Middle Neolithic

Middle Neolithic Period (c.4000-2500B.C.)

Archaeological remains suggest that Hong Kong was inhabited by early settlers around 6,000 years ago. Middle Neolithic deposits have been discovered at Chung Hom Wan on Hong Kong Island, Sham Wan and Tai Wan on Lamma Island, Fu Tei Wan on Chek Lap Kok, Lung Kwu Chau and Yung Long in Tuen Mun, etc. The pottery discovered includes cooking vessels and food containers. These were mostly decorated with designs painted in red or impressed with fine cord pattern. A variety of stone tools and stone ornaments have also been found, suggesting that the inhabitants lived on hunting and fishing.

Similar cultural remains were found in sandbar and shell midden sites in Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Gaoyao, Zhengcheng, Zhuhai and Macau. The shapes and decorations of the pottery and stone tools are more or less identical to those discovered in Hong Kong.

Stone hammer
Middle Neolithic period
Excavated from Yung Long, Tuen Mun
Length: 19cm Width: 9.5cm

Coarse corded pottery cauldron with incised wavy-line pattern
Middle Neolithic period
Excavated from Sham Wan, Lamma Island
Height: 14cm Body diameter: 18cm

Pottery stem cup with incised pattern and perforations
Middle Neolithic period
Excavated from Fu Tei Wan, Chek Lap Kok
Height: 25cm Rim diameter: 12.5cm

Pottery basin with perforated ring-foot
Middle Neolithic period
Excavated from Tai Wan, Lamma Island
Height: 7cm Rim: 17cm

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