An important archaeological find that could necessitate the rewriting of Taiwan's pre-historical culture records has been made at the site of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant (核四發電廠), lawmakers and field researchers said yesterday.
DPP legislator Chang Chin-fang (張清芳) said at a press conference that a large shell mound rich in residue of silver, iron, coal and charcoal had been found at Yenliao Bay (鹽寮灣).
The excavation was done around a month ago by the Katagelan Culture Workshop, a field research group which focuses on Aboriginal pre-historical culture.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES N
Lin Sheng-yi (林勝義), founder of the cultural workshop, said the site was many hectares in size, and that one-third of it was within the area of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant.
The remainder is on a site allocated for the construction of Yen-liao Park, Lin said.
Lin said Taiwan Power Corp had rejected a request by his workshop to extend excavation to the site of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently under construction.
The building of the power plant was approved by the legislature in 1994 against strong resistance from opposition parties and environmentalists. Ground was broken on the plant last year and it is currently 29 percent complete. It is scheduled for completion by 2005.
Lin, along with legislators, were worried that these possibly pre-historic relics might be destroyed before a scientific evaluation of the site could be conducted.
"On initial examination it is quite possible that the site was originally a processing area for precious metals thousands of years ago," Lin said.
Echoing Lin and Chang, DPP Legislator Lin Chung-mo (林重謨) said the shells unearthed seemed very similar to the ones of Sanxingtuei Culture (三星堆文化) in Sichuan (四川), China.
Sanxingtuei was first excavated in 1986, and it was immediately recognized as one of the world's ten most important archaeological discoveries. The ancient civilization centered on the Sanxingtuei site has been estimated to be 3,300 years old.
So far, there has been no complete academic research done to the relics of Yenliao Bay, but according to radiocarbon dating conducted by the NTU geology department, the shells from the site are estimated to be 3,510 years old.
The great age of the shells discovered indicates that the site needs immediate preservation for further archaeological researches legislators said.
Legislators called for research institutes to do studies on the site and said the government should set up a Taiwan pre-history cultural preservation center at the site once there is clear evidence that it is important.
Field researcher Lin said his cultural workshop have asked the Cabinet-level Council of Cultural Affairs (文建會) for support.
"Chairperson Lin Cheng-chi (林澄枝) has promised to provide support for further scientific examination to the site," he said.
Taiwanese Olympic badminton men’s doubles gold medalist Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) and his new partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh (邱相榤), clinched the men’s doubles title at the Yonex Taipei Open yesterday, becoming the second Taiwanese team to win a title in the tournament. Ranked 19th in the world, the Taiwanese duo defeated Kang Min-hyuk and Ki Dong-ju of South Korea 21-18, 21-15 in a pulsating 43-minute final to clinch their first doubles title after teaming up last year. Wang, the men’s doubles gold medalist at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, partnered with Chiu in August last year after the retirement of his teammate Lee Yang
FALSE DOCUMENTS? Actor William Liao said he was ‘voluntarily cooperating’ with police after a suspect was accused of helping to produce false medical certificates Police yesterday questioned at least six entertainers amid allegations of evasion of compulsory military service, with Lee Chuan (李銓), a member of boy band Choc7 (超克7), and actor Daniel Chen (陳大天) among those summoned. The New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office in January launched an investigation into a group that was allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified medical documents. Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) has been accused of being one of the group’s clients. As the investigation expanded, investigators at New Taipei City’s Yonghe Precinct said that other entertainers commissioned the group to obtain false documents. The main suspect, a man surnamed
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer began talks with high-ranking Chinese officials in Switzerland yesterday aiming to de-escalate a dispute that threatens to cut off trade between the world’s two biggest economies and damage the global economy. The US delegation has begun meetings in Geneva with a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (何立峰), Xinhua News Agency said. Diplomats from both sides also confirmed that the talks have begun, but spoke anonymously and the exact location of the talks was not made public. Prospects for a major breakthrough appear dim, but there is
The number of births in Taiwan fell to an all-time monthly low last month, while the population declined for the 16th consecutive month, Ministry of the Interior data released on Friday showed. The number of newborns totaled 8,684, which is 704 births fewer than in March and the lowest monthly figure on record, the ministry said. That is equivalent to roughly one baby born every five minutes and an annual crude birthrate of 4.52 per 1,000 people, the ministry added. Meanwhile, 17,205 deaths were recorded, resulting in a natural population decrease of 8,521, the data showed. More people are also leaving Taiwan, with net
RSS