Leisure and Cultural Services Department - Antiquties and Monuments Office

Bornze Period

Bornze Period (1500B.C. - 211 B.C.)

The Bronze period in Hong Kong spans from the middle of the Shang Dynasty to the Qin Dynasty. Bronze Age archaeological remains have been excavated at Sham Wan, Tai Wan, Yung Shue Wan and Lo So Shing on Lamma Island; Hai Dei Wan, Tung Wan, Man Kok Tsui and Sha Lo Wan on Lantau Island; Tung Wan Tsai on Ma Wan, and Kwo Lo Wan on Chek Lap Kok.

These sites yielded a small number of bronze artefacts, such as axes, spearheads, hooks, knives and so on. Some stone casting moulds for bronze axes have also been found, indicating that the indigenous people had already mastered bronze casting techniques. The advancement of kiln-firing techniques led to the production of high-fired hard pottery ware, with geometric patterns such as double-Fs, spirals and lozenges. The techniques in producing stoneware also improved, as best illustrated by sets of well-polished and well-burnished quartz rings that have been unearthed.

Historical documents record that around 3,000 years ago, South China was inhabited by the Bai Yue tribes. Accordingly, Bronze Age artefacts unearthed in Hong Kong were probably produced by the ancient Yue people. In South China, almost 1,000 Bronze Age burials have been unearthed. Pottery kiln sites for the production of geometric hard pottery have also been discovered in the Boluo county of Guangdong. Some of the hard geometric wares found in Hong Kong were probably the products of these kilns.

Large hard pottery urn with double-F pattern
Bronze period
Excavated from Hai Dei Wan, Lantau Island
Height: 54cm Body diameter: 49cm

Stone mould for casting bronze axe
Bronze period
Excavated from Sha Po Tsuen, Lamma Island
Length: 10.6cm Width: 7.3cm

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