Neolithical sites of Taiwan: dabenkeng culture

The article represents main results in investigations of Neolithic sites at Taiwan. We suppose that correct dividing Taiwanese archaeological materials into the periods can be done only through direct comparison with the similar stages in archaeology of Northern and Central Asia. In contrast to widespread known periodization which had divided Neolithic epoch of Island into three periods (namely: Early, Middle and Late), the authors of the article restrain this epoch by Dabenkeng Culture only (the other name of it is the Culture of ceramics with wide stamps of cord ). The cultures following it under the name of so called Middle and Late Neolithic must be considered among Paleometal epoch, according the chronology has been using in studies of more northern archaeological objects on the territory of Asian continent. In the article the authors also fulfill a comparison of archaeological and ethnographic (ethnolinguistic) data. Investigation of this kind for Dabenkeng Culture (which was determined as «precivilization» by Chang Kwang-chih) is very important not only for reconstruction of remote Past of the Island and its connections with continental China, but also for investigation of world history, because ancient inhabitants of Taiwan were likely the ancestors of vast community of Austronesians' peoples. During the last years knowledge about this Culture was enriched very much due to numerous finds at two sites, Nanguanli and Nanguanlidong, in Tainan County. At these sites and within burial implements from about one hundred graves the most ancient evidences at Taiwan of rice and millet cultivation, dog domestication, as well as shell artifacts and painted pottery were found. Also, stone tools and ornaments from Nanke were made from raw materials (including tourmaline and «soft nephrite») delivered from quiet distant places of Taiwan and Penhu Islands. Dabenkeng Culture is very likely the basis for further development of aboriginal tribes of Taiwan because it served as a basis for some local cultures of eastern shore of the Island such as Niumatou, Niuchouzi, «The Culture of red pottery with narrow stamps of cord», some others. Some cultural characteristics appeared at the late stage of Dabenkeng and fixed within subsequent cultures (for instance, flexed human burials, sometimes in stone graves, megalithic constructions etc.) give the reason to discuss cross-cultural contacts connected North, East and Southeast Asia in the ancient times.