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Qoigung Ruins
In October 1983, Tibetan archaeologists unearthed artifacts at
Qoigung Village in the Nyangri Gully, north of Lhasa. These artifacts
revealed aspects of civilization in Lhasa from 4,000 years ago and
earlier. They were found in ash pits and tombs that contained stone
coffins with bodies with folded limbs. More than 10,000 kinds of
objects and a large number of animal bones were found. Objects included
stone knives, stone axes, stone shovels, grinding stones, bone awls,
bone needles; and bone arrow heads were also found. One of the bone
needles had an eye as if for thread, resembling the sewing needles
we use today. Large quantities of hand-made pottery were also uncovered
in the ruins. Gray, polished black or brown in color, they display
sawtooth- and string-like patterns, as well as carved patterns formed
with awls. These artifacts provide evidence that there were people
living in areas around Lhasa more than 4,000 years ago, and that
they lived on farming, livestock breeding, hunting and gathering.
Fishing net pendulums and fish bones uncovered in the ruins reveal
that Lhasa River then teemed with fish, and that the locals had
a habit of eating fish.
The Qoigung ruins cover an area of 5,000 square meters, only
a part of which have been unearthed. More artifacts are expected
to be found.
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