In a major discovery for East Asian prehistory, archaeologists in Zhejiang Province have excavated a Neolithic bamboo-weaving workshop belonging to the Liangzhu culture. The waterlogged conditions of the site preserved several large bamboo mats and intricate baskets, showcasing a level of weaving complexity previously unseen in the 3rd millennium BCE. Alongside the woven goods, researchers found specialized bone needles and stone weights used for spinning plant fibers.
The findings suggest that the Liangzhu people had developed a sophisticated textile economy based on the abundant bamboo forests of the Yangtze River Delta. Experts believe these woven items were not merely utilitarian but served as high-status ceremonial gifts, often found in elite burials alongside jade bi-disks. This discovery highlights the non-lithic technologies that supported the rise of early Chinese civilization.