Xianren Cave

Xianren Cave, located in Jiangxi province, China, is a significant archaeological site known for its discovery of the world's earliest known pottery. Dated to between 20,000 and 19,000 years ago through radiocarbon analysis of surrounding sediments, these pottery shards bear scorch marks that suggest they were used for cooking by mobile foragers during the Upper Paleolithic period, specifically at the end of the Last Glacial Period. This predates the advent of agriculture by several millennia, highlighting the technological innovations of prehistoric humans in adapting to their environment. The site also includes the Diaotonghuan rock shelter nearby, adding to its archaeological richness. These findings provide critical insights into the early development of ceramic technology and human subsistence strategies before the Neolithic revolution.