Description: The Ban Po Museum is located in the Shaanxi Province about 3 miles from the city of Xian. The museum is a Neolithic archeological site dating back 6000 years.
At the center of the village is a large room that is surrounded by many smaller rooms. All the doors face the larger room, showing the villagers were well connected. A ditch surrounded the village which was probably used to keep wild animals out.
There is an area for making pots and also a cemetery. Over 170 graves have been uncovered and some of the bones were "folded." These were people of importance as they were buried, dug up and later reburied.
The exhibit area covers an acre and is divided into two exhibition halls and a site hall. The excavated ruins were similar in some respects to the ruins found in the U.S. left by the native American Indians.
Earthen jars were found attached and partially built near the homes. These jars were for the childrens bodies that had died young. There were holes in the top of the jars where their spirits could leave during the day to play and return at night. Some of the jars found were tapered and used for water carrying.
The people used and made tools of wood and stone. The women were responsible for making pottery, spinning and raising the family while the men fished for food.
The museum is a wonderful and rare example of the Banpo people of the Yangshao Culture and is open from 8:00am-6:00pm.
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