Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Light weight concrete of Yangshao Period of China: The earliest concrete in the world

  • Published:
Science China Technological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During 1970s, the residential remains of the Yangshao Period were discovered at the Dadiwan site in Qin’an County, Gansu Province, China. With carbon-14 dating, scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal expansion analyzer, polarizing microscope (PLM), and X ray diffraction (XRD), the microstructures and chemical compositions of the pottery shard, floor materials of the housing site, kunkur, calcined kunkur, ginger nut (calcium concretion) from the Dadiwan site were analyzed and researched. Analysis and simulation tests were also carried out to study the hydratability of calcined ginger nut and calcined kunkur, and the manufacturing process of the residential floors. The research shows that the floor was made of a light concrete formed by the mixture of aggregate of calcinated ginger nut (locally deposited), red clay and kunkur. The dicalcium silicate (C2S) from the floor material of the housing site is one of the main constituents of modern cement, and the floor is also similar to modern concrete in nature. Therefore, the floor material of the housing site at the Dadiwan site was the earliest man-made concrete in the world ever discovered.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cultural Relic Archaeology Research Institute of Gansu Province. Main excavation discoveries from 1978 to 1982 from New Stone Age Site of Dadiwan site of Qin’an (in Chinese). Cult Rel, 1983, (11): 21–30

  2. An C B, Chen F H. Dadiwan site and their cultural location (in Chinese). J Lanzhou Univ: Soc Sci, 2000, 28: 105–109

    Google Scholar 

  3. Newsroom of Archeology Journal. 20th Century 100 Archaeological Discoveries in China (in Chinese). Beijing: China Social Science Press, 2005

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cultural Relic Work Team of Gansu Museum. 405# New Stone Age housing site of Dadiwan site of Qin’an (in Chinese). Cult Rel, 1983, (11): 15–20

  5. Li Z X. Wonderwork of ancient building history of China (in Chinese). Archaeology, 1985, (8): 741–747

  6. Li Z X. Most ancient concrete in the world (in Chinese). Archaeology, 1988, (8): 751–756

  7. Li D H. Crystal Optics (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Press, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  8. Zhang M Y. A study of micro-structure of soil applied SEM (in Chinese). Rock Soil Mech, 1986, 7: 53–58

    Google Scholar 

  9. Qi J L, Xie D Y, Shi Y C. Status quo and method of quantitative study on soil structure (in Chinese). Northwestern Seism J, 2001, (1): 99–103

  10. Wu Q R. Phase analysis of clay minerals by X-Ray diffraction (in Chinese). Rock Mine Anal, 1994, (1): 15–19

  11. Zhang R K, Fan G. Quantitative analytic method and experiments of X-ray diffraction phase of clay minerals (in Chinese). Uran Geol, 2003, (3): 180–185

  12. Wu X X. Concrete NDT Manual (in Chinese). Beijing: China Communications Press, 2004

    Google Scholar 

  13. Construction Dept. of PRC. Standard for Test Method of Mechanical Properties on Ordinary Concrete. GB/T 50081-2002, 2003

  14. Qiu S H. When was man-made lime calcinations started? 14C could date (in Chinese). Cult Rel Arch, 1980, 5: 126–130

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hu J G. What on earth was white lime face made from? (in Chinese). Ref Doc Cult Rel, 1955, (7): 120–121

  16. 14C Laboratory, etc., of Archaeology Discipline of History Department of Beijing University. Reliability of C-14 sample of limestone region and period issue of Zhenpiyan Site (in Chinese). J Arch, 1982, (2): 243–250

  17. Qiu S H, Cai L Z, Chen T M, et al. Report on the Chinese sucrose charcoal standard for 14C dating (in Chinese). Chin Sci Bull, 1983, 28: 170–174

    Google Scholar 

  18. Aïtcin P C. Review: Cements of yesterday and today, tomorrow of concrete. Cem Concr Res, 2000, 30: 1349–1359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Miller P, Rabinowitz M, Sembrat J. The use and effectiveness of dispersed hydrated lime in the conservation of monuments and historic structures. In: International Building Lime Symposium Preprints: Contemporary and Historic Uses of Lime in Mortars, Plasters and Stuccos. Orlando: NLA Building Lime Group, 2005

    Google Scholar 

  20. Chongqing Academy of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Nanjing Academy of Engineering. Concrete Study (in Chinese). Beijing: China Architecture and Building Press, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  21. Editing Group of Teaching Material of Railway Ministry. Building Material (in Chinese). Beijing: Railway Press, 1961

    Google Scholar 

  22. China Architecture and Building Press. Building Material Dictionary (in Chinese). Beijing: China Architecture and Building Press, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  23. Li X Y. Simply developed history of Portland cement concrete (in Chinese). Sci Tech Overseas Build Mater, 2007, 28: 7–10

    Google Scholar 

  24. Xia H S, Ma Y Z, Chen F H, et al. High-resolution record of vegetation and climate variations of Dadiwan site in Longxi Loess Plateau during Holocene (in Chinese). J Lanzhou Univ (Nat Sci), 1998, 34: 119–127

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Western Disaster and Environment, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    ZuiXiong Li & LinYi Zhao

  2. Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage, Beijing, 100029, China

    Li Li

  3. National Research Center for Conservation of Ancient Wall Paintings, Dunhuang, 736200, China

    ZuiXiong Li & LinYi Zhao

Authors
  1. ZuiXiong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. LinYi Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Li Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to LinYi Zhao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, Z., Zhao, L. & Li, L. Light weight concrete of Yangshao Period of China: The earliest concrete in the world. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 55, 629–639 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-011-4725-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-011-4725-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation