirts of the Yue capital.

In addition to the housing structures, the site also revealed ancient waterworks, offering new insights into the region's coastal defense strategies and maritime activities during the Warring States Period. The excavation further uncovered a Tang Dynasty (618-907) brick tomb and 19 modern-era pits.