Archaeological Survey-Cum-Excavation, Yim Tin Tsai, Sai Kung (Oct-Nov 2013)

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Archaeological Survey-Cum-Excavation

Yim Tin Tsai, Sai Kung (Oct.-Nov. 2013)

Final Report

Mick Atha

On behalf of the

Hong Kong Archaeological Society

February 2014

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Report contributors:

Finds Photographs: Wan Yiu-ming

General & Special Finds Study; Finds Drawings: Kennis Yip

Site Photographs, Text & Editing: Mick Atha

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CONTENTS Page

Acknowledgements 6

Abbreviations & Usage 8

Non-Technical Summary 9

PART 1: PROJECT OVERVIEW

1. Introduction 9

2. Background 10

2.1 Geology, Topography, Drainage & Land Use 10

2.2 History 11

2.2.1 The Village and Salt-Field 11

2.2.2 Catholic Chapels 11

2.3 Existing Archaeological Information 12

2.3.1 The Archaeological Map of Hong Kong (HKAS 1972) 12

2.3.2 First Territory Wide Survey (1983-85) 12

2.3.3 Second Territory Wide Survey (1997-98) 12

2.4 Discussion 13

3. Objectives 13

4. Methodology 13

4.1 Introduction 13

4.2 Survey Methodology 13

4.2.1 Baseline & Testing Transects 14

4.2.2 Field Scan 14

4.2.3 Auger Tests 14

4.2.4 Terrace Face Cuttings 15

4.2.5 Test Pits 15

4.3 On-Site Excavation, Recording & Sampling 15

4.3.1 Excavation 15

4.3.2 Recording 15

4.3.3 Sampling 16

4.4 Post-Excavation Processing & Analysis 16

4.4.1 Processing, Analysis & Assessment 16

4.5 Presentation and Discussion of Results 16

4.5.1 Sequence of discussions 16

4.5.2 Deposit descriptions 16

4.5.3 Finds categorisation & dating 16

4.5.4 Reporting 17

PART 2: SURVEY IMPLEMENTATION & RESULTS

5. Four Stage Survey 17

5.1 Introduction 17

5.2 Field Scan 17

5.3 Auger Tests 17

5.3.1 Introduction 17

5.3.2 Table 1: Auger Test Sequence of Deposits 18

5.3.3 Discussion 27

5.4 Terrace Face Cuttings 27


5.4.2 Terrace Face TF1 27






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5.4.8 Discussion 28

5.5 Test Pits 28

5.5.1 Test Pit T2 29





PART 3: Old Chapel Investigation

6. Old Chapel Investigation 32

6.1 Introduction 32

6.2 North Wall [107a], Dividing Wall [106] & Eastern Gable End [107b] 33


6.2.2 North Wall [107a] & Dividing Wall [106] 33

6.2.3 East Gable Wall [107b] 33

6.3 South & West Walls [105a & 105b] 34

6.4 Internal Floors, Doorway and Staircase Base 35

6.4.1 Post-Abandonment Deposits over Internal Floor 112=117 35

6.4.2 Eastern Room Doorway Threshold [109] & Green Brick Surround [110] 35

6.4.3 Masonry Base for Wooden Stairs to Upper Floor over Eastern Room 36

6.5 Loose Granite Slabs 36

7. Discussion 37

7.1 Survey Results 37

7.1.1 Qing-20th

-Century Agriculture 37

7.1.2 Clay Levelling Deposit 37

7.1.3 Han Cultural Layer 37

7.1.4 Prehistoric Stone Knapping Debitage? 37

7.2 Old Chapel 37

7.2.1 General Layout and Sequence of Development 37

7.2.2 Evidence for Secular and Religious Use? 38

PART 4: SPECIAL FINDS CATALOGUE

8. Ceramics 38

81 Introduction 38

8.2 Fabric types 39

8.3 Ceramics catalogue 39

9. Decorative Building Materials & Ceramic Building Materials 42

9.1 Introduction 42

9.2 CBM & DBM Catalogue 43

PART 5 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

10. Conclusions 44

11. Recommendations 45

PART 6: REFERENCES

12. References 46

PART 7: SUPPORTING ILLUSTRATIONS

13. Figures 47

14. Plates 73

PART 8: SUPPORTING DATA

15. Harris Matrix (Old Chapel – Trench T1) 104

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16. Coordinates and Levels

16.1 Table 2: AH1-AH40 Coordinates and Levels 105

16.2 Table 3: Old Chapel Excavation T1 Coordinates and Levels 106

16.3 Table 4: Test Pits T2-T6 Coordinates and Levels 107

16.4 Table 4a: Context Register 108

17. Finds Tables 108

17.1 Introduction 108

17.2 Table 5: Key to finds codes used 109

17.3 Table 6: General Finds 110

17.4 Table 7: Special Finds 119

APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Supporting Documents 124

Appendix 2: Comments and Responses 130

List Figures

Figure 1 Location of Yim Tin Tsai in Inner Port Shelter

Figure 2 Yim Tin Tsai showing YTTSAI, Old Chapel & two previous auger tests

Figure 3 Project study area boundary & details of testing locations

Figure 4 Yim Tin Tsai geological map

Figure 5 Crown Block Lease Map of 1905

Figure 6 Detail of auger testing areas around test pit T5

Figure 7 Stratified random survey of north-west block of terraced fields

Figure 8 Schematic view of terraced hillside to illustrate choice of testing locations

Figure 9 Test Pit T2 sections



Figure12 Test Pit T5 sections

Figure 13 T5 Co.503 Han pottery rubbings

Figure 14 T5 Co.503 Han stoneware bowls and basins

Figure 15 T5 Co.503 Han stoneware seal-stamp-over-net jar (SF06)

Figure 16 T5 Co.503 Han stoneware jar bases

Figure 17 T5 Co.503 SF03 Han foot-ring base


Figure 19 Schematic layout of Old Chapel ruin & adjacent village houses VH1 & VH2

Figure 20 Old Chapel T1 overall survey plan of excavated remains

Figure 20a Old Chapel T1 spot height locations

Figure 20b Old Chapel T1 plan showing key coordinates within survey areas

Figure 21 South facing elevation on north wall 107 & dividing wall 106

Figure 22 West facing elevation on dividing wall 106

Figure 23 South facing elevation wall 106, brick door surround 110 & threshold 109

Figure 24 West facing elevation on Old Chapel east gable wall 107b & VH1 wall 108

Figure 25 Wall 105b north facing elevation

Figure 26 South facing elevation on Old Chapel post-abandonment deposits

Figure 27 Trench T1 Co.103 Plaster mouldings

Figure 28 Schematic cross-section through VH1 window 114

List of Plates

Plate 1 The old chapel and priest’s lodgings – view looking east

Plate 2 Former rice paddies (foreground) with salt-field in background – view looking SE

Plate 3 1924 aerial photograph

Plate 4 1963 aerial photograph

Plate 5 Google Earth satellite image of Yim Tin Tsai

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Plate 6 Enlarged view of eastern part of Yim Tin Tsai village in 1963 aerial photo showing Old

Chapel building

Plate 7 10cm auger with both extension bars added (totalling over 4m long)

Plate 8 Basic set up of 10cm auger without extensions

Plate 9 A fairly typical sequence of topsoil, interface layer, and decayed rock subsoil;

Plate 10 MA students recording soil colour using a Munsell Colour Chart.

Plate 11 North-east facing section of cut back terrace face TF1 (c.3m SW of AH26) – with surviving

traces of stone revetment

Plate 12 West facing section of cut back terrace face TF2 (c.4.5m west of AH24)

Plate 13 South-west facing section of cut back terrace face TF3 (c.10m SW of AH21)

Plate 14 North-east facing section of cut back terrace face TF4 (c.4.5m NE of AH6)

Plate 15 West facing section on cut back terrace face TF5 (c.3.5m east of AH19) – with surviving trace

of stone revetment

Plate 16 West facing section on cut back terrace face TF6 (c.10.5m south of AH05) – green brick and

orange tile both in topsoil at base of terrace

Plate 17 North facing section of T2

Plate 18 West facing section and post-excavation overview of T2

Plate 19 Gaming counter from Co.201, T2

Plate 20 Metal objects from Co.201, T2

Plate 21 Village ware, blue & white glass/ceramic object, and provincial porcelain from Co.201, T2

Plate 22 Tile fragments from Co.201, T2


Plate 24 West facing section and post-excavation overview of T3

Plate 25 Two small flakes of stone comprised one of probable rhyolite while the other was a sub-

rectangular flint, Co.301, T3

Plate 26 Handle of a teaspoon from Co.302, T3

Plate 27 South-east facing section of T4

Plate 28 South-west facing section of T4

Plate 29 Tile fragments, village ware and provincial porcelain from Co.401, T4


Plate 31 South facing section of T5

Plate 32 West facing section of T5

Plate 33 East facing section of T5

Plate 34 Refitted fragments of a possible whetstone from Co.502, T5

Plate 35 Net-impressed Han stoneware body sherds from Co.502, T5

Plate 36 SF01, bold cord-impressed coarse ware body sherd from Co.503, T5

Plate 37 SF02, fine red fabric pottery with impressed rectangular ‘degenerate’ net

Plate 37a SF04, stoneware rim from Co.503, T5

Plate 37b SF05, stoneware rim from Co.503, T5

Plate 38 SF06, a large Han rim-and-shoulder sherd with hooked rim, seal stamp-over-net design

and kiln glost, Co.503, T5

Plate 39 SF07, stoneware rim with horizontal lug from Co.503, T5

Plate 39a SF08, stoneware rim from Co.503, T5

Plate 40 SF09, stone ware rim from Co.503, T5

Plate 41 SF10, stoneware bodysherd with seal stamp-over-net decoration from Co.503, T5

Plate 41a SF11, stoneware base from Co.503, T5

Plate 41b SF12, stoneware base from Co.503, T5

Plate 41c SF13, stoneware base from Co.503, T5

Plate 41d SF14, stoneware base from Co.503, T5

Plate 41e SF15, 3 joiners, stoneware base from Co.503, T5

Plate 42 SF03, probable jar base with unusual high and sharply potted footring

Plate 43 East facing section of T6

Plate 44 South facing section of T6

Plate 45 Iron objects from Co.601, T6

Plate 46 West facing section of the North Wall (Co.107a)

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Plate 47 South facing elevation of north wall 107a with dividing wall 106 in foreground

Plate 48 West facing elevation of dividing wall 106 with floor 112 in foreground

Plate 49 South facing elevation on wall 106 & door lining 110, granite threshold slab 109 in

foreground

Plate 50 West facing elevation of Old Chapel east gable wall [107] to left of vertical scale and VH1

west gable wall to right

Plate 51 View of VH1 west gable wall 108 (east facing elevation) showing window 114 and triangular

block of masonry [115]

Plate 52 Excavated remains of Old Chapel west wall 105a (right foreground) and south wall 105b

(background)

Plate 53 Old Chapel main doorway foundation 105c

Plate 54 Old Chapel north facing elevation on wall 105b, VH2 in background

Plate 55 Old Chapel post-abandonment sequence [104; 118; 120] over floor 112

Plate 56 Brick and roof-tile fragments from T1 C.104

Plate 57 SF30 green brick with coarse plaster moulding.

Plate 58 SF30 green brick with coarse plaster moulding.

Plate 59 Plaster mouldings from T1, Co.103: Type ‘A’ (SF16)

Plate 60 Plaster mouldings from T1, Co.103: Type ‘B’ (SF17)

Plate 61 Plaster mouldings from T1, Co.103: Type ‘C’ (SF18-20)

Plate 62 Plaster mouldings from T1, Co.103: Type ‘D’ (SF21-27)

Plate 63 Plaster mouldings from T1, Co.103: Type ‘E’ (SF28)

Plate 64 Plaster mouldings from T1, Co.103: Stoneware lid

Plate 65 View of chapel showing floor surface 112 laid against eastern dividing wall 106, doorway

109 to right with floor 117 beyond, staircase base 111 (left foreground) & western dividing

wall 122

Plate 66 South facing section in central room of Old Chapel showing post-abandonment deposits [104;

118; 120] over floor 112 & levelled bedrock 121. Staircase base 111 visible centre left with

western dividing wall 122 on its left-hand side

Plate 67 Step staircase base in renovated village house in Yim Tin Tsai village

Plate 68 Large plain lintel slab (from main door?)

Plate 69 Large slotted threshold slab (from main door?)

Plate 70 Pair of door pivot slabs (from main door?)

Plate 71 Window lintel with sockets for five iron bars

Plate 72 Slotted doorway threshold—size very similar to one from eastern room [109]—this one from

a doorway between western and central rooms?

Plate 73 Plaster moulding above VH1 window 114—combining curving Type ‘D’ moulding above

Type ‘C’ edge moulding

List of Tables

Table 1 Auger Test Results

Table 2 Auger Tests AH1-AH40 Coordinates and Levels

Table 3 Old Chapel Excavation (Trench T1) Coordinates and Levels

Table 4 Test Pits T2-T6 Coordinates and Levels

Table4a Context Register

Table 5 Key to finds codes used

Table 6 General Finds

Table 7 Special Finds

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Acknowledgements

This project was commissioned by the Hong Kong Archaeological Society and funded by a

subvention provided by the Government of the Hong Kong SAR. The authors wish to acknowledge

the Society and SAR Government’s ongoing support for research into the region’s archaeological

heritage and Hong Kong’s rich human past.

We are extremely grateful to the many Society members (and Committee Members) and present and

former CUHK Anthropology students, who offered their voluntary support – the project could not

have occurred or been the success it was without their enthusiastic involvement. They are, in

alphabetical order: Sonia Chan, Chen Liuyan, Paul Cheung, Li Guo, Paul Harrison, Reint Heizinga,

Yurizi Hernandez, Jiang Lingzi, Prashanthi and Hari Korapaty, Jack Kwok, John Lau, Mike Leung,

Sam Lo, Imogen Mitchell, Ng Wing-keung, Shi Hanxiao, Patrick So, Rao Yichen, Andy Stevenson,

Maria Sze, Wan Yui-ming, Kelly Wong, Sophia Wong and Wu Zhe. The following people also

helped with different aspects of post-excavation processing and recording: Prashanthi Korapaty,

Imogen Mitchell and Wan Yui-ming.

Mick Atha (MA) would like, in particular, to thank his well-organised, knowledgeable, professional

and patient site supervisor Kennis Yip, for her enormous contribution on site, in post-excavation, and

in the production of this report. MA also wishes to highlight Wan Yiu-Ming’s significant

contribution on site and as finds photographer during the post-excavation stage of the project. MA

also acknowledges the support of the Society’s Chairman Steven Ng and Committee Members for

commissioning him as project director, and especially Honorary Treasurer Jimmy Lai who dealt

efficiently with all financial aspects of the project.

Specialist support was provided by the following people: Geomatic Surveyors Ltd. carried out

topographic surveying during the project and Professor Peter Lam kindly advised on the provenance

and dating of ceramic finds.

Mick Atha and Kennis Yip sincerely acknowledge the kind logistical support and warmth of the Yim

Tin Tsai villagers, in particular the Village Representative Mr Colin Chan and Secretary of the

Village Rural Committee Mr Nicholas Chan, and our two valuable local site assistants Liu Wai Kit

and Leung Kei Sing.

Finally, thanks are due to the 37 undergraduate students and their Teaching Assistant Rao Yichen –

who visited site as part of the writer’s Understanding Archaeology course in the Department of

Anthropology, CUHK.

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鳴謝

是次研究項目是受香港考古學會委託，並由香港特別行政區政府所資助。作者希望特此鳴謝

學會和特區政府在對於香港地區的考古與深厚的人類歷史之研究方面所作出的長期支持。

我們尤其感謝學會眾多的新、舊會員(及委員), 及中文大學人類學系的學生和舊生, 不論新或

舊，如無他們的義務幫助和踴躍支持，此次項目將無法如此順利完成。參與此次活動的會員

(依姓氏排序) 包括：陳盈康、陳柳燕、張金華、Li Guo、Paul Harrison、Reint Heizinga、

Yurizi Hernandez、江泠子、Prashanthi Korapaty、Hari Korapaty、郭世孝、劉浩駿、梁遠威、

羅佩華、Imogen Mitchell、吳永強、Shi Hanxiao、蘇清沐、Rao Yichen、Andy Stevenson、史

銀鳳、尹耀銘、黃蔚潔、王頌瑩和吴喆。而有份參與發掘後整理工作的會員包括： Prashanthi

Korapaty、Imogen Mitchell和尹耀銘。

范旼澔 (Mick Atha) 希望在此特別嗚謝處事條理分明、耐心肯幹且專業的發掘主管: 葉可詩。

感謝她在發掘期間及發掘後資料整理和報告中所提供的協助。范亦希望特別感謝尹耀銘在發

掘其間所作出的重要幫助，並在發掘後整理工作階段負責文物攝影工作。最後，范感謝學會

主席吳偉鴻及各位委員委託他負責是次發掘研究，尤其感謝司庫黎國樑高效率地處理一切與

此項目有關的財政事宜。

提供專業協助的人士包括：負責地形測量工作的 Geomatic Surveyors Ltd.；與林業強教授有關

陶瓷出處及年代的指教。

范旼澔 (Mick Atha) 和葉可詩希望在此由衷感謝鹽田梓村村民的熱情和友善協助，尤其是陳忠

賢村長及委員會秘書陳子良，以及我們兩位不可多得的本地民工廖惠杰和梁淇星。

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Abbreviations & Usage

AMO Antiquities and Monuments Office

c. Circa (approximately)

C Century. As in C19th (19th

century)

DIA Diameter

E East or easting (when used with map coordinates)

EFE East facing elevation (of a wall)

EFS East facing section

EVE Estimated Vessel Equivalent

E-W East-west (orientation)

HKAS Hong Kong Archaeological Society

l.o.e. Limit of excavation

m Metres

mPD Metres above Principal Datum.

N North or northing (when used with map coordinates)

NB Nota bene (Latin for: take special note)

NE North-east

NFE North facing elevation (of a wall)

NFS North facing section

N-S North-south (orientation)

NW North-west

PP Provincial porcelain. Generic term for historical period porcelain (as opposed to

village ware – see VW). In Hong Kong typically blue & white, Qing in date, & made

at Wun Yiu, Tai Po.

SE South-east

SFE South facing elevation (of a wall)

SFS South facing section

SW South-west

TL Tile. Mostly roof-tile.

UD Undiagnostic

VW Village ware. Generic term for historical period utilitarian cooking and storage pottery

(as opposed to porcelain – see PP). Difficult to date closely but most of the glossy

brown glazed material found at Yim Tin Tsai is probably later Qing-C20th in date.

WFE West facing elevation (of a wall)

WFS West facing section

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Non-Technical Summary

The Hong Kong Archaeological Society commissioned Dr Mick Atha, with a licence issued by the

Government of Hong Kong SAR, to direct their annual research project in October-November 2013.

The island of Yim Tin Tsai, Sai Kung was selected for a survey-cum-excavation designed to locate

and characterise the ‘prehistoric’ remains noted by pre-war amateur archaeologists, while also

carrying out excavation and standing building recording of a ruined structure thought to have been

the island’s former ancestral hall and then Catholic chapel, in which the island’s priest Father (later

Saint) Joseph Frienademetz once lived and worked (Figures 1 & 2). The ruined building was

successfully excavated and recorded, and yielded a number of plaster moulding fragments perhaps

relating to its religious phase of use. The survey produced widespread evidence of Qing-20th

-century

agricultural activity, but also led to the significant discovery of a Han dynasty site—with pottery

very similar to that found nearby on northern Kau Sai Chau—right in the middle of Yim Tin Tsai

village.

中文摘要

香港考古學會委託范旼澔博士主持該會 2013年度之考古研究項目，並持有由香港特區政府所

發有關之牌照。田野工作在 10月至 11月期間進行。是次進行的調查暨發掘項目位於西貢鹽

田梓，旨在確定和了解在戰前由業餘考古學家所記錄之「史前遺物」，並在聖福若瑟神父居

住及工作舊址(見圖一及圖二)進行考古發掘及建築物記錄。該建築物現為頹垣，但一般認為

該處原是祠堂，後改作天主教堂。有關建築遺跡的工作已順利完成，並發現一些可能與遺址

宗教活動時期有關的石膏模飾碎片。是次調查除發現覆蓋甚廣之清代至二十世紀的農業活動

證據外，最重要的發現是在鹽田梓村中央發掘到漢代遺址，該遺址所出土的陶瓷與鄰近滘西

洲北部所出土的非常近似。

PART 1: PROJECT OVERVIEW

1. Introduction

The small island (0.26km2) of Yim Tin Tsai (“Little Salt-Field”) is located in Inner Port Shelter

approximately 3km east of Sai Kung Town (Figure 1). The island has an AMO archaeological site—

Yim Tin Tsai Site of Archaeological Interest (YTTSAI – blue outline on Figure 2), Sai Kung (AMO

Ref: AM96-0760)—focused on the salt-field established by Hakka people of the Chan clan who

according to genealogical records and local historical research appear to have settled the island

during the 18th

century (Hase (2003, 74). The Chans were almost certainly already well-versed in the

art of salt-making and recognised the island’s obvious suitability for their purpose (Hase 2003, 75).

According to the Hong Kong Archaeological Society’s Archaeological Map of Hong Kong, which

was based on the pre-war survey work of Walter Schofield and others, Yim Tin Tsai contained a

prehistoric archaeological site, labelled with the symbol for hard geometric (Bronze Age) pottery

(HKAS 1972: Site No.71). However, the first and second Territory Wide Surveys (Peacock & Nixon

1986; Rogers et al. 1998) failed to confirm this earlier identification and the island thus remained

archaeologically ‘blank’ in the pre-Qing era. In addition to its Qing socio-economic interest and

‘lost’ prehistoric site, the island also occupies an important place in the history of local Catholic

missionary work and the development of the Catholic Church in Hong Kong (Wan 2004; Chan 2010;

Ha 2010). The community for its size boasts a relatively large church, the Chapel of St. Joseph, as

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well as a ruined old chapel (Plate 1) associated with Catholic priest Father (later Saint) Joseph

Frienademetz (Figure 2 – red rectangle).

A survey-cum-excavation methodology was adopted in order to search for traces of pre-Qing activity

across the island while also carrying out a more focused campaign of excavation and recording of the

old chapel ruin (Figure 3). A project study area measuring approximately 460m east-west by 535m

north-south was defined to encompass the lower hill slope areas surrounding the former shallow bay

and the main areas of former terraced fields to the north-west and south-east. The chapel’s structural

remains—as well as their relationships with adjoining buildings—were successfully defined by

excavation and then digitally recorded in plan and elevation. The survey, which included field scan,

six terrace face cuttings, 40 auger tests and six 1 x 2m test pit excavations, found no evidence for

prehistoric remains but identified instead a quite rich Han dynasty deposit in the middle of Yim Tin

Tsai village.

2. Background

2.1 Geology, Topography, Drainage & Land Use History

The island’s geology (Figure 4), topography and drainage have a very close correlation with the

patterning of land use, which has three distinct zones. The eastern two-thirds of the island is

predominantly hilly (max. elevation 36.9mPD) and comprises fine ash tuffs of the High Island

Formation (JHI), which remained mainly uncultivated in the historical era and include the village’s

built up area and burial grounds, with the former football pitch below them. In the south of the island

is a very low-lying (c.2.5mPD ave.) area of alluvium (Qa) measuring c.300m E-W by c.150m N-S,

which was originally a shallow bay where it is thought the leaching method was probably first used

to extract salt from the intertidal muds (Hase 2003, 75). The mouth of the bay was eventually closed

off by a double earthen bund, which is still visible today, built to create a salt-water reservoir behind

which lay the salination beds. Today the area contains the present salt-fields to the west, while to the

east are the village’s former paddy fields (Plate 2), which Hase (Ibid.) suggests were probably

converted from salt-fields to arable as the community grew and demand for food increased. By the

1960s the salt-fields had been converted to fishponds (Wan 2004: 19). There is an interesting

contrast between the 1924 (Plate 3) and 1940s-1960s aerial photographs (APs)—here for example

taken in 1963 (Plate 4)—which show that, in addition to the conversion to wet-field rice, there was

also a significant post-war expansion of terraced fields down the eastern side of the island. There is a

small seasonal stream draining into the eastern end of the paddy fields, beside which the villagers

dug a well to ensure year-round access to potable water. Another small, presumably seasonal, stream

was recorded by Wan (2004: 34) in the north-eastern part of the island. It is thus unlikely that any

prehistoric use of the island would have involved permanent settlement.

The north-western one third of the island is mainly trachydacite and rhyolite lava of the Clear Water

Bay formation (JCB), which slopes gradually uphill from the back of the village at c.10-14mPD to a

high point of 25.3mPD overlooking the island’s northern coast. This was the village’s main area of

dry terraced fields (or che), and it is perhaps no coincidence that it was here that prehistoric remains

were recorded pre-war, when cultivation was still ongoing and the surface was clear of scrub.

Moreover, the geology of this area may also be archaeologically significant as rhyolite is one of a

group of raw materials favoured by Hong Kong’s prehistoric peoples for stone tool manufacture.

During the desk-based review it was noted that satellite imagery (Google Earth – Plate 5) suggested

intense scrub and mature tree development over the former agricultural fields in this area and this

was confirmed during the fieldwork.

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2.2 History

2.2.1 The Village & Salt-Field

The YTTSAI covers the Qing salt-field, surrounding paddy fields, and most recent part of the Hakka

village (Figure 2: blue outline). According to genealogical records the Yim Tin Tsai Chan clan

moved to the Shenzhen-Hong Kong area (San On County) in 1751 (Ticozzi 2010: 8), which

correlates well with the youngest members of the clan being twelfth generation (Nicholas Chan pers.

comm.). However, some place the initial settlement of Yim Tin Tsai as much as a century later (Wan

2004: 17). Based on interviews, on-site observations, and previous research (Wan 2004: 23), it seems

extremely likely that initial settlement took the form of two north-south orientated, closely-spaced

rows of houses and outbuildings—a defensive layout or wai common in initial stages of Hakka

settlements—located on the eastern flank of the same small hill as St. Joseph’s Chapel and close to

the edge of the northern terraced fields (Figure 3: ‘A’). Perhaps piracy was a concern as this location

would be invisible from Port Shelter to the west and, if the lower slopes to the south were wooded,

would be similarly hidden from the salt-field bay. The village subsequently expanded south towards

the salt-field, with first the addition of the eastern blocks of houses (Figure 3: ‘B’), and then later the

smaller western blocks (Figure 3: ‘C’). As already mentioned in the introduction, the community’s

founding fathers almost certainly arrived in the Sai Kung area with a full understanding of traditional

Chinese salt-making, recognised Yim Tin Tsai’s obvious suitability for that purpose and named their

new home appropriately.

2.2.2 Catholic Chapels

The available sources suggest that the current St. Joseph’s Chapel is at least the third building to

have been used as a Catholic place of worship on Yim Tin Tsai (Wan 2004; Ticozzi 2010). One

former chapel with priest’s lodgings (hereafter the “old chapel”) is thought to be the ruined building

investigated by this project (Lot No. 310-311), while another chapel took the form of a wooden hut

(hereafter the “wooden chapel”, of which there is now no trace (Wan 2004: 28). Interestingly, both

the old chapel and St. Joseph’s Chapel share the same lot number (310) on modern land lot maps.

There is some disagreement over the construction date of St. Joseph’s Chapel: Wan (2004: 1) dates it

to 1890, while Ticozzi (2010: 12) cites Catholic records mentioning its construction between 1901

and 1903. Here the Crown Block Lease Survey (1900-05), which following the lease of the New

Territories to Britain involved the surveying and mapping of all private lots in Hong Kong, is an

extremely useful source (Figure 5). On the 1905 map of Yim Tin Tsai (D.D. Sheet No. 246), the site

of the current St. Joseph’s Chapel (Lot Nos. 221-224) is undeveloped space (Hong Kong

Government 1905), which is clearly at odds with Wan’s dating, whereas it is possible that the

surveyors visited the island just before building work on St. Joseph’s Chapel had begun in 1901.

What the map does show, though, is a large east-west orientated, very ‘chapel-like’ building with an

entrance porch at its eastern end (Lot No. 240)—just to the east of the present school building—

which is captioned “2. R.C. Chapel” (Figure 5). Wan mistakenly thought that the chapel label

referred to Lot No. 227, whereas her village elder informant Mr. Chan Yerk-mong recalled that the

hut was at Lot No. 322 (Wan 2004: 28); however, close examination of the 1905 map reveals a small

number “2.” clearly marked at the western end of Lot No. 240, which must have been the building

then in use as a chapel. Lot 240 actually sits directly in between Lots 227 and 322, and is therefore

the most likely candidate for the wooden chapel remembered by the elderly villager. The hut site’s

western end is now partly covered by an abandoned house (No.20 YTT), while the eastern half of the

building lies in the open space investigated by test pit T5. The identification in T5 and nearby auger

holes of a thick clay deposit used to level up the natural slope may well relate to the construction of

the wooden chapel (see further discussion below).

12

Somewhat strangely, the 1905 map records nothing behind Lot Nos. 280-283 in the position of the

old chapel (Lots 310-311), and the last sequential lot number allocated on the map is 307, while lots

319 and 320 are written in a different hand and were seemingly later additions to the map. Is this

simply an omission by the cartographer and the old chapel was in fact allocated Lot No. 310 during

the survey? Whatever the case, when St. Joseph’s Chapel was completed in 1903 some confusion

clearly occurred at the Lands Office and both it and the old chapel were allocated Lot No. 310.

Today the former ancestral hall, donated as a Catholic place of worship by the villagers at some time

before 1867 (Ticozzi 2010: 12), survives as a rectangular ruined building with long axis orientated

east-west (Plate 1). At the eastern end of the building is a small room with cock-loft above that is

thought to have served as the priest’s lodgings. When the building eventually became too small for

the growing congregation it is said to have reverted to domestic use as a family home. The building

appears to be intact in the rather blurred 1924 aerial photograph, and was certainly so in the much

clearer, lower altitude, image taken in 1963 (Plate 6). When first visited by the writer, the structure

was partially filled with material collapsed from the walls and roof, some of which had already been

removed by the villagers.

In terms of heritage value, the ruin is a rare example of a Hakka village ancestral hall converted for

use as a Catholic chapel and priest’s lodgings. The structure therefore has significant socio-historical

and archaeological interest and was deemed worthy of archaeological investigation prior to its

consolidation and use as a place of pilgrimage associated with its 19th-century priest Joseph

Frienademetz who was canonised by the Catholic Church in 2003.

2.3 Existing Archaeological Information

2.3.1 The Archaeological Map of Hong Kong (HKAS 1972)

As mentioned above, the Archaeological Map of Hong Kong (HKAS 1972), which included the

Society’s own findings and those of pre-war pioneers such as Schofield, had a site numbered “71” on

the area of che to the north of the village that bore the symbol for prehistoric remains. No detailed

information survives regarding the nature of the material discoveries that led to the creation of the

site or the precise location of any find spots.

2.3.2 First Territory Wide Survey (1983-85)

The site was labelled “Yim Tin Tsai (N)” by Peacock and Nixon (1986: 211) and designated “Block

No. 08, Site No. 12” in their survey. It is unclear, however, how fully that northern area was

reinvestigated during either of the two Territory Wide Surveys, the first of which reported that “all

accessible parts of the island” had been field scanned but the only finds were a few “sherds of

[undated] unglazed stoneware from the south eastern end of the island” (ibid.). Today dense jungle

renders access to the northern site difficult, although by no means impossible. Almost thirty years

ago the site would have been much more open, but it is unclear how thoroughly it was checked. The

1st Territory Wide Survey thus concluded that the island was of unknown archaeological significance

(ibid: 212).

2.3.3 Second Territory Wide Survey (1997-98)

The site was revisited during the 2nd

Territory Wide Survey during which a programme of “non-

linear walking” investigated the eastern side of the island and the area surrounding “the pond” (salt-

field) (Rogers et al. 1998: 106-7). In addition, two auger holes were conducted on lower hillsides to

the south of the salt-field as indicated in Figure 2 (yellow stars). The auger holes revealed a simple

sequence comprising thin organically-enhanced topsoil (19-33cm thick) over a deep sequence of

clay-rich decayed volcanic rock (ibid: 107).

13

2.4 Discussion

As will be evident from the foregoing presentation of background information, the 2013 Yim Tin

Tsai fieldwork methodology needed to address two quite distinct types of research. On the one hand,

there was very little information available regarding the island’s pre-Qing (‘prehistoric’)

archaeological resource and there was therefore a clear requirement for some form of survey to

provide the necessary enhancement of baseline data. While in the case of the chapel ruin a more

detailed programme of excavation and recording would be required to define, characterise and

interpret the structure and its environs. A series of contrasting research objectives was therefore

needed, and it is to those that we now turn.

3. Objectives

The project was designed to address the following six main research objectives:

To enhance understanding of the general sequence of deposits across the island;

To identify and characterise any cultural deposits within such sequences;

More specifically, to identify and characterise any pre-Qing activity on the island;

To maximise information retrieval through the use of dry sieving of any cultural deposits

encountered;

To define and characterise the ruin of the old chapel and priest’s lodgings in terms of its

structure, associated post-abandonment deposits, and materials contained therein;

To produce an accurate surveyed, drawn & photographic record of the chapel remains.

The successful implementation of those six objectives demanded an approach that married large-

scale landscape coverage at relatively low resolution with high-resolution, detailed excavation and

recording: a survey-cum-excavation methodology was therefore required and is discussed next.

4. Methodology

4.1 Introduction

This section of the report provides an overview of the methodologies used to address the project

objectives set out above. It begins by explaining the rationale behind and characteristics of the

survey-cum-excavation methodology adopted (4.2), moves on to give an overview of the methods

used in on-site recording and sampling (4.3), then discusses the approach to post-excavation

processing and analysis (4.4), and ends by discussing the presentation and discussion of results (4.5).

4.2 Survey Methodology

As discussed above, the generally very disappointing results of previous fieldwork with respect to the

supposed prehistoric interest clearly suggested that some form of survey would be necessary in order

to generate improved information regarding the pre-Qing archaeological potential of the island.

While the south and east of the island was accessible from concrete paths, the main area of former

terraced agricultural fields to the north-west had no such paths, was densely overgrown with trees,

bamboo stands and thorny undergrowth, and was thus only accessible with significant jungle

clearance. Given the density of vegetation on the island and the need to clear huge areas for a grid-

based survey, the use of geophysics in this instance was not deemed practicable.

Instead, for the large north-western area of terraced fields a four-stage survey methodology was

devised and implemented as follows (Figure 3):

14

Stage 1: Conduct field scan of baseline, testing transects & testing locations;

Stage 2: Drill 25 auger tests in selected locations (AH1-6, 8, 10-27);

Stage 3: Cut back six agricultural terrace faces (TF1-6), inspect and photograph;

Stage 4: Excavate & record three 2x1m test pits (T2, T3 & T4);

In contrast, for the southern half of the survey area, which was well-served with concrete pathways, a

more traditional three-stage methodology was used and testing locations were chosen based upon a

combination of topography and landscape setting (e.g. gently sloping ground on lower hillside

overlooking former bay) (Figure 3).

Stage 1: Field scan of testing location & environs;

Stage 2: Drill 15 (8+7)* auger tests in selected locations (AH7, 9, 28-33 plus AH34-40);

Stage 3: Excavate & record two 2x1m test pits (T5 & T6);

* The discovery a Han cultural layer in test pit T5 required the drilling of seven additional auger tests

(AH34-40) in an attempt to define the fuller extent of the deposit (Figure 6).

4.2.1 Baseline & Testing Transects

In the large north-western survey block it took five days to cut a 2m wide by 250m long corridor

within which the dog-legged baseline was laid out by line-of-sight, triangulation and compass

bearings (Figure 7). Random numbers were then used to determine 16 points along the baseline

where auger testing would then take place. Some such locations were used for auger tests along the

baseline itself, but ten were used as the marker for testing transects laid out at right-angles to the

baseline. The positioning of auger tests along such transects was then determined by a combination

of the topography and the desire to have as good an overall coverage of the area as was possible

within the time and resources available. As mentioned above, testing locations in the southern half of

the island were selected based on the topography and landscape and attempted to provide a good

overall coverage of the area.

The survey thus included some degree of selectivity fixed by the baseline and position of auger tests

along transects, but the transect positions themselves involved a degree of randomisation. The survey

can thus in some respects be said to have employed a stratified random sampling strategy (Renfrew

& Bahn 2012: 77).

4.2.2 Field Scan

Field scan activity was constrained by the narrow corridors cleared for auger testing and the localised

areas cut back around test pits. Surface artefacts were collected in the environs of each testing

location and then bagged and labelled with the relevant auger hole or test pit number.

4.2.3 Auger Tests

Auger testing was conducted using the Society’s new 10cm diameter ‘Dutch auger’, which also had

two extensions, and a borrowed 12cm diameter ‘Dutch auger’, which allowed two teams to work in

parallel. Auger tests were positioned within the ‘downslope half’ of individual agricultural terraces in

order to provide the best chance of recording the full sequence of deposits including original subsoil

and more recent topsoil (see Figure 8 for explanation). Initial auger tests confirmed that decayed rock

was typically encountered within the first metre or less of depth. It was therefore decided that the

majority of tests would proceed only to sterile deposits with decayed rock; however, in the interest of

understanding more about the sterile decayed rock sequence, four tests located in the north-western

survey area were drilled—with some difficulty—to the end of the fully extended 10cm auger (at

around 4m below surface).

15

4.2.4 Terrace Face Cuttings

Six well-preserved and relatively substantial terrace face cuttings (TF1-TF6 inclusive) were

identified across the north-western survey area—terraces in the southern half of the island being

small and poorly defined—and these were cut back, trowel cleaned and photographed. Any finds

recovered were labelled with the relevant terrace face number.

4.2.5 Test Pits

All five test pits excavated measured 1 x 2m in size and were excavated to a maximum depth of

around 1m. Four of the test pits (T2-T4 & T6) were positioned in areas where surface finds and/or

the findings or auger testing suggested further investigation was necessary. In the case of T5, though,

the rather ambiguous result from AH28, where there seemed to be a deep fill deposit, encouraged the

positioning of a test pit somewhat further uphill in one of the few other flat open spaces in the middle

of the Hakka village, which was not under concrete.

4.3 On-Site Excavation, Recording & Sampling

4.3.1 Excavation

All excavation on site was done by hand, although work in the five small test pits (T2-T6 inclusive)

was by necessity—given the hard clay-rich character of subsoils in particular—done using pick,

spade and shovel backed up by trowel cleaning. The richness of the Han deposit in T5, though,

required a greater reliance on trowel excavation, while all work in the Old Chapel (T1) was carefully

conducted using trowels and other small tools. The approach used in the trench T1 consisted of a

long L-shaped trench used to define the extent and nature of the Chapel’s robbed out south and west

wall foundations, in combination with open-area excavation over the surviving areas of floor in the

central area and eastern room.

4.3.2 Recording

Recording was carried out in line with AMO guidelines (see Appendix 1) and internationally

accepted standards of archaeological practice. The basic unit of analysis used on site was the context

– each of which was allocated a unique number prefixed with the trench or test pit number (e.g. 101,

201, 301 & 401). Although no features were identified during the excavations, the standings walls of

the Old Chapel in some cases incorporated a number of structural elements and these were allocated

separate context numbers and are discussed in the main body of the report under the different wall

elevations. A context register for the six excavation areas (T1-T6 inclusive) can be found in Table 4a

in Section 16.4.

General finds were bagged by context number, while special finds were also allocated a unique

number (SF01-31: see finds tabulation in Section 17.4).

All on-site photography was done using digital SLRs and photographs were allocated unique

numbers, which were then also cross-referenced to the camera-generated image numbering sequence.

For the five test pits, plans and sections were hand-drawn on waterproof drawing film and each view

was allocated a unique combination of drawing number and sheet number. All auger test locations

and test pit top and bottom coordinates and levels were digitally recorded by the professional survey

team. In the Old Chapel, detailed plans and elevations were hand drawn and recorded as above,

whereas the main digital plan and wall elevations were recorded by the professional survey team—

under archaeological guidance—using a total station theodolite (TST) with a reflector (prism) for the

plans and a reflectorless TST methodology for the elevations.

16

4.3.3 Sampling

In additional to hand collection of finds during trowelling and excavation, where possible cultural

layers were dry sieved 100% using 0.5cm mesh. If a cultural deposit was too hard and clayey to be

effectively sieved—for example layers 502 and 503 at T5—spoil was then carefully checked through

using a trowel. Any finds recovered through dry sieving were bagged against the relevant context

number and marked “dry sieving”.

4.4 Post-Excavation Processing & Analysis

4.4.1 Processing, Analysis & Assessment

The excavation yielded an assemblage dominated by pottery, tile and brick, with much smaller

components of plaster moulding, glass and corroded iron. All the non-metal finds were washed and

marked with the help of Society volunteers. All finds were then identified and categorised, counted,

weighed, tabulated (see Section 17) and finally photographed.

4.5 Presentation and Discussion of Results

4.5.1 Sequence of discussions

The presentation of results begins in Part 2 with discussions of the four stage survey results as

follows: first field scan (5.2), then the findings of the auger testing (5.3), next terrace face cuttings

(5.4) and, finally, test pit excavations (5.5). Then in Part 3 we move on to discuss the Old Chapel

investigation beginning with the remains of the north, east and eastern dividing walls (6.2), followed

by the south and west walls (6.3), then the internal floors, doorway and staircase base (6.4), and

finally rounding off with an overview and interpretation of the original position and function of the

10 loose granite slabs present on site (6.5). Thereafter in Part 4 we offer an overarching discussion of

the findings of the survey (7.1) and the Old Chapel investigation (7.2) in their local and regional

context.

The test pit and Old Chapel excavation results are presented as follows: first the stratigraphic units

are discussed in the reverse chronological order of their deposition (i.e. from the most

recent/uppermost excavated stratum to the oldest/lowest—contexts, when first mentioned, are shown

in square brackets in bold type for clarity). The Old Chapel stratigraphic sequence is graphically

depicted in a Harris Matrix in Section 15).

4.5.2 Deposit descriptions

Alphanumeric codes and deposit colour descriptions are taken from the Munsell system of soil

colour charts (Munsell 2009). Cultural layers in the test pits can be assumed to extend horizontally

beyond the limit of excavation (l.o.e.) in all directions unless stated otherwise. In terms of

compaction, the vast majority of deposits encountered outside the Old Chapel were either the firm to

hard clay-rich, sterile decayed volcanic rock sequence or loose topsoil deposits developed from such

material. Deposit thicknesses used are maximum values, but where variation in thickness has

archaeological significance, for example, in terms of sloping deposits or where localised spreads

diminish in thickness towards their outer edges, further elaboration will be provided. Furthermore, if

layers extend vertically beyond the l.o.e., this will also be clearly indicated in the text. Any absolute

heights or levels mentioned are expressed in metres above Hong Kong Principal Datum (mPD).

4.5.3 Finds categorisation & dating

All finds were categorised in terms of their material, the object type and, if possible, their date (see

finds key in Table 5 (17.2). The main finds category used in dating the site was pottery. When finds

assemblages are listed and discussed, any material not ascribed to a date or specific period can be

17

assumed to be undiagnostic for date (UD), but probably Qing-20th

century in origin. All pottery,

whether diagnostic for date or not, was allocated to one of four fabric categories (see Section 8.2 for

details) and, where possible, was identified to period, region and even sometimes to particular kilns.

A fuller discussion of the main identifiable types is provided in the Special Finds Catalogue in

Section 8.3.

4.5.4 Reporting

This text has been prepared in accordance with the relevant AMO guidelines (see Appendix 1) and,

in addition to this present report, a further version will be included in the next volume of the Journal

of the Hong Kong Archaeological Society.

PART 2: SURVEY IMPLEMENTATION & RESULTS

5. Four Stage Survey

5.1 Introduction

We begin by discussing the results of the field scan (5.2), next the auger testing (5.3), then terrace

face cuttings (5.4), and finally the test pits (5.5). The following discussion of the four stage survey

results should be read in conjunction with Figures 3, 6, 7 and 8. Supporting survey and finds data are

tabulated in Sections 16 and 17.

5.2 Field Scan

The sheer length of the baseline and testing transects, added to the very densely overgrown nature of

most testing areas, meant that clearance of vegetation down to the topsoil surface was only achieved

in the environs of each auger test or test pit. The field scan results are therefore presented as ‘surface

finds’ in the auger test results tabulation (Section 5.3.2) and in the discussion of finds against each of

the five test pits T2-T6 (Sections 5.5.1-5.5.5 inclusive).

5.3 Auger Tests

5.3.1 Introduction

As is typical of Hong Kong and other places, although the geological map suggests that Yim Tin

Tsai has two blocks of different solid geology to the north-west and south-east, the auger testing

revealed a far more diverse pattern of localised decayed rock sequences. Most auger tests were

drilled until subsoil with decayed rock was encountered; however, in four cases both of the extension

bars were attached in order to test the fuller extent of the decayed rock sequence at auger holes AH13,

19, 23 and 27. Given the rather repetitive nature of auger test data, it made sense to first present the

results in Table 1 as shown below (5.3.2) and then offer a brief discussion of the overall findings

(5.3.3). Plates 7 and 8 respectively show examples of testing using the fully extended 10cm auger

and the basic setup without extensions. Plate 9 shows a fairly typical Yim Tin Tsai soil sequence

moving from topsoil in the foreground of the photograph, through an interface layer, to the decayed

rock subsoil in the background. Plate 10 shows a pair of CUHK Masters student volunteers checking

soil colour using the Munsell Colour Chart (Munsell 2009).

18

5.3.2 Table 1: Auger Test Sequence of Deposits

AH01

DEPTH

(cm)

SOIL DESCRIPTION COLOUR FINDS REMARKS

0 – 12 Slightly clayey SILT 10 YR 5/3 Brown Topsoil

12 – 21 Slightly clayey SILT 10 YR 5/4 Yellowish

brown

Subsoil

21 – 30 Slightly clayey SILT 10 YR 6/4 Light

yellowish brown

Subsoil

30 – 119 Slightly silty CLAY 10 YR 6/6 Brownish

yellow

Subsoil

119 – 159 Very slightly silty CLAY 7.5 YR 5/6 Strong brown Subsoil

AH02

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 32 Slightly clayey SILT 10 YR 4/3 Brown Surface find: 1 brown

glazed stoneware

rimsherd (C19-20)

Topsoil

32 – 72 Silty CLAY 10 YR 5/4 Yellowish

brown

Subsoil

72 – 110 Silty CLAY 10 YR 6/3 Pale brown Subsoil

110 – 144 Very silty CLAY 10 YR 6/2 Light

brownish grey

Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH03

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 23 Slightly clayey SILT 10 YR 4/3 Brown Surface finds: 1

brown glazed

stoneware bodysherd

& 1 provincial

porcelain bodysherd

(C19-20)

Topsoil

23 – 58 Silty CLAY 7.5 YR 5/3 Brown Subsoil

58 – 111 Silty CLAY 7.5 YR 6/2 Purplish grey Subsoil

111 – 118 Silty CLAY 5 YR 5/2 Reddish grey Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH04

DEPTH

(cm)



27 – 146 Slightly silty CLAY with

small fragments of

decayed rock

5 YR 5/3 Reddish brown Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH05

DEPTH

(cm)



23 – 128 Slightly silty CLAY;

fragments of white

decayed rocks from

c.63cm onwards; Bigger

and more frequent

5 YR 5/2 Reddish grey 1 yellowish brown

glazed stoneware

rimsherd at 40cm


rock

19

fragments of white

decayed rock with

increasing depth

AH06

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 10 Slightly clayey and very

slightly gravelly SILT

10 YR 3/2 Very dark

greyish brown

Surface find: 1

provincial porcelain

rimsherd (C19-20)

Topsoil

10 – 19 Slightly silty CLAY 10 YR 5/4 Yellowish

brown

Interface

19 – 66 Very gravelly CLAY 7.5 YR 5/3 Brown Subsoil

66 – 120 Slightly gravelly CLAY 7.5 YR 6/3 Light brown Subsoil

120 – 158 Slightly clayey and silty

GRAVEL with frequent

pink and yellowish

decayed rock

7.5 YR 7/3 Pink Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH07

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 12 Very clayey SILT 10 YR 4/3 Brown Topsoil

12 – 148 Slightly silty CLAY 7.5 YR 5/8 Strong brown Subsoil

AH08

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 15 Clayey SILT 10 YR 5/3 Brown Topsoil

15 – 22 Slightly silty CLAY 7.5 YR 5/6 Strong brown Transitional layer

22 – 153 Very slightly silty CLAY 5 YR 5/8 Yellowish red Subsoil

AH09

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 21 Very clayey and very


10 YR 5/3 Brown Topsoil

21 – 102 Very slightly gravelly

and slightly silty CLAY;

getting mottled in depth;

fragments of decayed

rock from c.102cm

onwards

7.5 YR 5/8 Strong brown Subsoil

102 – 155 Very silty and very

slightly sandy CLAY

with fragments of

decayed rock

5 YR 5/6 Yellowish red Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH10

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 15 Very slightly clayey

SILT



brown

1 rhyolite fragment at

15-20cm

Transitional layer


yellow

Subsoil

45 – 72 Very slightly silty CLAY 7.5 YR 5/8 Strong brown Subsoil

20

72 – 79 Slightly clayey SILT 10 YR 6/6 Brownish

yellow


rock

AH11

DEPTH

(cm)



13 – 23 Very silty CLAY 10 YR 5/4 Yellowish

brown

Subsoil

23 – 60 Slightly silty CLAY 10 YR 6/4 Light

yellowish brown

Subsoil


occasional white powder

of decayed rock

7.5 YR 6/2 Pinkish grey Subsoil with decayed

rock


composed of a high

percentage of decayed

rock (grey)

5 YR 6/1 Grey (decayed

rock) and 10 YR 6/4

yellowish brown


rock

AH12

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 26 Clayey SILT with

frequent roots



brown

Subsoil


occasional fragments of

decayed rock

10 YR 6/4 Light

yellowish brown

Subsoil


more compacted and

more frequent

decomposed rock in

depth


rock

AH13

DEPTH

(cm)



25 – 78 Silty CLAY, getting

more compacted in depth

10 YR 6/4 Light

yellowish brown

Subsoil

78 – 132 Silty CLAY; not as

compacted as previous

layer but getting mottled

at c.134cm

10 YR 6/6 Brownish

yellow

Subsoil

132 – 173 Slightly silty CLAY,

mottled

10 YR 6/4 Light

yellowish brown &

patches of 5 YR 5/6

yellowish red


rock


getting moist in depth

5 YR 6/2 Pinkish grey &

patches of 5 YR 5/6

yellowish red (reduce in

depth)


rock

333 – 413 Very slightly sandy

CLAY

5 YR 5/1 Grey Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH14

DEPTH SOIL DESCRIPTION COLOUR FINDS REMARKS

21

(cm)


13 – 48 Clayey SILT 10 YR 6/3 Pale brown Subsoil

48 – 83 Clayey SILT with white

decayed rock

10 YR 7/3 Very pale

brown


rock

AH15

DEPTH

(cm)



brown

Topsoil

33 – 63 Silty CLAY 10 YR 5/3 Brown Subsoil

63 – 90 Silty CLAY, frequent

white decayed rock from

c.79cm onwards

7.5 YR 6/2 Pinkish grey Subsoil

90 – 128 Very slightly silty CLAY 5 YR 5/8 Yellowish red Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH16

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 16 Slightly clayey SILT 7.5 YR 4/3 Brown 1 small provincial

porcelain rimsherd

(C19-20)

Topsoil


and slightly silty CLAY

7.5 YR 5/4 Brown Subsoil

32 – 65 Very slightly sandy and

clayey SILT, friable

7.5 YR 6/3 Light brown Subsoil

47 -129 Slightly clayey, sandy

and gravelly SILT

5 YR 6/3 Light reddish

brown


rock

AH17

DEPTH

(cm)



very slightly clayey SILT


12 – 22 Slightly sandy and silty

CLAY

7.5 YR 5/3 Brown Interface

22 – 100 Slightly silty CLAY 2.5 YR 5/3 Reddish

brown

Subsoil

100 – 132 Slightly gravelly and

slightly clayey SILT

10 YR 5/3 Weak red Subsoil

132 – 161 Slightly gravelly and

clayey SILT

2.5 YR 5/2 Weak red Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH18

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 28 Slightly clayey SILT

with frequent roots



yellow

Subsoil

82 – 116 Silty CLAY 7.5 YR 6/8 Reddish

yellow

Subsoil

116 – 154 Slightly silty CLAY 7.5 YR 5/8 Strong brown Subsoil

AH19

DEPTH SOIL DESCRIPTION COLOUR FINDS REMARKS

22

(cm)


9 – 47 Slightly gravelly SILT

with decayed rock

10 YR 5/4 Yellowish

brown

Subsoil

47 – 57 A band of slightly silty

and very slightly gravelly

CLAY

5 YR 5/3 Reddish brown Subsoil

57 – 392 Slightly gravelly SILT

with decayed rock


rock

AH20

DEPTH

(cm)



with frequent roots


44 – 144 Very slightly silty

CLAY; fragments of

white decayed rock from

c.50cm onwards and

increase in depth


rock

AH21

DEPTH

(cm)



very slightly clayey SILT



brown

Subsoil

35 – 90 Very slightly silty CLAY

with flecks of white

decayed rock from

c.90cm onwards

7.5 YR 5/6 Strong brown Subsoil

90 – 160 Very slightly silty and

slightly gravelly CLAY

7.5 YR 6/2 Pinkish grey Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH22

DEPTH

(cm)



27 – 58 Very slightly clayey

CLAY with occasional

root skin fragments

10 YR 5/6 Yellowish

brown

Subsoil


CLAY; fragments of

decayed rock from

c.123cm onwards and

more frequent in depth

7.5 YR 5/8 Strong brown Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH23

DEPTH

(cm)




brown

Subsoil

28 – 94 Very slightly silty CLAY 7.5 YR 5/6 Strong brown

(getting more reddish in

depth)

Subsoil

94 – 219 Very silty CLAY; 10 YR 5/4 Yellowish Subsoil

23

fragments of decayed

rock from c.158cm

onwards

brown


and slightly silty CLAY

2.5 YR 5/1 Reddish grey Subsoil


bigger fragments of

decayed rock (angular,

maximum length c.2cm)

GLEY 1 5/N Grey Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH24

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 15 Slightly clayey SILT 7.5 YR 3/3 Dark brown Topsoil


slightly silty CLAY

10 YR 5/6 Yellowish

brown

Subsoil


slightly silty CLAY

7.5 YR 5/4 Brown Subsoil


slightly silty CLAY

2.5 YR 5/2 Weak red Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH25

DEPTH

(cm)



with occasional small

stones


23 – 106 Very silty CLAY, getting

compacted in depth;

decayed rock from

c.53cm onwards

5 YR 5/2 Reddish grey Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH26

DEPTH

(cm)



slightly clayey SILT

10 YR 4/3 Brown Surface finds: 2 Tile

1 brown glazed

stoneware bodysherd

(C19-20)

Topsoil

11 – 28 Very slightly gravelly,

slightly sandy and clayey

SILT

10 YR 5/3 Brown Subsoil

28 – 47 Very slightly sandy

CLAY

10 YR 5/3 Brown Subsoil

47 – 108 Slightly clayey, very

slightly sandy and


7.5 YR 5/2 Brown Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH27

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 19 Clayey SILT 10 YR 4/2 Dark greyish

brown

Surface find: 1

provincial porcelain

bodysherd (C19-20)

Topsoil

19 – 57 Silty CLAY 10 YR 6/4 Light

yellowish brown

Subsoil

57 – 87 Slightly silty CLAY 10 YR 6/2 Light Subsoil

24

brownish grey


slightly silty CLAY

7.5 YR 6/1 Grey Subsoil


slightly silty CLAY with

patches of pure white

CLAY (7.5 YR 8/1

white) increase in depth;

iron pan from c.274cm

onwards; getting more

clayey and moist in

depth

7.5 YR 6/1 Grey Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH28

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 24 Silty CLAY with some

shells and frequent

stones

10 YR 5/8 Yellowish

brown

Surface find: 1

modern glass marble

2 small worn red

brick fragments at

22cm

Fill

24 – 128 Silty CLAY with

decayed rock and shells

(e.g. Strombus luhuanus,

Hemifusus tuba (Gmelin)

& other edible

gastropods)

7.5 YR 5/6 Strong brown Fill


occasional shells

10 YR 5/6 Yellowish

brown


rock

AH29

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 32 Very clayey and slightly

gravelly SILT with

stones

10 YR 4/3 Brown Occasional tile

fragments

Topsoil

32 – 67 Slightly silty and very

slightly gravelly CLAY

with decayed rock

10 YR 5/6 Yellowish

brown

Subsoil (natural)

67 – 98 Very clayey and slightly

gravelly SILT with

decayed rock

10 YR 6/6 Brownish

yellow


rock

AH30

DEPTH

(cm)



frequent roots

10 YR 6/3 Pale brown Topsoil

25 – 84 Slightly silty CLAY 10 YR 6/4 Light

yellowish brown

Subsoil

84 – 153 Silty CLAY; fragments

of decayed rock from

c.140cm onwards

10 YR 7/4 Very pale

brown


rock

AH31

DEPTH

(cm)


25

0 – 23 Very slightly silty CLAY 10 YR 5/4 Yellowish

brown

Topsoil

23 – 36 Very slightly silty CLAY 10 YR 6/6 Brownish

yellow

Transitional layer


CLAY; fragments of

decayed rock from

c.130cm onwards


rock

AH32

DEPTH

(cm)



10 – 22 Very clayey SILT 10 YR 5/3 Brown Subsoil

22 – 46 Silty CLAY 10 YR 6/6 Brownish

yellow

Subsoil


very slightly gravelly

CLAY


rock

AH33

DEPTH

(cm)




CLAY; fragments of

decayed rock from

c.128cm onwards

10 YR 6/6 Brownish

yellow


rock

AH34

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 2 Clayey SILT 10 YR 2/1 Black Topsoil

2 – 6 Slightly clayey SILT 10 YR 4/3 Brown Transitional layer


brown

Cultural Layer (Han)

47 -129 Very slightly silty CLAY

with decayed rock


rock

AH35

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 4 Very clayey SILT 10 YR 3/2 Very dark

greyish brown

Topsoil


brown




CLAY with decayed

rock


rock

AH36

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 3 Clayey SILT 10 YR 2/2 Very dark

brown

Topsoil

3 – 90 Silty and very slightly

gravelly CLAY

10 YR 5/6 Yellowish

brown

Fill: abandoned due to

rock

26

AH37

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 3 Clayey SILT with roots 10 YR 4/2 Dark greyish

brown

Topsoil

3 – 45 Slightly silty CLAY 7.5 YR 5/6 Strong brown Fill


brown


68 – 140 Very slightly silty CLAY 7.5 YR 5/6 Strong brown Subsoil with decayed

rock

AH38

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 29 Slightly clayey silt with

frequent rocks

10 YR 4/2 Dark greyish

brown

Topsoil

29 – 42 Silty CLAY with

occasional rock


42 – 64 Slightly silty CLAY 10YR 5/4 Yellowish

brown


64 – 109 Very slightly silty CLAY

with decayed rocks

increase in depth

7.5 YR 6/6 Reddish

yellow


rock

AH39

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 8 Clayey SILT with

frequent rock

10 YR 3/2 Very dark

greyish brown

Topsoil

8 – 23 Silty and slightly

gravelly (angular to sub-

angular) CLAY with

frequent shell fragments

10 YR 5/4 Yellowish

brown

1 brown glazed

stoneware rimsherd

(C19-20) & 1 animal

tooth at 15-23cm

Fill


very gravelly CLAY

with occasional shells

and shell fragments;

decayed rock increase in

depth



brown




CLAY


rock

AH40

DEPTH

(cm)


0 – 18 Clayey and very slightly

gravelly SILT with

occasional shells

10 YR 4/3 Brown Modern debris such

as glass bottle

fragments and small

grey tile fragments

Topsoil

18 – 117 Very silty CLAY with

more decayed rocks in

depth from c.117cm

onwards

7.5 YR 6/6 Reddish

brown; getting paler in

depth due to decayed

rock

Subsoil

117 – 157 Silty CLAY with 5 YR 6/6 Reddish yellow Subsoil with decayed

27

decayed rock rock

5.3.3 Discussion

A simple sediment sequence comprising thin topsoil over a deep clay-rich decayed rock sequence—

in some areas with an interface layer discernible between the two—was noted across the entire north-

western or southern survey areas. The vast majority of the data gathered to the north-west and south

indicated agricultural activity of broadly Qing-20th

-century date. The one notable exception within

the initial 33 auger tests (AH1-33) conducted being AH28, which produced a deep fill sequence that,

perhaps not surprisingly, indicated a different pattern of human activity within the village proper.

However, it was not until T5 was excavated some 20m upslope to the north-west that a Han horizon

sealed by the fill was identifiable. Thereafter, seven additional auger tests (AH34-40) were

conducted in the village and a soil horizon of near-identical colour and texture to that defined in T5

[503] was noted below fill in auger holes AH34, 35, 37, 38 and 39. Although the auger tests

produced no Han finds, the dark layers identified in the five locations are so consistently similar to

layer 503 that the wider extent of the Han deposit can with some confidence be plotted (see grey

shading in Figure 6 and further discussion below).

5.4 Terrace Face Cuttings

5.4.1 Introduction

In order to fully realise the agricultural potential of their limited amount of land the Yim Tin Tsai

villagers intensively managed the island’s landscape by cutting terraces, some of which they revetted

using locally available stone. Accessible terraces in the southern half of the island tended to be small

and poorly defined, whereas in the north-western survey area there were many much better preserved

and substantial examples, six of which were cut back, trowel cleaned and photographed (TF1-TF6:

Plates 11-16 respectively). The positions of the six terrace faces are indicated on Figures 3 and 7.

5.4.2 Terrace Face TF1 (Plate 11) This was the most northerly of the six terrace faces, located around 3m south-west of auger hole

AH26 on the eastern side of the small promontory marking the north-western tip of the island. The

north-east facing agricultural terrace was c.0.70m high, of which 0.53m was topsoil and the

remainder subsoil. As Plate 11 shows, the face of the terrace had been revetted using the local

purplish-grey bedrock laid in several rough ‘courses’, which had weathered into a soft, crumbly

condition. No finds were noted during the cleaning and recording works.

5.4.3 Terrace Face TF2 (Plate 12)

Terrace face TF2 was located 4.5m west of auger hole AH24 on the western flank of the small hill

marking the north-eastern border of the former arable land. The west facing terrace measured

c.0.85m high, of which 0.55m was topsoil and the remainder subsoil. The bottom c.0.25m of the face

had traces of the same weathered purplish-grey bedrock notes in TF1, but here less convincing as

evidence of intentional revetment to retain the soil within the terrace. Again there were no finds

identified during the cutting and cleaning process.


This terrace face was located around 10m south-west of auger hole AH21 on the south-western flank

of the same small hill as TF2. The south-west facing section stood around 0.95m high with just

0.20m of that being topsoil, while the lower 0.75m was clay-rich subsoil. No evidence for stone

revetment was found in this case and no finds were recovered during the cutting back and cleaning

works.

28


East-north-east facing TF4 was located 4.5m north-east of auger hole AH6 on the eastern flank of the

ridge forming the highest ground traversed by the baseline. The terrace had a maximum height of

1.25m—0.95m at the cut face—of which just 0.15m was topsoil, around 0.20m interface layer, and

the remainder subsoil with decayed rock. Towards the north-western end of the cleaned-up face was

a localised patch of dark topsoil extending around 0.25m deep by a similar amount wide, which is

probably an agricultural feature of some sort—perhaps a planting pit. Two fragments of roof-tile and

a Qing-20th

-century brown glazed stoneware base were found during the cleaning works.


The best preserved length of terrace face examined during the project was located some 3.5m east of

auger hole AH19, on the penultimate terrace before the steep drop-off down to the island’s west

coast. The west facing terrace was just c.0.75m high with approximately 0.15m of topsoil overlying

the decayed rock subsoil. The northern and southern ends of the cleaned-up terrace face revealed

quite well-preserved revetment wall made from the heavily weathered pinkish-coloured native rock

noted in many of the north-western testing locations. There were no finds recovered in this instance.


The final terrace face investigated was located 10.5m south of AH5 at the western edge of the same

ridge of high ground as TF4. Interestingly, the cut-back length of west facing terrace appeared to

show that the plateau had expanded to the north but was cut away to the west. Thus in the sequence

visible in section on Plate 16 we can see to the right a horizontal division between the 0.33m thick

topsoil and 0.57m thick decayed rock subsoil, but to the left-hand side that line slopes down at 45

degrees so that the topsoil extends to the base of the terrace face. The green brick and orange tile

visible at the base of the terrace face are therefore actually in the topsoil. It is hard to say whether the

topsoil was intentionally ‘tipped’ off the plateau edge to extend its area, or gradually accumulated

due to agricultural activity and erosion. Three further finds from the topsoil comprised a Qing-20th

-

century brown glazed stoneware rimsherd from a shallow bowl, a pink roof-tile fragment and a large

flake of rhyolite with no obvious signs of working.

5.4.8 Discussion The experience of clearing the jungle and then daily walking in and out of the che (terraced land) to

work for a few short weeks gave some opportunity for reflection on the enormous investment of time

and effort made by multiple generations of Yim Tin Tsai villagers in order to create and maintain a

productive agricultural landscape on less than perfect land. As Figures 3 and 7 show, the six terrace

faces studied in detail are but short lengths of much larger features, which articulate with others to

create a fully utilised landscape. It is unclear why some terraces were stone-revetted while others

apparently were not. Did it relate to the villagers’ knowledge of wet season patterns of run-off and

associated erosion risk, was it related to the localised geology or crops grown in certain fields, or was

it simply a matter of preference for different families? Further research should provide an answer.

5.5 Test Pits

In an ideal situation one would hope to be able to position test pits based on the patterning of

archaeological discoveries made during earlier testing. The generally poor results of the field scan,

auger tests and terrace cuttings at Yim Tin Tsai therefore made the process of test pit positioning

rather difficult. The placement of three of the test pits was aimed to test different topographic zones

within the north-western survey area (T2-T4), but was also guided by the patterning of field scan-

auger findings: the large flake of rhyolite in TF6 (T2), another chip of rhyolite in AH10 (T3), and

particularly large numbers of surface finds around AH27 (T4). The fourth test pit was located in the

centre of the village (T5) just upslope from an unusually deep fill sequence in AH28, while the fifth

29

was positioned to investigate an unusually deep interface deposit near AH30 to the south-west of the

village (T6). NB: Excavation area “T1” was reserved for the investigations conducted at the Old

Chapel.

The test pits all measured 1 x 2m in size and each was excavated down to sterile decayed rock at a

maximum depth of around 1m. For each test pit the sequence of deposits is discussed first, working

from the surface downwards, and contexts are shown in square brackets and appear in bold type

when first mentioned (e.g. [501]). Thereafter any finds discovered are discussed and then used to

date the layers from which they came. Figure 3 shows the positions of the five test pits within the

study area, while the supporting survey and finds data can be found tabulated in Sections 16 and 17.

5.5.1 Test Pit 2

Test pit T2 was positioned between auger holes AH4 and AH5 on the high western ridge of ground

at around 16.52m PD. The test pit’s long axis was orientated east-west. A single surface find of

typical Qing-20th

-century brown glazed stoneware was made during clearance works for the pit.

Drawn and photographic details of the excavated test pit can be found in Figure 9 and Plates 17 and

18.

At TP2 the 0.15m thick topsoil was a loose to friable dark reddish grey (5YR 4/2) very slightly

gravelly and sandy, slightly clayey silt [201], with occasional 1-2cm rounded pebbles and very

occasional chunks of angular decayed rock. The underlying firm to hard reddish brown (5YR 5/3)

subsoil [202] consisted of very slightly silty clay with an increasing proportion of decayed rock with

depth. Decayed rock was encountered high up in layer 202 and the work area was therefore reduced

to 1 x 1m in the northern half of the test pit, wherein excavation ceased in decayed bedrock at

c.0.60m below surface.

The pottery assemblage from 201 comprised four sherds of provincial porcelain—including some

Wun Yiu—and seven brown glazed stonewares (Plate 21), together with 20 fragments of red or grey

roof-tile (Plate 22)—including one disc-shaped example that had almost certainly been shaped into a

gaming piece (Plate 19)—and two chunks of green brick, together with six iron objects (Plate 20). A

date range of Qing-20th

century is indicated. Also present in 201 were six flakes of hard stone—

probably rhyolite—that may be prehistoric stone-working debitage disturbed from the subsoil

surface. In addition, there were two finds from the surface of layer 202 comprising a grey roof-tile

fragment and a provincial porcelain base, again suggesting a similar date.

5.5.2 Test Pit 3

This northernmost test pit was located on the terraced lower slopes of a small hill near auger hole

AH10 and had a surface height of 15.24m PD. The long axis of the test pit was orientated east-west.

Drawn and photographic details of the excavated test pit can be found in Figure 10 and Plates 23 and

24.

Here the 0.17m thick topsoil was a friable brown (10YR 4/3) slightly clayey silt [301]. Beneath that

was a 0.13m thick layer of friable to firm yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clayey silt [302] whose

position, colour and texture identified it as an interface layer resulting from the mixing of the topsoil

and clay subsoil during cultivation. The underlying firm to hard subsoil deposits [303] had in their

surface an angular rock measuring some 0.2m x 0.2m in plan. The trench was reduced to 1 x 1m and

the eastern half was then excavated down through the subsoil to around 0.65m below surface (0.94

below surface in an auger hole previously drilled to test the deposit). The subsoil consisted of

brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) slightly silty clay, which by around 0.2m depth graded into strong

30

brown (7.5YR 5/8) very slightly silty clay with an increasing proportion of reddish decayed rock that

continued to the limit of excavation.

Topsoil 301 produced an assemblage comprising two sherds of provincial porcelain, two of brown

glazed and one of plain stoneware, 15 fragments of grey or red roof-tile, and three iron objects

including two bent nails. Two small flakes of stone comprised one of probable rhyolite while the

other was a sub-rectangular flint (Plate 25). Both may be stone-working debitage and the flint is

certainly not native to the region and therefore imported—it could be a discarded strike-a-light or

even a flintlock gun flint. Interface layer 302 produced a sherd of brown glazed stoneware, four grey

roof-tile fragments, and the handle of a teaspoon bearing the producer’s stamp “三民 … 出品” (Plate

26). A further sub-rectangular flint flake was recovered from 302 and the same possible

interpretations can again be applied. A sherd of modern green bottle glass was recorded but not

retained. Lastly, a single small fragment of red roof-tile was recovered from the upper part of subsoil

303, which was no doubt introduced by cultivation from above. Once again, a date range spanning

the (later?) Qing dynasty to 20th

century is indicated.

5.5.3 Test Pit 4

Test pit T4 was located beside auger hole AH27 on a terraced slope in the south-western corner of

the northern survey area and had a surface elevation of 14.20m PD. The test pit’s long axis was

orientated north-east to south-west. A relatively substantial assemblage of surface finds comprised

five brown glazed stoneware sherds, five provincial porcelain, and seven roof-tile fragments,

together with modern glass and plastic. Drawn and photographic details of the excavated test pit can

be found in Figure 11 and Plates 27 and 28).

In T4 the topsoil was a 0.18m thick layer of loose-friable dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2) clayey silt

[401]. Beneath that the subsoil was deposit of hard light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) slightly silty

clay [402], which continued to a depth of 0.78m below surface in the 1 x 1m sondage in the north-

east half of the trench. Within 402, in particular at the north-east end of the pit, there was an

increasing proportion of pale brown (10YR 6/3) decomposed rock with depth. A brown (7.5YR 5/4)

very slightly silty clay lower subsoil deposit [403], with flecks of yellowish red (5YR 5/8) decayed

rock, was identified in the sondage and measured 0.12m thick at the limit of excavation.

Topsoil 401 produced an assemblage comprising three sherds of provincial porcelain, nine of brown

glazed and two of plain stoneware, seven fragments of grey or red roof-tile (Plate 29), and seven iron

objects of which six were possible nails and the seventh a nut. Fourteen sherds of modern bottle glass

were recovered but later discarded. Here again, a date range spanning the Qing dynasty to 20th

century is indicated. Layers 402 and 403 were both sterile.

5.5.4 Test Pit 5

Test pit T5 was the ‘odd man out’ in that it was the only one not positioned adjacent to an auger hole;

the nearest being AH28 being some 20m down slope to the south-east. However, the deep fill

sequence at AH28 was different from any of the other tests and it was therefore felt necessary to do

some further testing within the village to get a better understanding of any original deposits sealed by

the fill. In Yim Tin Tsai village the natural sloping topography of the lower hillside overlooking the

former bay has been much altered due to the creation of building platforms to accommodate houses

and other structures, while hard surfacing of one sort or covers areas in between. However, there was

one reasonably large flat open space just above AH28, to the east of the former school, and south of

the ruined north-south orientated old part of the village that was chosen as the location for T5. The

surface elevation beside T5 was 15.26m PD and the test pit was orientated with its long axis east-

west. Surface clearance produced a single sherd of brown glazed stoneware, two sherds of white

31

porcelain and 14 roof-tile fragments. Drawn and photographic details of the excavated test pit can be

found in Figure 12 and Plates 30-33 inclusive).

The thin surface deposit was a loose-friable very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) slightly sandy, very

clayey silt with occasional small angular stones [501]—evidently the result of natural leaf-litter

decay rather than agriculture. Beneath the topsoil was a mixed layer of firm textured fill comprising

roughly equal proportions of brown (10YR 4/3) very slightly sandy clay and yellowish brown (10YR

5/6) clay [502] with frequent rubble, which tapered out to the north-west and thickened appreciably

down towards the south-east corner of the pit, where it measured 0.40m thick. The fill sealed a

c.0.25m thick undulating layer of hard brown (10YR 5/3) very slightly sandy, silty clay [503] with

very occasional angular stones up to 0.15 x 0.15 x 0.20m in size, which sloped downhill from north-

west to south-east and probably records the original topography in the area. Under layer 503 was the

natural subsoil sequence that was recorded as a 0.21m thick (at l.o.e.) deposit of yellowish brown

(10YR 5/6) very slightly gravelly, slightly silty clay with frequent chips of yellowish red (5YR 5/6)

decayed rock—giving way to larger chunks of crumbly rock deeper down to the east [504].

Fill 502 produced a mixed finds assemblage comprising the following items: a fragment of roof-tile

and one of green brick, five sherds of brown glazed stoneware and one of provincial porcelain (Qing-

20th

-century), three refitting fragments of a possible whetstone (Plate 34), and two refitting net-

impressed Han stoneware bodysherds (Plate 35). The most exciting discovery during the survey was

the 77 sherds of Han pottery recovered from layer 503 comprising: a cord-impressed coarseware

bodysherd (SF01 – Figure 13a & Plate 36); 24 sherds of fine red fabric pottery including 18 with

impressed rectangular ‘degenerate’ net (SF02 - Figure 13b & Plate 37); six stoneware rimsherds

(SF04-09 – Plates 37a-40 & Figure 14) including a large rim-and-shoulder sherd with hooked rim,

seal stamp-over-net design and brown ‘glaze’ (SF06 – Figures 13d & 15; Plate 38)—actually “kiln

glost” caused accidentally by dripping fuel-ash during kiln firing (Medley 1989: 40-41; P. Lam pers.

comm.)—and one with a horizontal lug (SF07 – Figure 14 & Plate 39); 37 stoneware bodysherds

including two with impressed small net, another with lug scars, and a second sherd with seal stamp-

over-net decoration (SF10 – Figure 13c & Plate 41); and lastly 9 stoneware base sherds (SF11-15:

Plates 41a-e & Figure 16) and an unusual example of a probable jar base with high and sharply

potted foot-ring (SF03 – Figure 17 & Plate 42). In addition, there were two small undiagnostic iron

objects, half a bivalve shell and a small fragment of red roof-tile (probably intrusive). Layer 504 was

sterile.

Fuller details of the above Han special finds can be found in Section 9 of the Special Finds

Catalogue, which identifies comparanda for many of the Yim Tin Tsai finds, in particular from the

nearby site on Kau Sai Chau. Discussion and interpretation of layers 502 and 503 is reserved for the

overall discussion of test pit results in Sections 8.2.1, 8.2.2 and 8.2.3.

5.5.5 Test Pit 6

Test pit T6 was located just above auger hole AH30 on the gently terraced upper slope of a small

hillock to the west of the salt-field. The test pit was orientated with its long axis north-south and it

had a surface elevation of 15.17m PD. There were no surface finds surrounding T6. Drawn and

photographic details of the excavated test pit can be found in Figure 18 and Plates 43 and 44.

The topsoil was a 0.15m thick layer of loose-friable brown (10YR 5/3) very slightly sandy, slightly

silty clay with occasional angular stones up to 5cm square [601]. Beneath that was a 20cm thick

interface layer of firm pale brown (10YR 6/3) very slightly sandy, slightly silty clay [602], whose

undulating lower boundary suggested the former presence of ridge-and-furrow cultivation. The

average depth of such furrows was around 7cm, but the deepest was over 15cm deep (see Figure and

32

Plate of east facing section). Once the decayed rock subsoil was encountered the excavation was

reduced to a 1 x1m sondage in the northern half of the test pit. The subsoil was recorded as a 0.33m

thick (at l.o.e.) deposit of hard pale brown (2.5YR 7/4) very slightly sandy clay with occasional

nodules of iron-rich decayed rock and very occasional small flecks of charcoal [603].

Topsoil 601 produced 18 iron objects comprising 11 nails and seven plate fragments (Plate 45), four

roof-tile fragments, and 13 sherds of modern bottle glass, which were counted and discarded. Layers

602 and 603 were both sterile. Based on the bottle glass a date somewhere in the 20th

century seems

most likely for the cultivation activity evidenced in T6.

PART 3: OLD CHAPEL INVESTIGATION

6. Old Chapel Investigation

6.1 Introduction

During the fieldwork the Old Chapel was already in the process of being consolidated as a ruin ahead

of its planned use as a place of Catholic pilgrimage relating to Saint Joseph Frienademetz, who as the

community’s priest resided and led services in the building during the late 19th

century. The

archaeological works were therefore designed to investigate, characterise and record the building

prior to the completion of such revitalisation works. A schematic plan of the Old Chapel and nearby

village houses VH1 onto which the Old Chapel was added (to the east) and VH2 (to the south) can be

found in Figure 19 and the Harris Matrix can be found in Section 15.

Some rubble clearance works had previously been completed by the villagers, during which the

central area of the floor and several large rough-dressed granite slabs had been removed (see

discussion in 6.4 below). The original floor surface therefore only survived in the north-east corner

of the main room and in the southern one third of the area of the small eastern room—the northern

two thirds having been recently sealed by concrete. Oral testimony from villagers and photographic

evidence from before the earlier clearance works both indicated that the main doorway into the Old

Chapel, which by that time had been converted to domestic use, was formerly in the centre of the

east-west orientated south wall. Within living memory, access was gained through the back door of

village house VH2, immediately south of the Old Chapel, but that back door was later partially

blocked and converted to a window once the Old Chapel had become a ruin, which must have

occurred post-1963 (when aerial photographic evidence shows it was then still roofed).

Investigations at the Old Chapel site were focused on the excavation and digital recording of the

following: the standing remains of the north [107a] and east walls [107b] with integral load-bearing

dividing wall [106], the standing remains and much-reduced foundations of the building’s west

[105a] and south walls [105b], post-abandonment spread [104], secondary [118] and primary

building collapse [120] over surviving (and accessible) areas of the original rammed clay floor in the

north-east corner of the central room [112] and southern end of the eastern room [117], the doorway

[109 & 110] between the central and eastern rooms, and masonry staircase base [111] leading to the

cockloft above the eastern room. The work also involved the analysis of the building’s internal

stratigraphic sequence and its relationships with the two nearby village houses (VH1 to the east and

VH2 to the south). Each context number will be shown in bold type where it is first described in

detail (i.e. [101]), but then in normal type elsewhere.

We begin by discussing the Old Chapel’s standing remains comprising the north and east [107a & b]

walls together with the eastern (N-S orientated) load-bearing dividing wall [106] (6.2), followed by

33

the standing remains and foundations of the south and west walls (6.3), then the internal features of

the floors, doorways and staircase base (6.4), and finally the collection of loose granite slabs and

blocks in terms of their supposed original location and functions within the building (6.5).

The following discussion of results at the Old Chapel should be read in conjunction with overall

survey plan Figure 20, the Harris Matrix (Section 16), and supporting survey and finds data, which

are tabulated in Sections 16 to 17.

6.2 North Wall [107a], Dividing Wall [106] & Eastern Gable End [107b]

6.2.1 Introduction

The most prominent remains within the Old Chapel comprised the high eastern gable end [107b] and

north wall [107a], together with the north-south orientated internal dividing wall [106]. Walls 107a

and 106 were clearly keyed-into one another and therefore of contemporary build, while the greater

thickness of 106 identified it as the main load-bearing member supporting the upper floor above the

eastern room and the high pitched roof over that. The construction, features and relationships visible

in this main block of masonry are discussed below with reference to the surveyors’ digital drawings

and photographic records of the south facing elevation on the north wall (Figure 21) and west facing

elevation of the dividing wall (6.2.2), and the west facing elevation of the eastern gable end (6.2.3).

6.2.2 North Wall [107a] & Dividing Wall [106]

The north wall [107a] was on average 0.43m thick and constructed from a mix of angular and

rounded boulders—few if any with obvious evidence of dressing—their colours and shapes

reflecting the contrasting geology of harder rhyolite and softer volcanic tuffs (Plate 46). Given the

thinness of this wall, it was not surprising that many stones extended through the full width of the

wall and can therefore be described as ‘through-stones’ or ‘perpend stones’, which keyed the

structure together, while smaller facing stones were less common (see wall 105 below for contrasting

build). The stones were bonded with a mortar that recorded as very pale brown (10YR 8/3) very

slightly gravelly, slightly silty sandy clay, which was apparently derived from the local decayed rock

subsoil, and used throughout the Old Chapel structure as well as other old buildings in the village.

Wall 107a survived to a maximum height of 4.85m—measured from the recently concreted surfaced

of the unexcavated rubble inside the eastern room—and 4.27m high from the pathway outside the

wall (Figure 21 & Plate 47). The overall E-W length of wall 107a’s standing masonry was 6.20m,

measured from the outside (north-east) corner of the building. Although the eastern dividing wall

[106] was fully keyed-into 107a, and had obviously been built at the same time, it was nevertheless a

significantly more substantial structure at up to 0.55m thick, which survived to maximum height of

2.01m and was 3.60m long (Figure 22 & Plate 48). Wall 106 was in part constructed using parallel

facing stones—up to 0.17 x 0.18 x 0.50m in size—with rubble and mortar fill, but also incorporated

some quite massive boulders—up to 0.25 x 0.28 x 0.49m in size—as through-stones such as the

example beside the doorway into the eastern room (Figure 23 & Plate 49). The archaeological

evidence—and oral testimony of elderly villagers—indicated that the eastern room of the Old Chapel

had an upper floor, which explains why wall 106 and the lower part of the eastern gable wall 107b

(see below), were thicker than all other walls in the building.

6.2.3 East Gable Wall [107b] The east gable wall [107b] provided by far the richest source of information regarding the Old

Chapel’s former appearance, internal stratigraphic sequence, and external relationships with

adjoining buildings (Figure 24 & Plate 50). The west facing elevation of walls 107b and VH1 west

gable wall [108] has several clues regarding the relative dating of the Old Chapel and VH1. Firstly,

an examination of the physical relationship of walls 107b and 108—both inside and outside the Old

34

Chapel—showed that wall 107b had been built onto the western gable wall [108] of VH1. With the

construction of southern wall [105b], which abutted wall 108 with a vertical joint (i.e. 105b was later

than 108), the northern end of VH1’s west gable wall became part of the Old Chapel structure. The

‘ghost’ of the collapsed upper part of the eastern end of wall 105b can still be traced in two slight

lines of mortar running up the face of wall 108. The fact that wall 105b respected the position of

VH1’s west gable wall window [114] seemed to indicate that the village house was still in use when

the Old Chapel was built onto it. Contrasting evidence is provided on the opposite (eastern) face of

wall 108, where a triangular block of masonry [115] can be seen to have been built directly on top of

wall 108 (Plate 51), which would presumably have destroyed the roof-tiles forming the western edge

of VH1’s roof. This therefore suggests that VH1 may in fact have been disused when the Old Chapel

was tacked onto it. Masonry 115 was part of the same phase of build as the Old Chapel’s brick-lined

upstairs window [113] and supported the southern edge of the large pitched roof visible in Plate 6’s

1963 AP, which interestingly seems to show the Old Chapel, VH1 and VH2 all roofed. The other

major features visible in eastern gable wall 107b are the upper floor beam slots and beam support

ledge, all arrowed in Figure 24, which confirm the presence of an upper floor above the eastern room.

The question of the mode of access to that upper floor was answered during excavations in the

central room (see 6.4.3 below).

6.3 South and West Walls [105a & 105b]

A number of flat stones visible on the surface just east of the ruined pigsty at the western side of the

Old Chapel were hypothesised to be the wall foundations marking the south-west corner of the

building, and a long, narrow (average 0.90m wide) L-shaped trench was therefore laid out c.3.90m

N-S by c.6.30m E-W in order to investigate and test that idea (Figure 20 & Plate 52). Unfortunately,

the recent demolition of part of VH2’s north wall [116] had produced a large volume of masonry and

mortar rubble that was allocated two different numbers within the Old Chapel site [101] and in the

‘alley’ between the southern wall of the chapel ruin and VH2 wall 116 [102]. The site contractor

removed the rubble in the alley before archaeological works began and handed over three metal

cabinet fittings recovered during that process. In contrast, rubble spread 101 within the Old Chapel

was hand excavated by the archaeological team but only produced a small and undiagnostic

assemblage of finds.

As excavation progressed it quickly became apparent that several of the flat stones were very large,

quite well articulated with one another and were indeed the foundations of the west [105a] and south

[105b] walls of the Old Chapel, which had been reduced to the basal course between the SW corner

and the site of the removed granite threshold slab formerly marking the front doorway. The stones

used in the foundation reflected the two main geologies present on the island with some slabs being

harder, angular grey rhyolite while others were softer, more rounded boulders of reddish and

yellowish brown tuffs. The foundation course was on average somewhat wider than the surviving

upper courses of wall 105a and 105b—a commonsense design providing a stable footing—with the

foundation measuring 0.55-0.60m wide and the wall proper c.0.45-0.50m wide. On the supposed

western side of the front doorway was an expanded area of foundation stonework [105c], which was

no doubt intended to provide the increased load-bearing necessary in that location (Plate 53). There

was also a change in the character of build in that the foundation course consisted mainly of large flat

slabs that spanned the full width of the structure, whereas the upper courses of the wall included

parallel rows of facing stones with rubble and clay mortar core, which were keyed together by

regularly placed through-stones. At the northern end of wall 105a, where it disappeared under the

large boulder staircase providing access to the Old Chapel from the north-west, the fragmentary

structure had traces of three courses of masonry. In contrast, at the south-eastern corner of the site, a

4.20m length of wall 105b survived to its full width of 0.50m—including plaster facings—and to a

height of 1.63m and perhaps seven or even eight rough courses (Figure 25 & Plate 54).

35

6.4 Internal Floors, Doorway & Staircase Base

6.4.1 Post-Abandonment Deposits over Internal Floor 112=117 The surviving areas of internal floor in the main room [112] and in the east room [117] were overlain

by a sequence of collapsed material that had accumulated during the later 20th

century following the

abandonment of the building (Figures 20 & 26; Plate 55). The collapsed material covered the entire

area—5.40m (N-S) by 5.50m (E-W)—of floors 112 and 117. Over floor 112 the primary building

collapse [120] was a layer of loose brown (7.5YR 4/4) very slightly gravelly, slightly sandy and silty

clay, which thinned from around 0.35m thick to the north-west to perhaps 0.10m thick near the

entrance to the east room. Almost 50% of the layer by volume consisted of a combination of frequent

red and grey roof-tiles, with lesser quantities of flat wall plaster and then green bricks. One sherd of

20th

-century provincial porcelain was recovered. Overlying 120 was a c.0.25m thick layer of loose

dark greyish brown (10YR 4/2) very slightly gravelly, slightly sandy, clayey silt [118], which like

120 thinned from north-west to south-east across the site. Again a significant proportion of the

volume was made up of roof-tile, green bricks, flat wall plaster and collapsed masonry in the form of

rounded and angular boulders. Three sherds of glazed stoneware could only be broadly dated as

Qing-C20th but were probably (re)deposited in the later 20th

century. The uppermost post-

abandonment layer had been organically enhanced by decades of decayed leaf litter and was

therefore dark and silty in character. It was recorded as very dark greyish brown (10YR 3/2) loose

very slightly gravelly and sandy, slightly clayey silt [104] with frequent angular and rounded stones

from the collapse of walls 106 and 107, together with green bricks—some with plaster skim—and

much roof-tile (Plate 56). A green brick with crude plaster moulding (SF30 – Plates 57 & 58) was

found, which matches another example (SF29) recovered as a surface find from in front of the pigsty

immediately west of the Old Chapel. Other finds comprised a range of 20th

-century materials

including a marble, tin bowl, stainless steel spoon and provincial porcelain rim with pink floral

decoration and double happiness motif.

In the eastern room the post-abandonment deposits were gathered together under a single context

number [103], which can be broadly equated with contexts 118 and 120 to the west. Spread 103 was

recorded as a 0.45m thick loose deposit of brown (10YR 4/3) very slightly gravelly, slightly sandy,

clayey silt with perhaps half the volume being collapsed building materials comprising of angular

and rounded stones, flat plaster and roof-tile (see Plate 49). Also present was a single stoneware lid

sherd (Plate 64), the base of a rectangular bottle and a collection of 15 fragments of decorative

plaster moulding (SF16-28 & SF31), which could be grouped into five types coded ‘A’ to ‘E’ (Figure

27 & Plates 59-63 respectively; see also Special Finds Catalogue).

With all the collapsed material removed, the Old Chapel’s floor [112=117] was revealed to have

been created by ramming the local reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) very sandy, silty clay into the roughly

levelled surface of the decayed grey bedrock [121] that can be observed outcropping to the rear

(north) of the site (Figure 20 & Plate 65). The floor was observed in section to be 3-6 cm thick and

had a fairly consistent surface level of 11.09-11.13m PD. A ‘D’-shaped patch of floor 112 had been

damaged by the roots of a mature tree—removed in earlier site clearance works—which also offered

a very clear view of the roughly-levelled surface of decayed bedrock 121 (see Plates 48 & 49).

6.4.2 Eastern Room Doorway Threshold [109] & Green Brick Surround [110] Towards the southern end of internal dividing wall 106 was the doorway between the central and

eastern rooms of the Old Chapel (Figures 20 & 23; Plate 49). This comprised a rough-dressed grey

granite threshold slab [109] measuring 0.10m thick by 0.22m wide by 0.86m long, whose upper

surface bore two door closing slots—one at either end—facing towards the eastern room, and a door

lining of green bricks [110] surviving to four courses high. Immediately to the west of 110 was a pile

of seven green bricks [119], which appeared to have been roughly stacked following their collapse or

36

removal from the door lining [110]. To the south of the granite threshold was a hollow in floor 117

that corresponded with three stones, one keyed into wall 105b within a rectangular ‘scar’, which may

be traces of a short stub of wall originally standing opposite wall 106 to the south of the doorway.

One final feature of note was a thick green glass wine bottle, with deep ‘voleur’1, buried bottom up

on the southern inner corner of the threshold slab, in precisely the location one might expect to see a

stone door pivot block. Glass is hardly an ideal material for such a role but the bottle was very thick

and its location and orientation are rather suspicious.

6.4.3 Masonry Base for Wooden Stairs to Upper Floor over Eastern Room One final internal structural element examined during the Old Chapel excavation was further grey

granite slab [111]—apparently a step—peeking out from beneath the collapsed rubble on the

northern side of the central room (Figure 26 & Plates 65 & 66). The step was more than a metre

inboard (south) of the projected line of the north wall [107a] and did not therefore seem to relate to a

back door, which anyway with a steep hillside immediately to the rear would have been an extremely

unusual—and unsafe—feature to include in the building. Removal of the collapsed rubble on top of

the structure revealed a second—in this case plaster-coated—grey granite step with clear evidence

for use-wear in the form of dished area at its front (southern) edge, which led onto an approximately

1m square flat landing supported to the east by a short length of plaster-faced wall of quite massive

construction (the largest flat slab of stone being 0.08m thick by 0.41m wide by 0.71m long (N-S).

The initial impression was this was a two-step masonry staircase base that would have supported a

wooden staircase running diagonally (west to east) across the face of the north wall to the upper floor.

This was later confirmed by the previously recorded oral testimony of an elderly villager who

remembered seeing a staircase in exactly that position (Lisa Cheung pers. comm.), while a similar

four-step example was observed in a renovated village house nearby (Plate 67). Further excavation

confirmed that north wall 107a continued as a solid structure behind staircase base 111 and also

revealed a second north-south orientated internal dividing wall [122], which at just 0.40-0.45m thick

was rather slighter in build than wall 106. Staircase base 111 had therefore been built in the angle of

Walls 107a and 122 in the north-west corner of a central room. The presence of overhanging,

concrete-coated rubble to the rear of Wall 122 prevented investigation of its intersection with all

107a—the relationship therefore remains unresolved.

6.5 Loose Granite Slabs

As mentioned above, a collection of 10 loose pieces of rough-dressed grey granite (DG1-10) had

previously been removed and piled together on site. Although no longer in situ, it was decided that

some basic recording and interpretation of these structural elements should be attempted. The largest

rectangular cross-sectioned granite block (DG3: Plate 68)—0.11m x 0.38m x 1.75m—was probably

the lintel from the main doorway. The next largest (DG4: Plate 69)—0.11m x 0.26m x 1.51m—was

dressed on three sides including the one with two slots cut into its surface and was probably the main

door threshold slab. Completing the main door ‘set’ were two door pivot blocks (DG1 & DG2: Plate

70), both ‘D’-shaped in plan both with 6.25cm circular holes in their upper surface and measuring

0.14m x 0.18m x 0.27m tall. The two other diagnostic slabs were a window lintel (DG5: Plate 71)—

0.13m x 0.26m x 1.31m—with sockets for five iron bars, and a smaller dressed and slotted threshold

slab (DG6: Plate 72)—0 .11m x 0.20m x 0.92m—which was similar in size to doorway threshold

109 and may have come from a doorway between the central and western rooms in dividing wall

122. Some among the remaining four plain broken slabs (DG7-10 inclusive) were probably the

lintels from the two internal doorways.

1 French for “thief” – the term used for the concavity in the base of wine bottles, which ‘steals’ some of the wine!

37

7. Discussion

7.1 Survey Results

7.1.1 Qing-20th

-Century Agriculture

The results of the excavations at T2-T4 and T6, although different in detail, all tell the same story of

agricultural activity evidenced by topsoil and interface layers with Qing and/or 20th

-century finds,

many of which are no earlier than the later 19th

century in date, and in the case of T6 a much more

recent date is suggested. The subsoil sequences were almost entirely sterile, apart from the odd

intrusive roof-tile sherd, and produced decayed bedrock from quite near the surface.

7.1.2 Clay Levelling Deposits

The only exception to the general pattern of Qing-20th

-century agricultural activity was found at test

pit T5. In T5 layer 502 had clearly been dumped down the natural slope to create a level platform,

presumably for building, although the area is at present one of the few flat, unsurfaced open spaces in

the village. Interestingly, the eastern end of the large structure marked “2. R.C. Chapel” on the 1905

map (Figure 5), which we earlier speculated might be the historically attested wooden chapel,

overlaps the location where T5 was excavated. Perhaps the clay fill was laid down to create a large

enough flat space to accommodate that building? If so, no associated structural features were visible

in the surface of 502.

7.1.3 Han Cultural layer

The two Han finds in 502 were no doubt ‘plucked’ from the surface of 503 and became incorporated

within the overlying deposit during the process of dumping the clay fill. Layer 503, in contrast, has

the physical appearance, homogenous finds assemblage, and high proportion of large, fresh sherds

indicative of an in situ cultural horizon, which makes it a particularly interesting discovery.

Moreover, the sheer number of sherds (70+) recovered in such a small pit suggests that the small area

of original topography surviving in the middle of Yim Tin Tsai village probably contains one of the

richer Han deposits thus far encountered in Hong Kong. As discussed below in the Special Finds

Catalogue, strong parallels are to be found in the Kau Sai Chau Han assemblage and it seems fair to

suggest that Yim Tin Tsai and the larger island nearby were perhaps both being used by the same

group of people.

7.1.4 Prehistoric stone knapping debitage?

Also worthy of mention are the few small flakes of hard stone recovered from test pits T2 and T3,

which were either rhyolite or flint and offer a strong contrast to the general dominance of highly

degraded rock in the excavated and auger test sequences. Hard, sharp flakes of rhyolite are rare in the

upper layers encountered on Yim Tin Tsai. Flint, in particular, is interesting as it is not native to the

region and must therefore have been imported, but whether the two objects are prehistoric in origin

or are more recent strike-a-lights or even gun flints is difficult to establish. The sub-rectangular,

wedge shaped form of the two flints is certainly similar to gun flints observed by the writer in a

European context, but whether flintlock guns were used by Qing dynasty rural communities for

hunting or civil defence is a matter for further research.

7.2 Old Chapel

7.2.1 General Layout and Sequence of Development

With reference to the Harris Matrix (Section 15), a total of four pre-21st-century phases of human

activity were identified in the environs of the Old Chapel. In Phase 1 the decayed bedrock at the toe

of the hillside was cut back and levelled-up to create a large platform upon which VH1—and

38

probably VH2—were built in Phase 2 of site development. In Phase 3, the walls of the Old Chapel

were constructed, with southern wall 105b and eastern wall 107b both being built onto the western

gable end of VH1 [108], which must therefore have been already standing at that time. In order to

support the eastern gable end of the Old Chapel, which was significantly taller than that of VH1, a

triangular block of masonry was added on top of the northern end of VH1’s western gable end in

order to support the southern edge of the Old Chapel’s large pitched roof. With the walls erected, the

internal features such as the doorways [109-110] and staircase base [111] were installed and a

rammed clay floor was laid throughout the building [112=117]. Following the disuse of the building,

which based on aerial photographs happened at some point after 1963, termites gradually destroyed

the roof timbers, the roof fell in, followed eventually by the masonry, mortar and flat plaster of the

upper walls, the green brick window and door surrounds and their decorative moulded plasterwork.

7.2.2 Evidence for Secular and Religious Use?

Although the excavations produced no definitive evidence for the supposed non-domestic uses of the

building as first an ancestral hall and later a chapel, the collection of plaster mouldings are, on the

face of it, a somewhat unusual feature for an ordinary Hakka dwelling. Of the five different types of

moulding identified in the eastern room post-abandonment deposits [103: Figure 27 & Plates 59-63

inclusive], Type ‘B’ may be an incomplete fragment of a Type ‘C’ moulding, Type ‘E’ is of

undiagnostic form and therefore difficult to provenance, while the parallel ridged mouldings of Type

‘A’ are the same as those found on the two green bricks (SF29 and 30) discussed above in 6.4.1. In

contrast, clear parallels for Types ‘C’ and ‘D’ can be observed in the in situ plaster moulding above

window 114 on the west facing elevation of VH1 (Figure 28 & Plate 73), whose lower profile

combines a curving Type ‘D’ moulding that ends with a Type ‘C’ moulding (i.e. turning Plate 61

upside down). The fragments found in context 103 may therefore be derived from collapsed

decorative mouldings originally on the outside of the Old Chapel rather than inside the building.

Why the gable end window of VH1 was adorned with such a large and relatively elaborate moulding

is a further question that for now must remain unanswered.

PART 4: SPECIAL FINDS CATALOGUE

This part of the report provides a detailed catalogue of all special finds identified and recovered

during the excavation. All special finds identified in this project were within the categories of

Ceramics and Decorative Building Material. In addition to the catalogue entries below, full

tabulations of Special and General Finds can be respectively found in Table 6 (Section 17.3) and

Table 7 (Section 17.4).

Each item is listed with its special find number (SF01-31) followed by its site location in the

following form: T5, Context 503 – meaning the find was made in Test Pit 5 and it came from context

503.

NB: a full list of abbreviations is provided in the front of the report for convenient reference.

8. Ceramics

8.1 Introduction

All ceramics recovered as special finds were excavated from a Han cultural layer (Context 503) in

test pit T5 in the heart of Yim Tin Tsai village. Where the rim is present, the diameter is given

together with the proportion of the vessel present in terms of ‘percentage rim EVE’, which is a

39

method of using the rim as proxy measure of the “estimated vessel equivalents (EVE)” – in other

words how much of each pot survives.

This section continues with an overview of the main fabric types encountered on site (8.2) followed

by the special finds ceramics catalogue itself (8.3).

8.2 Fabric types

The ceramics recovered as special finds during the excavation can be sub-divided into a number of

categories based on general fabric types. These can be broken down as follows:

HCW: Historic Coarse Fabric – all coarse tempered, generally thick-walled fabrics, usually with

hackly fractures and poorly sorted inclusions, often only moderately fired but some higher fired

examples exist, can be plain, slipped or glazed depending on period, used for large jars and basins.

Han examples can sometimes be plain but often have impressed or incised decoration on dark grey or

brown body – typical feature of Han assemblages in Hong Kong and Guangdong. Tang pottery of

this type tends to be large basins and jars with rough ‘gooseflesh’ finish and purple-pink fabric and

slip.

HFF: Historic Fine Fabric – a range of chalky fabrics, low to moderately fired, hand and/or wheel-

made, typically used for jar and basin forms, Han examples often thin-walled with brownish slip over

red or orange oxidised body, commonly with impressed rectangular net decoration, sometimes also

with seal stamps over net.

HSW: Historic Stoneware – a range of hard, high fired fabrics, some hand-made but mostly wheel-

made, typically used for jar forms but also open forms such as basins, can be slipped, glazed or plain

in finish, common from Han to Qing. Han examples typically have a grey to beige or brown fabric

and slips in variety of colours including cream through grey to brown, and occasionally purplish.

Classic seal stamp-over-net Han jars and basins are usually in this fabric. Han examples with

unintentional brown ‘glaze’ caused by dripping fuel ash—“kiln glost”—occasionally occur. Tang

stoneware jars tend to be wheel-made and green glazed or hand-made, thin-walled and dark grey slip,

which is sometimes burnished. Later types from Southern Song-Yuan onwards more likely to be

brown glazed, with thick matt-satin finish dark brown glaze in Ming – becoming glossier moving

into Qing.

POP: Provincial Porcelain – fine white, grey or cream fabric, high fired, glassy glaze typically over

blue & white or polychrome painted decorations – sometime plain white, classic local type being

Wun Yiu, generally later historical in date (Ming-Qing), but most at Yim Tin Tsai later Qing to

C20th.

8.3 Ceramics catalogue

1. SF01, T5, Context 503 (Figure 13a – (rubbing); Plate 36)

Reddish coarse fabric (HCW); walls about 0.6-1cm thick; this biconical shaped body sherd belongs

to the widest part of the 'belly’ of possibly a typical Han dynasty round-bottomed pottery fu with

large everted rim; bold corded patterns were impressed on surface using a paddle stamp. Since the

crucial evidence for determining a closer date was missing (i.e. the complete form of the vessel), it is

difficult to conclude which part of the Han dynasty it belongs to, but the discussions below offer

some suggestions.

40

The biconical shaped body and bold corded decorations appear similar to a Type II pottery fu found

in a mid Western Han tomb in Guangzhou (CPAMG & MMG 1981: 220; catalogue ref. 2023:15).

Most of these coarse pottery fu came with basin-like rims (CPAMG & MMG 1981:221). Another

example of the combination of biconical body and bold corded decorations was a ‘Type A-II’ mid-

late Western Han pot excavated in the Haifu Temple Han kiln site in Guangdong (Zhu 2003:387,

389; T6: 018). Moreover, similar biconical-shaped pottery fu with bold corded decorations were

also excavated in Tung Wan Tsai (Rogers 1995: 87-98; Type PIX Fine Plain/Corded Ware) and

northern Kau Sai Chau (Meacham 1994: KSC17). The latter Hong Kong examples were mostly fine

fabric vessels and they were dated to late Eastern Han (Zhu 2010:50). Date of SF01: Mid-late

Western Han to late Eastern Han

2. SF02, T5, Context 503 (Figure 13b – (rubbing); Plate 37)

Reddish orange fabric (HFF) body sherd, possibly part of a round-bottomed fu; thin wall (c.0.5cm);

deep and raised 'degenerate nets' (rectangular nets) patterns on surface produced using a paddle

stamp; signs of occasional overlapping of stamps observed on surface was observed; finger-pressed

‘anvil marks’ were noticed on interior surface; at least six other similar small body sherds were

identified in the same Han horizon; similar pattern of rectangular nets was recorded in an early

Western Han/Southern Yue architectural site in Shixiongshan, Guangdong (Qiu & Liu 1991:37).

These reddish sherds were in general lower-fired and soft, and the impressed net patterns were deep/

raised and clear (Qiu & Liu 1991:34). Date of SF02: Western to Eastern Han?

3. SF03, T5, Context 503 (Figure 17; Plate 42)

A footring fragment (HSW) with dished interior surface such that central underside of base was

almost as low as the footring; trace of degraded green glaze on interior surface of the base; surviving

H c.2.5cm; base DIA10cm; crisply potted footring about c.1cm high; The distinctive form with

rounded bottom and ‘shouldered’ footring is very unusual but appears to be a feature of Western Han

jars found in Panmiao, Shangdong, in particular the Type A I jar (catalogue no. M37:2) (Li & He

1991:57). Similar Han jars with lids were also present in Guangdong but most examples seemed to

have a flat rather than rounded bottom, as was also the case in Shandong example No.7. More

research is required for further comparison with local and Guangdong examples. Date of SF03:

Western or possibly Eastern Han?

4. SF04, T5, Context 503 (Figure 14b – Plate 37a)

Hooked upright rim (HSW); light grey slip on both sides; cream colour fabric; surviving H c.1.5cm;

typical rim form of Han storage pots, similar to those found in northern Kau Sai Chau (Meacham

1994: KSC 9, 10, 12 & 13) and Tung Wan Tsai (Rogers 1995: 84-85), which were dated to Eastern

Han (Zhu 2010:55); Other Guangdong examples included the lugged jars from Haifu Temple, such

as T1:014 & T1:015, which were dated to Eastern Han (Zhu 2003:379, 381, 396); Guangdong

ware. DIA32, Rim EVE 12%. Date of SF04: Eastern Han

5. SF05, T5, Context 503 (Plate 37b & Figure 14c (SF07)—SF05 probably part of same vessel)

Hooked upright rim (HSW) with light grey slip on exterior and reddish brown slip on the interior; too

worn to measure EVE; 2 tram lines below rim for alignment of lugs and probably part of same vessel

as SF07; incurving walls below rim; typical rim form of Han storage pots, similar to those found in

northern Kau Sai Chau (Meacham 1994: KSC 9, 10, 12 & 13) and Tung Wan Tsai (Rogers 1995: 84-

85), which were dated to Eastern Han (Zhu 2010:55); Guangdong examples included the lugged jars

from Haifu Temple, such as T1:014 & T1:015, which were dated to Eastern Han (Zhu 2003:379,

381, 396); Guangdong ware. Date of SF05: Eastern Han

41

6. SF06, T5, Context 503 (Figure 13d (rubbing) & Figure 15; Plate 38)

Hooked rim (HSW); 2 square/sub-square seal-stamps (comprised of triangles and squares, about

1.5cm x 1.4cm) located c.3cm below rim; over small raised net patterns; uneven yellowish brown

'glaze' on exterior surface below rim: actually unintentionally formed by kiln glost dripping from the

kiln roof (Medley 1989:40-41); thick walls (c.1-1.1cm thick); firing-spur marks on top of rim; wheel-

finished marks on interior with impressed thumb ‘anvil marks’; light brown fabric with occasional

small black inclusions; typical rim form of Han storage pots, similar to those found in northern Kau

Sai Chau (Meacham 1994: KSC 9, 10, 12 & 13) and Tung Wan Tsai (Rogers 1995: 84-85), which

were dated to Eastern Han (Zhu 2010:55); Guangdong examples included the Eastern Han Type ‘C’

urn (Y1:001) from Haifu Temple (Zhu 2003:379, 396); in terms of the seal stamp pattern, again, it is

very similar to those recorded in Tung Wan Tsai (Rogers 1995: 96) and northern Kau Sai Chau

(Meacham 1994: KSC 13); it also shared a great similarity to a late Eastern Han example found in a

Guangzhou tomb (CPAMG & MMG 1981:396); Guangdong ware.

DIA18, Rim EVE14%; Date of SF06: late Eastern Han

7. SF07, T5, Context 503 (Figure 14c; Plate 39)

Flat-topped expanded rim fragment possibly of a double-lugged small basin; with one surviving

small horizontal lug (surviving L c.3.2cm; W2.5) located immediately below rim; incurving walls

below lug; reddish brown slipped interior; walls about 0.7cm thick; base missing; surviving H

c.4.2cm; The overall form resembles the Type ‘E’ double-lugged basin (T2:024) found in Haifu

Temple, which was dated to late Eastern Han (Zhu 2003:381-2, 396). Although the lugs seemed

different, the forms overall were very similar. Date of SF07: late Eastern Han.

8. SF08, T5, Context 503 (Figure 14d; Plate 39a)

Incurving upright rim (HSW); round lip; feint glaze on interior; possibly grey slip on exterior; light

grey fabric with some small black inclusions; thin wall (c.0.5-0.7cm thick); surviving H c.3cm;

similar to Eastern Han shallow bowls found in the Haifu Temple Han kiln site, such as Type ‘I’

(T64:026), Type ‘II’ (T4(3):040) and Type ‘III’ (T1(3):042) (Zhu 2003: 383-384). According to Zhu

(2003: 396), this type of shallow bowl was absent from Guangzhou Han tombs, but was recorded in

Western/Eastern Han tombs or deposits excavated in other parts of Guangdong and Guangxi.

DIA22, Rim EVE4%; Date of SF08: Western to Eastern Han.

9. SF09, T5, Context 503 (Figure 14a; Plate 40)

Incurving upright rim (HSW); round lip; too small to measure; possibly grey slipped surface; light

grey fabric with some small black inclusions; thin wall (c.0.4-0.5cm thick); surviving H c.5.5cm;

similar to Eastern Han shallow bowls found in the Haifu Temple Han kiln site, such as Type ‘I’

(T64:026), Type ‘II’ (T4(3):040) and Type ‘III’ (T1(3):042) (Zhu 2003:383-384). According to Zhu

(2003: 396), this type of shallow bowl was absent from Guangzhou Han tombs, but was recorded in

Western/Eastern Han tombs or deposits excavated in other parts of Guangdong and Guangxi. Date of

SF09: Western to Eastern Han.

10. SF10, T5, Context 503 (Figure 13c (rubbing); Plate 41)

One unglazed body sherd (HSW) with a seal-stamp over small net decoration of a hard storage pot;

walls about 0.9-1.2cm thick; cream colour fabric; the seal stamp comprised of squares and triangles,

about 1cm x 1cm; the patterns were similar to one found in Tung Wan Tsai (Fig.5.13, second row

middle; Rogers et.al.1995: 86), which was dated to late Eastern Han (Zhu 2010:55). Date of SF10:

late Eastern Han.

42

11. SF11, T5, Context 503 (Figure 16a; Plate 41a)

A base fragment (HSW) of a large storage pot with reddish brown glaze on both sides (except base);

flat base (c.0.7cm thick); slightly sloping walls about c.1-1.3cm thick, heavy throwing marks on

interior surface; surviving H c.9cm; base DIA 19cm; similar to hard storage pots found in northern

Kau Sai Chau (Meacham 1994) and Tung Wan Tsai (Rogers et.al. 1995), which were dated to late

Eastern Han (Zhu 2010:55). Date of SF11: late Eastern Han.

12. SF12, T5, Context 503 (Figure 16c; 41b)

A base fragment (HSW) of a large storage pot with reddish brown slip on exterior; trace of brownish

glaze on the inside (except base); thin base with a small hollow (c.0.5cm thick); sloping wall about

c.0.7-1.2cm thick; surviving H c.6cm; Base DIA 15cm; similar to examples found in northern Kau

Sai Chau, which were dated to Eastern Han. Date of SF12: Eastern Han.

13. SF13, T5, Context 503 (Figure 16b; Plate 41c)

A base fragment (HSW) of a large storage pot with light reddish brown slipped exterior and fabric

with small black inclusions; thick wall (c.1-1.6cm thick); flat base; very slightly sloping wall at base

and becoming near straight higher up, which means it is relatively straight walled when compared to

the other excavated Han bases in this project; uneven finish on interior; surviving H c.9cm; base DIA

21cm. Date of SF13: Han.

14. SF14, T5, Context 503 (Figure 16d; Plate 41d)

A base fragment (HSW) of a large storage pot with feint trace of yellowish brown glaze on the

interior; sloping wall; very slightly hollow base with a groove at the edge but without footring;

surviving H c.5.5cm; walls about 0.7cm thick; base about 0.4cm thick; light cream-grey fabric with

occasional black inclusions; base DIA12cm; Guangdong ware. Date of SF14: (by association)

probably Han.

15. SF15, T5, Context 503 (Figure 16e; Plate 41e)

A base fragment (HSW) of a large storage pot with reddish brown slipped exterior; reconstructed

from 3 joiners; near straight wall about c.1cm thick; very slightly hollow base with thin wall (c.0.3-

0.5cm thick) and rough surface at base; orange brown fabric with light grey core and with some

small black inclusions; wheel-finished marks on both sides; surviving H c.6cm; base DIA 15cm;

Guangdong ware. Date of SF15: (by association) probably Han.

9. Decorative Building Materials & Ceramic Building Materials

9.1 Introduction

All decorative building materials (DBM – plaster mouldings) were excavated from the eastern room

of the Old Chapel (Trench T1: Context 103) and could be sub-divided into five different types coded

‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ and ‘E’ (SF16-28 & 31). The two pieces of ceramic building material (CBM) were

both green bricks with plaster mouldings (SF29 & 30): one found in the Old Chapel’s central room

(Trench 1, Context 104) and an identical second example recovered as a surface find immediately

west of Trench T1.

The two green bricks are the only type of CBM categorised as special finds on the basis of their

decoration with plaster mouldings. The coarse textured greyish plaster used for the main rounded

mouldings on bricks SF29 and 30 is noticeably poorer in quality than that used for the linear ridged

moulding decorating the sides of the bricks and the loose plaster mouldings recovered from context

103. The five types of DBM recovered as special finds during the excavation are formed from fine,

43

white plaster and are crisply executed. The Type ‘A’ mouldings found as loose, refitting fragments in

context 103 take the form of linear grooved ‘beading’ that was also found on the sides of the

aforementioned two bricks. Just one Type ‘B’ moulding was recovered and it may in fact be a

fragment of a Type ‘C’ moulding rather than actually being a distinct ‘type’. Type C’ mouldings

have a distinctive wavy form, which was noted to form the bottom edge of the in situ moulding noted

on VH1 window 114. As discussed above, Type ‘D’ was similarly identified on the same window

moulding and it seems likely that Types ‘C’ and ‘D’ at least can be traced to such a location on the

Old Chapel. The single Type ‘E’ moulding is a small fragment with two curving surfaces separated

by a ridge and its original position on the building is unknown.

9.2 CBM & DBM Catalogue

16. SF16, T1, Context 103, DBM – Type A (Figure 27; Plate 59)

3 joiners; 2 grooves; approximately 3x6.5x D1.5cm

17. SF17, T1, Context 103, DBM – Type B (Not illustrated; Plate 60)

1 ridge with flat rectangular plaster at rear; 7x6.4x D2-2.3cm; W of ridge c.0.5cm

18. SF18, T1, Context 103, DBM – Type C (Figure 27; Plate 61)

With protruding rounded ridge below straight wall; slightly curving below rounded ridge; overall

9.5x3.2cm;


With protruding rounded ridge below straight wall; slightly curving below rounded ridge; overall

10x6xD3cm;


Only the protruding rounded ridge survived; overall dimensions: 5.8x2.5xD2cm

21. SF21, T1, Context 103, DBM – Type D (Figure 27; Plate 62)

Comprised of 3 layers of plaster: rear & middle are flat and rectangular; the front with simple curved

moulding; 6.5 x 13.5 x D5.5


fragment of simple curved moulding; 4x2.5xD2cm


fragment of simple curved moulding; 4.6x8.7xD4.5cm


Comprised of 3 layers of plaster: rear & middle are flat and rectangular; the front with simple curved

moulding; 6.7 x 8.5 x D5cm


fragment of simple curved moulding; 4.5x6.3xD3


fragment of simple curved moulding; 4.5x4.5xD2.5


fragment of simple curved moulding; 7.7x4xD3.3

44

28. SF28, T1, Context 103, DBM – Type E (Figure 27; Plate 63)

Irregular shaped fragment; front with small ridge and blackish colour; rear surface uneven; surviving

thickness 0.7-1.5cm; L5.2xW3.8

29. SF29, T1, Surface Find, CBM – Brick (Plates 57 & 58 )

Intact rectangular green brick wrapped with a layer of simple plaster mouldings at one end & simple

grooved elongated plaster mouldings on both surfaces; collected on surface on site; dimensions of

green brick: 27x11.5xD6.5; dimensions of elongated plaster moulding (front): 24.5x9xD7cm; (rear):

26.5x3x7cm;

30. SF30, T1, Context 104, CBM – Brick (Plates 57 & 58)

Fragment of rectangular green brick wrapped with a layer of simple plaster mouldings at one end &

simple grooved elongated plaster mouldings on one side; dimensions of green brick: 26x11xD6;

irregular patch of plaster survived with MAX L16, W11, D6.5


fragment of simple curved moulding; blackish at rear; 4x2.3xD3cm

PART 5: CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

10. Conclusions

10.1 Introduction

The project set out to address a number of research objectives and these have in large part been

successfully achieved and are discussed below.

10.2 Enhance Understanding of General Sequence of Deposits at Yim Tin Tsai

The survey has provided an enhanced understanding of the island’s archaeology, confirming the

character and Qing-20th

-century date of agricultural activity, which was built upon widespread

terracing and management of the landscape. Within Yim Tin Tsai village, there was evidence for

large-scale terracing and levelling activity, some of which may relate to the construction of an early

wooden chapel in the environs of test pit T5.

10.3 Identify & Characterise Any Cultural Deposits (Especially Pre-Qing)

The supposed prehistoric interest on Yim Tin Tsai, which was recorded on the HKAS map of Hong

Kong archaeology, seems now more likely to have been the result of the misidentification of Han

geometric stoneware as Bronze Age material. The Han deposit in the heart of Yim Tin Tsai village

seems particularly rich and could prove to be a very productive site if further investigation were ever

required. However, there are by necessity still many untested gaps in the record and the few chips of

stone recovered may hint at prehistoric activity, but at the moment this seems unlikely.

10.4 Maximise Information Retrieval Through Dry Sieving

All cultural layers were dry sieved and the value of such an approach was confirmed by the

significant proportion of the overall finds assemblage that resulted from such activity.

45

10.5 Define & Characterise the Old Chapel Ruin & Priest’s Lodgings

The excavations at the Old Chapel provided a much fuller understanding of the character, layout and

stratigraphic relationships within the building. Moreover, the visual analysis and digital surveying

also confirmed the building’s position with the local sequence of build in that part of the village. The

clear indications of a second storey above the eastern room—supported by load-bearing dividing

wall 106—were further confirmed by the discovery of a second dividing wall and two-step staircase

base, which suggested a wooden staircase running diagonally across the face of the rear wall [107a].

Overall, the building is relatively large and solidly built when compared to other old structures in the

village. However, no definitive evidence for the building’s use as either an ancestral hall or chapel

was found, although the collection of mouldings from the excavation are an interesting discovery in

that they find parallel in the quite grand moulding above VH1 window 114.

10.6 Create an Accurate Surveyed, Drawn & Photographic Record of the Ruin

The manual and digital recording conducted in the Old Chapel provides an accurate and meaningful

record of the building itself and its relationships with nearby structures.

11. Recommendations

11.1 Further analysis of the 2013 Han material

Our initial study of the Han material from test pit T5, as set out in the Special Finds Catalogue, has

identified many parallels with sites in Hong Kong—most notably Kau Sai Chau and Tung Wan

Tsai—but has also found comparanda in excavations from Guangzhou, elsewhere in Guangdong, and

even further afield. The foot-ringed jar base (SF03) is a particularly intriguing find with no local

parallels. Further study of the Yim Tin Tsai Han material is therefore recommended.

11.2 Suggested directions for future field research at Yim Tin Tsai

11.2.1 Survey

In general the survey produced an unsurprising result reflecting the Qing-20th

century agricultural

activities of the Yim Tin Tsai villagers. However, the survey left many areas untested and should

significant development occur on the island it would be prudent, given the Han discoveries and

possibility of prehistoric activity, to carry out some form of additional archaeological evaluation. It

might also be worth revisiting the south-east corner of the island to search for more traces of the

plain “unglazed stoneware” sherds that had “certain unusual features, but are otherwise undated”

(Peacock & Nixon 1986: 211). On reflection, based on our findings of plain stoneware sherds within

the Han deposit at T5, we wonder whether these sherds might in fact be more evidence of Han

activity.

11.2.2 Excavation

The Han cultural deposit discovered in the middle of Yim Tin Tsai village in test pit T5 is clearly

worthy of further investigation. The pottery recovered, in particular the harder fabrics, was mostly in

the form of large, fresh sherds, which do not seem to have been disturbed since their date of

deposition. Indeed the quantity and range of materials recovered from T5 is surprising from just a

0.25m deep cultural layer in 2m x 1m test pit and, should the opportunity arise, further exploration of

the rich Han deposit would doubtless further enhance our understanding of this period in Hong

Kong. Interestingly, that same small test pit also identified a thick clay levelling deposit that, based

on map evidence, seems to coincide with the location of another Roman Catholic chapel, which in

this case is maybe the wooden chapel remembered in that general location by elderly informants.

46

Any further testing around T5 could also, therefore, test for the presence of any structural features

relating to such a building cut into the surface of the clay fill.

By way of a final word, the low south-facing hillside overlooking Yim Tin Tsai’s shallow bay, which

was so attractive for the Hakka people who settled the island, was clearly also attractive two

millennia earlier to the local Han period population who stayed long enough, or visited frequently

enough, to leave such a significant and fascinating trace of their presence.

PART 6: REFERENCES

12. References

AMO 1998. 2nd

Territory Wide Survey of Hong Kong: North Lantau Survey. Unpublished fieldwork

report.

Geotechnical Engineering Office 1994. 1:20,000 Scale HGM20 Series Map of Solid and Superficial

Geology, Sheet 9: Tung Chung. Hong Kong: Hong Kong SAR Government.

Gretagmacbeth. 2000. Munsell Soil Colour Charts. Gretagmacbeth: New Windsor, NY.

Harris, E.C 1979. Principles of archaeological stratigraphy. London: Academic Press.

Lands Department 2011a. 1:1000 Map Series HP1C, Sheet 9-DE-2D. Hong Kong: Hong Kong SAR

Government

Lands Department 2011b. 1:1000 Map Lot Index Plan, Sheets 9-SE-2C, 2D, 7A & 7B. Hong Kong:

Hong Kong SAR Government

李季､何德亮 (國家文物局考古領隊培訓班)：＜山東濟寧郊區潘廟漢代墓地＞, 《文物》,

1991年第 12期, 頁 37, 48-65。

Meacham, W. 2009. The archaeology of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Medley, M. 1989. The Chinese potter. 3rd

Edition. Oxford: Phaidon.

Peacock, B. & Nixon, T. (1986) Report on the Hong Kong archaeological survey, Volume III, Part 2,

Summary Site Data Sheets. Unpublished Government Report.

Qiu, L.C. & Liu, J.A. (Guangdong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics & Archaeology,

Guangdong Provincial Museum, and Museum of the County of Wuhua) 1991. Site of Han

Architectures at Shixiongshan in Wuhua, Guangdong, in Wenwu 1991(11), p.27-37.

Rogers, P.R. et.al. 1995. Tung Wan Tsai: a Bronze Age and Han Period Coastal Site. Antiquities &

Monuments Office Occasional Paper No.3. Hong Kong: Government of Hong Kong.

The CPAM of Guangzhou & The Municipal Museum of Guangzhou 1981. Excavations of the Han

Tombs at Guangzhou. Beijing: Cultural Relics Publishing House.

Zhu, H.R.(Guangzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology) 2003. Excavations on

the Han Period Kiln Site at the Haifu Temple, Guangdong, in Kaogu Xuebao 2003(3), p.373-400.

朱海仁：＜香港漢代考古發現與研究＞，《西漢南越國考古與漢文化》，白雲翔､馮永驅等編

，2010年, 頁 43-62 (北京: 科學出版社，2010年)。

47

PART 7: SUPPORTING ILLUSTRATIONS

13. Figures

Figure 1: Location of Yim Tin Tsai island in Inner Port Shelter (Grid squares 1km)

48

Figure 2: Yim Tin Tsai with YTTSAI (blue outline), Old Chapel (red rectangle), and previous auger

tests (yellow stars) (Grid squares 500m)

49

Figure 3: Project study area (thick red boundary), baseline & transects (thin red & blue lines

respectively), test pits, auger holes, terrace face cuttings and old chapel excavation (symbols as per

key)

50

Figure 4: Yim Tin Tsai geological map: JHI = High Island Formation (pyroclastic volcanic tuff),

JCB = Clear Water Bay Formation (lava flows including rhyolite), Qa = Quaternary Alluvium (in

this case a mixture of marine and fluvial)

51

Figure 5: Crown Block Lease Survey Map of 1905 (© Lands Department, HKSAR Government)

52

Figure 6: Detail of auger testing around test pit T5 in the centre of Yim Tin Tsai village (auger holes

AH28, AH34-40 inclusive) – general extent of Han deposit indicated by grey shading

(Scale: grid squares 50m)

53

Figure 7: Stratified random survey of north-west block of terraced fields

54

Figure 8: Schematic view of terraced hillside to illustrate choice of testing locations. Showing original slope and areas of subsoil 202 cut away

and redeposited downslope to form flat terraces. Redeposited subsoil is then changed into topsoil (201) by addition of organic material and

cultivation activities. Context 203 is the second subsoil horizon with increasing proportion of decayed rock with depth. NB: Downslope half of

terraces thus retains original subsoil profile sealed by more recent topsoil, while cut terrace faces show same sequence in section.

55

Figure 9: Test Pit T2 sections

56


57


58


59

Figure 13: T5 Co.503 Han pottery rubbings: (a) SF01; (b) SF02; (c) SF10; (d) SF06

60

Figure 14: T5 Co.503 Han stoneware. Bowls & basins: (a) SF09; (c) SF07; (d) SF08.

Possible jar rim: (b) SF04.

Figure 15: T5 Co.503 Han stoneware seal-stamp-over-net jar (SF06)

61

Figure 16: T5 Co.503 Han stoneware jar bases: (a) SF11; (b) SF13; (c) SF12; (d) SF14; (e) SF15

Figure 17: T5 Co.503 SF03 Han foot-ring base

62


63

Figure 19: Schematic layout of the Old Chapel ruin and adjacent village houses VH1 and VH2

64

Figure 20: Overall survey plan of the Old Chapel T1 excavated remains (Scale: grid squares 5m)

65

Figure 20a: Old Chapel T1: Spot height locations (for coordinates and levels see Table 3 Section 17.2.

66

Figure 20b: Old Chapel T1: Plan showing key coordinates within survey area

67

Figure 21: South facing elevation on north wall 107a & dividing wall 106 (modern repairs grey)

68

Figure 22: West facing elevation on dividing wall 106 (modern repairs grey)

Figure 23: South facing elevation of wall 106, brick door surround 110 and granite threshold 109

69

Figure 24: West facing elevation on Old Chapel east gable wall 107b and VH1 west gable wall 108 (modern repairs grey)

70

Figure 25: Wall 105b north facing elevation (modern repairs grey)

71

Figure 26: South facing section on Old Chapel post-abandonment deposits, with Western Dividing Wall 122 and Staircase Base 111 to left

(west)

72

Figure 27: Trench T1 Co.103 Plaster mouldings Types ‘A’, ‘C’, ‘D’ Figure 28: Schematic cross-section through VH1 window 114

& ‘E’ (NB: Type ‘B’ is undiagnostic but may be a fragment of Type ‘C’) moulding showing lower profile similar to Type ‘C’ & ‘D’

plaster mouldings

73

14. Plates

Plate 1: The old chapel and priest’s lodgings – view looking east

Plate 2: Former rice paddies (foreground) with salt-field in background – view looking SE

74

Plate 3:

1924 aerial photograph (looking

south) showing large extent of

terrace fields (foreground), village

(centre right), and salt-field/rice

paddies(top centre). The limited

development of terraced fields

down the eastern side of the island

is notable when compared with

the 1963AP in Plate 4

(NB: original AP of poor quality –

hence somewhat blurred image)

© Lands Department of HKSAR

Government

Plate 4:

1963 aerial photograph (looking

south) showing clear definition of

terraced fields (foreground), village

(centre right), and salt-field/rice

paddies (top centre).

Expanded development of terraced

fields down the eastern side of the

Island is evident when compared

with 1924 AP in Plate 3.


Government

75

Plate 5: Google Earth satellite image of Yim Tin Tsai (north to top) showing widespread scrub

development over former terraced fields. (Image © 2013 Digital Globe)

76

Plate 6:

Enlarged view of eastern part of

Yim Tin Tsai village in 1963

aerial photo showing Old Chapel

building (arrowed)


Government

Plate 7: (above left) showing 10cm auger with both extension bars added (totalling over 4m long);

Plate 8: (above right) showing basic set up of 10cm auger without extensions

77

Plate 9: (left) showing from foreground to background a

fairly typical sequence of topsoil, interface layer, and

decayed rock subsoil;

Plate 10: (above) showing MA students recording soil colour

using a Munsell Colour Chart.

Plate 11: North-east facing section of cut back terrace face TF1 (c.3m SW of AH26) – with surviving

traces of stone revetment (Scale: 0.5m)

78

Plate 12: West facing section of cut back terrace face TF2 (c.4.5m west of AH24) (Scale: 0.5m)

Plate 13: South-west facing section of cut back terrace face TF3 (c.10m SW of AH21) (Scale: 0.5m)

79

Plate 14: North-east facing section of cut back terrace face TF4 (c.4.5m NE of AH6) (Scale: 0.5m)

Plate 15: West facing section on cut back terrace face TF5 (c.3.5m east of AH19) – with surviving

trace of stone revetment (Scale: 0.5m)

Plate 16: West facing section on cut back terrace face TF6 (c.10.5m south of AH05) – green brick

and orange tile both in topsoil at base of terrace. (Scale: 0.5m)

80

Plate 17: North facing section of T2. (Scales: 2m and 0.5m)

Plate 19 (above): Gaming counter from

Co.201, T2. (Scale in cm)*

*NB: Scales in all finds photographs

are in cm.

Plate 18 (left): West facing section and

post-excavation overview of T2.

(Scales: 2m, 0.5m and 0.3m)

81

Plate 20: Sample of metal objects from

Co.201, T2

Plate 21:

Sample of finds from Co.201,

T2: stoneware, blue &

white glass or ceramic object,

and provincial porcelain

Plate 22:

Sample of roof-tile fragments

from Co.201, T2

NB: The provincial porcelain, brown glazed and unglazed stoneware, and roof-tile shown above

from TP2 Context 201 are illustrative of the material occurring throughout the survey area. Therefore

finds from other testing areas will only be shown if they are in some way different or of interest.

82

Plate 23: North facing section of T3. (Scales: 2m and 0.5m)

Plate 24: West facing section and post-excavation overview of T3

(Scales: 2m, 1m and 0.5m)

83

Plate 25: Two small flakes

of stone from Co.301, T3:

(L) probable rhyolite;

(R) flint

Plate 26: Handle of a teaspoon bearing the

producer’s stamp “三民…出品”, from

Co.302, T3.

84

Plate 27: South-east facing section of T4. (Scales: 2m, 1m and 0.5m)

Plate 28: South-west facing section of T4. (Scales: 2m, 1m and 0.5m)

85

Plate 29: Tile fragments, village ware and provincial porcelain from Co.401, T4

Plate 30: North facing section of T5. (Scales: 2m, 1m and 0.5m)

86

Plate 31: South facing section of T5. (Scales: 2m, 1m and 0.5m)

Plate 32:

West facing section of T5


87

Plate 33:

East facing section of T5.

(Scales: 2m, 1m & 0.5m)

Plate 34:

Refitting fragments of a

possible whetstone from

Co.502, T5

88

(above left) Plate 35: Net-impressed Han stoneware body sherds from Co.502, T5;

(above right) Plate 36: SF01, bold cord-impressed coarseware body sherd from Co.503, T5

(left) Plate 37:

SF02, fine red fabric pottery with impressed

rectangular ‘degenerate’ net

(above left) Plate 37a: SF04, stoneware rim from Co.503, T5;

(above right): Plate 37b: SF05, stoneware rim from Co.503, T5;

89

Plate 38: SF06, a large Han rim-and-shoulder sherd with hooked rim, seal stamp-over-net design

and accidental brown ‘glaze’ caused by dripping fuel ash or ‘kiln glost’, Co.503, T5

(above left) Plate 39: SF07, stoneware rim with horizontal lug from Co.503, T5;

(above middle): Plate 39a: SF08, stoneware rim from Co.503, T5;

(above right) Plate 40: SF09, stone ware rim from Co.503, T5

90

Plate 41: SF10, stoneware bodysherd with seal stamp-over-net decoration from Co.503, T5

(above left) Plate 41a: SF11, stoneware base from Co.503, T5;

(above right) Plate 41b: SF12, stoneware base from Co.503, T5

91

(above left) Plate 41c: SF13, stoneware base from Co.503, T5;

(above right) Plate 41d: SF14, stoneware base from Co.503, T5.

Plate 41e: SF15, 3 joiners, stoneware base

from Co.503, T5;

Plate 42: SF03, probable jar base with

unusual high and sharply potted footring

92

Plate 43: East facing section of T6. (Scales: 2m, 1m and 0.3m)

Plate 44:

South facing section of T6


93

Plate 45:

Iron objects from Co.601, T6

Plate 46:

West facing section of the

North Wall (Co.107a)

(Scales: 2m and 0.3m)

94

Plate 47: South facing elevation of north wall 107a with dividing wall 106 in foreground.

(Scales: 2m and 1m)

Plate 48: West facing elevation of dividing wall 106 with floor 112 in foreground. Levelled bedrock

121 clearly visible to right of storyboard where floor 112 damaged by tree roots. (Scales: both 2m)

95

Plate 49: South facing elevation on wall 106 & door lining 110, granite threshold slab

109 in foreground (note levelling stones at near end) with inverted thick wine bottle set

into floor 117 as possible door pivot? Disturbed green bricks 119 (from door lining?) can

be seen to the left and above them is the patch of exposed roughly-levelled grey bedrock.

Recently concrete-surfaced post-abandonment spread 103 is visible in section to right.

(Scales: 0.5 and 0.3m)

96

Plate 50: West facing elevation of Old Chapel east gable wall [107] to left of vertical scale and VH1

west gable wall to right. (Scales: both 2m)

Plate 51: View of VH1 west gable wall 108 (east facing elevation) showing window 114 and

triangular block of masonry [115]—directly above vertical photo scale—added to accommodate

window 113 and roof of Old Chapel. (Scale: 2m)

97

Plate 52: Excavated remains of Old Chapel west wall 105a (right foreground) and south wall 105b

(background) (Scales: all 2m)

Plate 53: Old Chapel main doorway foundation 105c. (Scales: 0.5m and 0.3m)

98

Plate 54: Old Chapel north facing elevation on wall 105b, VH2 in background. (Scales: 2m & 0.5m)

Plate 55: Old Chapel post-abandonment sequence [104; 118; 120] over floor 112 (view looking

north-east). (Scales: 2m & 0.3m)

Plate 56: Brick and roof-tile fragments from

T1 C.104

99

Plates 57 (left) and 58 (above): SF30 green brick with

coarse plaster moulding.

Plaster mouldings from T1, Co.103 (clockwise from top left): Plate 59: Type ‘A’ (SF16); Plate

60: Type ‘B’ (SF17); Plate 61: Type ‘C’ (SF18-20); Plate 62: Type ‘D’ (SF21-27) & Plate 63:

Type ‘E’ (SF28); Plate 64: Stoneware lid

100

Plate 65: View of chapel showing floor surface 112 laid against eastern dividing wall 106, doorway

109 to right with floor 117 beyond, staircase base 111 (left foreground) & western dividing wall 122

(bottom left-hand corner of view). (Scale: 2m)

Plate 66: South facing section in central room of Old Chapel showing post-abandonment deposits

[104; 118; 120] over floor 112 & levelled bedrock 121. Staircase base 111 visible centre left with

western dividing wall 122 on its left-hand side (left centre edge of view). (Scales: 2m & 0.3m)

101

Plate 67: Four step staircase base in renovated village house in Yim Tin Tsai village

(Left)

Plate 68: Large plain lintel slab DG3 (from main door?)

(Scales: 0.5m & 0.3m)

(above)

Plate 69: Large slotted threshold slab DG4 (also from main door?)

(Scale: 0.5m)

102

Plate 70: Pair of door pivot blocks DG1 & DG2 (also from main door?) (Scale: 0.3m)

Plate 71: Window lintel DG5 with sockets for five iron bars. (Scale: 0.5m)

Plate 72: Slotted doorway threshold DG6—size very similar to the one from the eastern room [109]

(DG6 is perhaps from a doorway between the western and central rooms?) (Scale: 0.5m)

103

Plate 73: Plaster moulding above VH1 window 114—combining curving Type ‘D’ moulding and

Type ‘C’ edge moulding.

104

PART 8: SUPPORTING DATA

15. Harris Matrix

105

16. Coordinates & levels

16.1 Table 2: Auger Tests AH1-AH40

Point ID. Easting Northing Elevation (m)PD

BL Origin 849143.29 826570.72 13.97

BL (95m) 849084.86 826645.72 15.83

BL (155m) 849131.96 826682.85 14.63

BL (249.5m) 849073.83 826757.15 10.52

AH01 849130.83 826587.38 13.23

AH02 849119.78 826601.69 15.06

AH03 849110.94 826612.32 16.24

AH04 849097.02 826630.66 17.16

AH05 849086.43 826643.75 15.97

AH06 849100.74 826658.04 16.09

AH07 849468.98 826376.94 12.27

AH08 849126.19 826690.72 14.80

AH09 849324.26 826398.32 10.03

AH10 849102.09 826721.39 15.13

AH11 849086.93 826740.27 14.03

AH12 849123.39 826554.53 14.92

AH13 849136.79 826607.62 14.04

AH14 849103.51 826584.67 15.58

AH15 849076.87 826601.00 14.99

AH16 849088.30 826607.51 15.99

AH17 849095.01 826675.90 14.89

AH18 849134.22 826655.41 13.75

AH19 849083.74 826688.33 13.21

AH20 849157.95 826721.41 19.93

AH21 849143.31 826708.38 17.86

AH22 849128.36 826727.45 18.40

AH23 849111.66 826743.21 16.55

AH24 849105.98 826754.18 16.02

AH25 849053.59 826742.80 11.68

AH26 849069.65 826754.04 10.89

AH27 849084.92 826572.65 14.03

AH28 849190.73 826482.46 13.20

AH29 849097.84 826502.16 18.88

AH30 849092.12 826351.72 13.65

AH31 849322.02 826297.31 10.95

AH32 849312.82 826231.54 13.64

AH33 849433.04 826318.10 15.82

AH34 849170.93 826496.10 14.98

AH35 849166.80 826486.27 15.19

AH36 849171.08 826486.24 15.28

AH37 849178.03 826489.43 14.90

AH38 849167.45 826476.99 14.83

106

AH39 849187.74 826481.15 13.31

AH40 849180.58 826471.79 12.01

16.2 Table 3: Old Chapel Excavation (Trench T1)

Point ID. Easting Northing Level(mPD)

1 849228.705 826491.539 11.12

2 849229.132 826491.541 11.02

3 849229.523 826491.537 11.00

4 849229.152 826490.174 10.77

5 849228.605 826488.075 10.69

6 849228.998 826488.591 10.73

7 849229.567 826488.820 10.81

8 849231.062 826488.327 10.76

9 849231.972 826488.351 10.71

10 849232.495 826488.831 10.73

11 849232.888 826488.333 10.86

12 849233.940 826488.470 10.85

13 849234.293 826488.283 10.76

14 849234.562 826487.831 10.84

15 849234.766 826488.583 11.37

16 849235.496 826488.179 11.55

17 849236.509 826488.111 11.77

18 849237.830 826488.008 12.51

19 849239.413 826487.925 12.22

20 849238.975 826487.576 10.99

21 849236.521 826490.679 11.29

22 849236.481 826490.065 11.13

23 849236.693 826489.768 11.13

24 849236.664 826489.253 11.04

25 849236.145 826488.646 11.08

26 849236.210 826489.694 11.09

27 849236.038 826490.117 11.04

28 849235.620 826490.426 11.10

29 849235.773 826490.899 11.11

30 849236.150 826491.438 11.11

31 849235.586 826491.697 11.10

32 849235.139 826491.699 11.12

33 849236.126 826492.077 11.35

34 849235.964 826492.731 11.85

35 849236.003 826493.638 11.09

36 849234.525 826493.664 11.16

37 849234.156 826492.466 11.46

38 849233.130 826493.154 11.48

39 849233.124 826493.492 11.82

40 849233.502 826493.464 11.05

41 849232.559 826493.627 11.13

107

42 849232.579 826492.685 11.10

43 849237.856 826489.761 11.13

44 849237.046 826489.171 11.10

45 849237.862 826488.639 11.13

46 849237.103 826490.493 11.46

47 849237.273 826493.301 11.62

48 849239.417 826493.249 11.62

49 849239.404 826490.427 10.99

16.3 Table 4: Test Pits T2-T6

Point ID. Easting Northing Elevation (m)PD

BL Origin 849143.29 826570.72 13.97

BL (95m) 849084.86 826645.72 15.83

BL (155m) 849131.96 826682.85 14.63

BL (249.5m) 849073.83 826757.15 10.52

T2(Bottom) 849088.71 826639.54 15.30

T2(Bottom) 849088.83 826638.69 15.38

T2(Bottom) 849087.01 826638.45 15.61

T2(Bottom) 849086.88 826639.29 15.56

T2(Top) 849086.78 826639.35 15.91

T2(Top) 849086.93 826638.38 15.99

T2(Top) 849088.76 826639.62 15.97

T2(Top) 849088.90 826638.63 16.00

T3(Bottom) 849103.37 826725.34 14.73

T3(Bottom) 849103.48 826724.45 14.70

T3(Bottom) 849101.63 826724.33 15.01

T3(Bottom) 849101.54 826725.20 14.98

T3(Top) 849101.45 826725.26 15.23

T3(Top) 849101.55 826724.27 15.23

T3(Top) 849103.44 826725.41 15.28

T3(Top) 849103.57 826724.40 15.24

T4(Bottom) 849086.39 826572.53 13.34

T4(Bottom) 849086.99 826571.95 13.41

T4(Bottom) 849085.69 826570.64 13.50

T4(Bottom) 849085.11 826571.21 13.47

T4(Top) 849085.02 826571.22 14.06

T4(Top) 849085.70 826570.55 14.05

T4(Top) 849086.39 826572.64 14.16

T4(Top) 849087.10 826571.96 14.16

T5 (Bottom) 849171.13 826490.21 14.56

T5 (Bottom) 849171.23 826489.47 14.57

T5 (Bottom) 849169.42 826489.29 14.73

T5 (Bottom) 849169.37 826490.07 14.73

T5 (Top) 849171.21 826490.33 15.28

T5 (Top) 849171.32 826489.35 15.35

T5 (Top) 849169.33 826489.20 15.25

108

T5 (Top) 849169.24 826490.18 15.21

T6(Bottom) 849086.86 826354.71 14.82

T6(Bottom) 849086.79 826356.49 14.61

T6(Bottom) 849086.03 826356.43 14.64

T6(Bottom) 849086.10 826354.65 14.90

T6(Top) 849086.97 826354.61 15.11

T6(Top) 849086.93 826356.61 15.11

T6(Top) 849085.94 826356.58 15.20

T6(Top) 849085.99 826354.59 15.20

16.4 Table 4a: Context Register

Cont. Trench Description Cont. Trench Description

101 T1 Modern rubble spread (general) 201 T2 Topsoil

102 T1 Rubble between Wall 105b & VH2 wall 116 202 T2 Subsoil (decayed rock)

103 T1 Post-abandonment spread (east room)

104 T1 Post-abandonment spread (central room) 301 T3 Topsoil

105a T1 West wall of Old Chapel 302 T3 Interface Layer

105b T1 South wall of Old Chapel 303 T3 Subsoil (decayed rock)

105c T1 Main door foundation of Old Chapel

106 T1 Eastern dividing wall (load-bearing) 401 T4 Topsoil

107a T1 North wall of Old Chapel 402 T4 Interface Layer

107b T1 East wall of Old Chapel 403 T4 Subsoil (decayed rock)

108 T1 West gable wall of VH1

109 T1 Granite threshold slab 501 T5 Topsoil

110 T1 Green brick door surround 502 T5 Fill (levelling deposit)

111 T1 Staircase base in NW corner central room 503 T5 Han cultural layer

112 T1 Rammed clay floor in central room (=117) 504 T5 Subsoil (decayed rock)

113 T1 Green brick window surround on wall 107b

114 T1 Window in wall 108 (VH1 west gable) 601 T6 Topsoil

115 T1 Triangular patch masonry above wall 108 602 T6 Interface Layer

116 T1 North wall VH2 603 T6 Subsoil (decayed rock)

117 T1 Rammed clay floor in east room (=112) 118 T1 Secondary building collapse (under 104) 119 T1 Green bricks disturbed from 110 120 T1 Primary building collapse (under 118) 121 T1 Levelled bedrock (under floor 112=117) 122 T1 Western dividing wall

17. Finds Tables

17.1 Introduction

The special finds are presented in table form below, while full textual descriptions can be

found in the Special Finds Catalogue in Part 4. A key to finds codes used is provided

immediately hereafter (18.2), and then below that there are presented the general finds table

(18.3) and then special finds table (18.4).

109

17.2 Table 5: Key to finds codes used

CATEGORY MATERIAL TYPE FORM FINISH DECORATION

BON (Bone) MAM = Mammal TO = Tooth

CBM (Ceramic Building material)

BR = Brick TL = Tile

DBM (Decorative Building Material)

PLA = Plaster A' to 'E' (see Special Finds Catalogue)

MO = Moulding

FCL (Fired Clay)

OB = Object

GLA (Glass) BT = Bottle MB = Marble

MET (Metal)

CUA = Copper Alloy IRO = Iron PEW = Pewter SIL = Silver SST = Stainless Steel TIN = Tin

CF = Cabinet Fitting NL = Nail OB = Object SH = Sheet SP = Spoon

CP = Corner Plate HA = Hasp

POT (Pottery)

HCW = Historic Coarseware HFF = Historic Fine Fabric HSW = Historic Stoneware

BA = Base BO = Body LI = Lid RI = Rim

BL = Bowl BS = Basin JR = Jar

GL = Glazed SL = Slipped

CO = Corded NT = Net SS = Seal Stamped

SHE (Shell) BIV = Bivalve

STO (Stone) FLI = Flint RHY = Rhyolite SST = Sandstone

DB = Debitage OB = Object

FL = Flake GF = Gun Flint WS = Whetstone

110

17.3 Table 6: General Finds

Trench/AH Context Cat. Matl Type Form DIA EVE Finish Decor.

Motifs Count

Wt

(g) Date/Phase Comments

AH2 Surface POT HSW RI BL NA NA GL 1 7 Qing-C20

Triangular sectioned upright rim, too small to

measure; brown glazed inside & out

AH3 Surface POT HSW BO GL 1 1 Qing-C20 Brown glazed interior

AH3 Surface POT POP BO GL 1 2 Qing-C20 Blue & white

AH5 40cm POT HSW RI NA NA GL

1 3 Qing-C20 Small square lip, upright rim, yellowish brown glazed

inside & out; too small to measure

TF4

(4.5m NE of

AH6)

Topsoil

in TF CBM TL

2 26 UD 1 red, 1 grey

TF4

(4.5m NE of

AH6)

Topsoil

in TF POT HSW BA

1 19 Qing-C20 Slightly incurving walls; brown glazed interior;

throwing marks on exterior; found in topsoil

AH6 Surface POT POP RI BL 15 4 GL 1 2 Qing-C20

Small square lip, upright rim, greyish blue glazed

inside & out

AH10

15-

20cm STO RHY DB? 1 6 UD Small piece of rhyolite, not worked

AH16 12cm POT POP RI BL NA NA GL 1 1 Qing-C20

Small upright round lip, too small to measure; greyish

blue glazed inside & out

AH26 Surface CBM TL 2 9 UD 1 red, 1 grey

AH26 0-11cm POT HSW BO GL 1 5 Qing-C20 Brown glazed on one side; found in topsoil

Near AH27 Surface POT POP BO GL 1 2 C19-C20 Blue & white

AH28 Surface GLA MA 1 6 Modern 1 complete glass marble, green/red/white

AH28 22cm CBM BR 2 40 UD Red brick fragments, worn

111

TF6

(10.5m S of

AH5)

Topsoil

below

TF CBM TL

1 8 UD Pink

TF6

(10.5m S of

AH5)

Topsoil

below

TF POT HSW RI BL GL

1 7 Qing-C20 Broken rim fragment of a shallow bowl; brown glazed

inside & out

AH39

c.15-

23cm POT HSW RI BL GL 1 2 Qing-C20

Broken rim fragment of a shallow bowl; brown glazed

inside & out

AH39

c.15-

23cm BON MAM TO 1 1 UD Suid molar - probably domesticated pig

TF6

Topsoil

in face STO RHY DB? 1 214 UD Large triangular chunk (natural?)


Motifs Count

Wt


T1 101 MET IRO OB 1 107 UD Bar; L19cm, W1-1.5cm, rusty

T1 101 GLA MB 1 8 Modern Red

T1 101 CBM TL 4 50 UD Grey

T1 101 POT HSW BO GL 1 61 UD Light grey fabric; patches of light grey glaze on interior

T1 102 MET

TIN

or

CUA CF CP

2 54 C19-C20? Corner plate of cabinet with floral decorations;

Furniture (cabinet) fittings found by contractor

T1 102 MET

TIN

or

CUA CF HP

1 72 C19-C20? Hasp with 'cloud' & bird decorations; Furniture

(cabinet) fittings found by contractor


Motifs Count

Wt


T1 103 GLA BT 1 32 C19-C20?

Bottom part of a glass bottle; rectangular shaped; '4 & 2

at the base of bottle'

112

T1 103 POT HSW LI? 18 12.5 1 17 Qing-C20

L-shaped profile; flat platform; rough surface,

probably a cooking pot lid


Motifs Count

Wt


T1 104 MET SST SP

1 17 Modern

Tea spoon; overall L c.13.5; W 0.6-1.4 (handle); scoop

part 3x4.5xD1cm; inscriptions: 'stainless steel. T5615

CHINA'

T1 104 MET TIN BL 22 85

1 175 Modern

Very rusty and fragile; shallow bowl about c.6cm H;

everted rim, thin wall; flat base; inscriptions at base not

readable

T1 104 MET IRO OB 1 139 Modern

Bolt; overall L12cm; W of plate 4cm; W of bar c.4cm,

rusty

T1 104 GLA MB 1 2 Modern Small green marble; c.1cm diameter.

T1 104 POT POP RI NA NA GL

1 7 C20

White provincial porcelain rim; small pointed lip,

upright rim; white fabric with bright pink decorations

of flower and Double Happiness

T1 104 CBM TL 30 765 UD Samples of tiles: 14 grey; 16 red

T1 104 CBM BR 2 56 UD Brick fragments; 1 red, 1 green


Motifs Count

Wt


T1 118 CBM TL 33 1269 UD

Samples of tiles: 19 red; 14 grey (huge quantities from

roof)

T1 118 MET IRO SH 5 29 UD All flat rusty fragments ranging from 2x2 to 2.5x5

T1 118 POT HSW BO 3 71 Qing-C20

1 brown glazed inside & out; 1 brown glazed exterior;

1 pale olive glazed inside & out


Motifs Count

Wt


T1 120 MET IRO SH 1 49 UD Flat, sub-rectangular shaped; 9.5x4.5

113

T1 120 CBM TL 33 1243 UD 23 grey; 10 red

T1 120 GLA MB 1 7 C20 Green/purple/white

T1 120 POT POP BO GL 1 3 C20 White with blue decoration

Trench Context Cat. Matl Type Form DIA EVE Finish Decor.

Motifs Count

Wt


T2 Surface POT HSW BO GL 1 2 Qing-C20 Brown glazed interior

T2 201 MET IRO OB 1 3 UD Button-like circular object; hollow inside; worn

T2 201 MET IRO OB 1 5 UD Nail-like elongated fragment, very rusty

T2 201 CBM BR 2 36 UD Green brick fragments

T2 201 CBM TL 7 64 UD All small fragments; 3 red; 4 grey

T2 201 POT POP RI BL NA NA GL

1 1 C20

White with green decorations; very small fragment;

small pointed lip, incurving walls; too small to

measure

T2 201 POT POP BO BL GL 2 4 Qing-C20 Small fragments of Wun Yiu; blue decorations

T2 201 POT HSW BO 1 6 Qing-C20 No glaze, small fragment

T2 201 POT HSW BO GL 1 6 Qing-C20 Brown glazed inside & out

T2 201 GLA? 1 4 UD Blue & white glass lump? Ceramic?

T2 201 STO RHY? DB? 1 3 UD Small fragment - debitage?

T2 (sieving) 201 STO RHY? DB? 5 19 UD Small flakes - debitage?

T2 (sieving) 201 CBM TL 12 45 UD All small fragments; 8 red/pink; 4 grey

T2 (sieving) 201 CBM TL

1 6 UD Sub-circular shaped, probably a gaming counter made

from red tile fragment; DIA c.2cm, thickness c.0.6cm

114

T2 (sieving) 201 POT HFF BO SL

1 7.5 UD Very worn fragment; trace of degraded brown slip on

one side; orange fabric with large quartz inclusions

T2 (sieving) 201 POT HSW BO GL 3 3 Qing-C20 Small fragments; brown glazed on interior

T2 (sieving) 201 POT POP BA GL 1 8 Qing-C20

Blue & white; glazed on both sides; too worn to

measure

T2 (sieving) 201 MET IRO NL 3 14 UD All rusty, 2 with flat top

T2 (sieving) 201 MET IRO OB 1 3 UD Rusty, shaft-like object


Motifs Count

Wt


T2 202 CBM TL 1 6 UD Grey tile; found in top of 202

T2 202 POT POP BA GL 1 5 Qing-C20 Blue & white; found in top of 202


Motifs Count

Wt


T3 (sieving) 301 POT HSW RI BL NA NA GL 1 6 Qing-C20

Triangular-sectioned rim with brown glaze on both

sides; too small to measure

T3 (sieving) 301 POT HSW BO GL 1 2 Qing-C20 Very degraded brown glaze on the interior

T3 (sieving) 301 POT HSW BO 1 1 Qing-C20 No glaze, small fragment

T3 (sieving) 301 POT POP RI BL 17 4.5 GL 1 2 Qing-C20 Blue & white, green-fired; small round lip, upright rim

T3 (sieving) 301 POT POP RI BL NA NA GL 1 1 Qing-C20

Small bead rim, upright; blue & white, too small to

measure

T3 (sieving) 301 CBM TL 15 70 UD All small fragments; 9 red; 6 grey

115

T3 (sieving) 301 STO RHY? DB? FL 1 14 UD Debitage flake

T3 (sieving) 301 STO FLI OB GF? 1 3 UD Sub-rectangular, flint non-local stone, gun flint?

T3 (sieving) 301 MET IRO NL 2 9 UD 2 nail fragments, both bent; 1 with flat top; rusty

T3 (sieving) 301 MET IRO 1 7 UD Irregular shaped fragment, flat; rusty


Motifs Count

Wt


T3 302 MET

SIL or

PEW? SP

1 8 C20? Spoon-end with inscriptions '三 … 出品'; surviving

L7.7cm; W 0.3-1.1cm; signs of patination

T3 302 POT HSW BO GL 1 1 Qing-C20 Brown glazed interior

T3 (sieving) 302 STO FLI OB GF? 1 5 UD Sub-rectangular, flint non-local stone, gun flint?

T3 (sieving) 302 CBM TL 4 10 UD 2 dark grey, 2 light grey


Motifs Count

Wt


T3 303 CBM TL 1 5 UD Red; excavated at c.30cm


Motifs Count

Wt


T4 Surface GLA MB 1 5 Modern Red/green/white

T4 Surface CBM TL 7 96 UD 3 red; 4 grey

T4 Surface POT HSW BO GL 4 39 Qing-C20 All brown glazed

T4 Surface POT HSW BA GL 1 3 Qing-C20 Brown glazed

T4 Surface POT POP BO GL 2 3 C19-C20?

1 glossy brown glazed exterior; 1 with polychrome

floral decoration on interior

T4 Surface POT POP BA GL 1 12 Qing-C20 Blue & white

116

T4 Surface POT POP RI NA NA GL 1 1 Qing-C20

Blue & white; small round lip, upright rim; too small to

measure

T4 Surface POT POP RI NA NA GL 1 1 Qing-C20

Blue & white; small round lip, upright rim; too small to

measure


Motifs Count

Wt


T4 401 CBM TL

1 3 UD Creamy red colour

T4 401 GLA MB

1 6 Modern Red/blue/yellow

T4 (sieving) 401 CBM TL

6 15 UD 5 red; 1 grey

T4 (sieving) 401 POT HFF BO GL 1 1 Qing-C20? Feint trace of light brown glaze on interior

T4 (sieving) 401 POT HSW BO GL 8 11 Qing-C20? All brown glazed except 2

T4 (sieving) 401 POT HSW RI NA NA GL 1 1 Qing-C20

Square lip, upright rim; brown glazed inside & out; too

small to measure

T4 (sieving) 401 POT HSW RI NA NA GL 1 1 Qing-C20

Square lip, incurving walls; dark brown glazed inside

& out; too small to measure

T4 (sieving) 401 POT POP RI NA NA GL 1 1 Qing-C20

Blue & white; small pointed lip, upright rim; too small

to measure

T4 (sieving) 401 POT POP BO GL 2 2 Qing-C20 Blue & white

T4 (sieving) 401 MET IRO OB 7 16 UD Mostly elongated (possibly nails) except 1 nut


Motifs Count

Wt


T5 Surface CBM TL 14 266 UD 3 grey; 11 red

T5 Surface POT HSW BO GL 1 5 Qing-C20 Brown glazed interior

T5 Surface POT POP BO 2 1 C20? Thin white provincial porcelain sherds

117


Motifs Count

Wt


T5

(sieving) 501 POT HSW BO GL 1 1 UD Grey


Motifs Count

Wt


T5 502 STO SST? OB WS? 3 387 UD

Whetstone? From same object, all with smooth edge -

one slightly dished suggesting use; rectangular in

shape; dimensions: 1) L8.5 x D3.5 x W4.5; 2) L7.5 x

D1.5 x W4; 3) L2.5 x W4.5 x D1

T5 502 PLA BU 1 0.1 modern

DIA c.0.5cm white plastic bullet used in 'war game' -

previously the abandoned YTT was a popular location

for war games

T5 502 CBM BR 1 13 UD Green brick

T5 502 CBM TL 1 33 UD Red

T5 502 POT HSW BO JR GL 5 40 Qing-C20 Brown glazed inside out with concentric circles

T5 502 POT HSW BO JR SL NT 2 86 Han

2 joiners; a small surviving patch of brownish red slip

on the surface of one sherd; both with very feint traces

of net decorations but mostly obliterated; thickness of

fabric c.0.7-1.2cm; signs of smoothing the surface

possibly using a wet cloth on both sides

T5 502 POT POP RI BL 11 7.5 GL 1 2 Qing-C20 Small round lip, upright rim; underfired blue & white


Motifs Count

Wt


118

T5 503 SHE 1 42 UD Spondylus nicobaricus (車蠔); one half of bivalve shell;

can still be found in the shore of YTT

T5 503 MET IRO OB 2 27 UD

1 triangular in shape (surviving L c.27.cm, W c.2.3cm,

thickness c.1.7cm); the other one is irregular in shape,

relatively flat (c.1.7 x 1.3 x0.6cm), rusty

T5 503 CBM TL 1 3 UD Red; possibly intrusive (later than Han)

T5 503 POT HFF BO NT 11 47 Han

Reddish or reddish grey fabric; thin wall (c.0.5cm); all

with 'degenerate nets' (rectangular nets) patterns

paddle stamped on exterior surface; possibly part of

round-bottomed fu similar to those found in

Guangzhou dated to Early to Mid Western Han

(xxxxx).

T5 503 POT HFF BO 6 28 Han??

Reddish or creamy colour fabric; all small sherds; some

with light grey slip on interior with small black

inclusions; walls c.0.5-0.6cm thick

T5 503 POT HSW BO SL/GL 30 525 Han

Light grey or creamy colour fabric with some small

black inclusions; mostly grey, light grey or reddish

brown slip on both sides; walls ranging from 0.5-1.4cm

thick; 4 sherds with thin incised lines on exterior

surface, probably for aligning of lugs (one sherd with

lug scar and broken hooked rim, see below)

T5 503 POT HSW BO SL 1 21 Han

Broken hooked rim fragment (tip missing but curve

still survived) with horizontal lug scar (surviving

length about 3.3cm) located approximately 3cm below

rim; creamy colour fabric ; light grey slip on surface

119

T5 503 POT HSW BO NT 2 22 Han

Small nets impressed on surface; 1 cream colour clay

fabric (wall c.1cm thick); the other one with feint small

nets on exterior, creamy orange fabric, thin wall

(c.0.6cm thick)

T5 503 POT HSW BO GL NT 1 5 Han Creamy colour fabric; walls c.0.8cm thick; trace of

brownish glaze on exterior surface

T5 503 POT HSW BO GL 2 23 Han?? 1 light brown glazed on both sides, thick wall (c.1cm);

1 with dark grey glaze on interior

T5 503 POT HSW BA GL 1 38 Han Very degraded glaze on interior; flat base fragment

without wall

T5 503 POT HSW BA GL 1 17 Han

Very feint trace of yellowish brown glaze at base; grey

slip on interior with some black inclusions; walls about

0.5cm thick


Motifs Count

Wt


T6 601 CBM TL 4 75 UD 3 red; 1 grey

T6 601 MET IRO NL 11 122 UD Nails; few with flat end; 3 bent at 90 degrees

T6 601 MET IRO SH 8 17 UD Irregular shaped, all flat

17.4 Table 7: Special Finds

Trench/AH SF

No. Context Cat. Matl Type Form DIA EVE Finish

Decor.

Motifs Count

Wt

(g)

Date/

Phase Comments

T5 SF01 503 POT HCW BO JR? CO 1 22 Han

Biconical shaped - sherd at widest part of the 'belly',

possibly of a pottery fu; bold corded patterns

impressed on surface; reddish coarse fabric; walls

about 0.6-1cm thick

120

T5 SF02 503 POT HFF BO NT 1 20 Han

Reddish orange fabric ; thin wall (c.0.5cm);

'degenerate nets' (rectangular nets) using paddle

stamp; with occasional overlapping of stamps; finger-

pressed 'anvil' marks on interior surface; possibly

part of round-bottomed fu similar to those found in

Guangzhou dated to Early to Mid Western Han.

T5 SF03 503 POT HSW BA JR? GL 1 17 Han

Relatively high footring (c.1cm); dished interior

surface; crisply potted footring; trace of degraded

green glaze on interior surface of the base; base

DIA10cm; surviving H c.2.5cm

T5 SF04 503 POT HSW RI JR? 32 12 SL 1 9 Han Hooked upright rim, light grey slip on both sides;

creamy colour fabric; surviving H c.1.5cm

T5 SF05 503 POT HSW RI JR NA NA SL 1 12 Han

Hooked upright rim with light grey slip on exterior &

reddish brown slip on the interior; too worn to

measure; 2 tram lines below rim for aligning lugs;

incurving walls below rim

T5 SF06 503 POT HSW RI JR 18 14 GL NT/SS 1 147 Han

Hooked rim; 2 square/sub-square seal-stamps

(comprised of triangles and squares, about 1.5x1.4cm)

located c.3cm below rim; over small raised net

patterns; uneven yellowish brown 'glaze' on exterior

surface below rim: actually unintentionally formed

by kiln glost dripping from the kiln roof (Medley

1989:40-41); thick walls (c.1-1.1cm thick); wheel-

finished marks on interior, also impressed finger

'anvil' marks inside; light brown fabric with

occasional small black inclusions

T5 SF07 503 POT HSW RI BS? 14 6 SL 1 16 Han

Hooked rim; small horizontal lug (surviving L

c.3.2cm; W2.5) immediately below rim; incurving

walls below lug; reddish brown slipped interior;

walls about 0.7cm thick; surviving H c.4.2cm

121

T5 SF08 503 POT HSW RI BL? 22 4 GL 1 18 Han

Incurving upright rim; round lip; feint glaze on

interior; possibly grey slip on exterior; light grey

fabric with some small black inclusions; thin wall

(c.0.5-0.7cm thick); surviving Hc.3cm

T5 SF09 503 POT HSW RI BL? NA NA SL 1 7 Han

Incurving upright rim; round lip; too small to

measure; possibly grey slipped surface; light grey

fabric with some small black inclusions; thin wall

(c.0.4-0.5cm thick); surviving H c.5.5cm

T5 SF10 503 POT HSW BO JR? NT/ST 1 84 Han

1 seal-stamped over small net decorations; Seal stamp

made up of squares and triangles, about 1x1cm;

Walls about 0.9-1.2cm thick; creamy colour fabric

T5 SF11 503 POT HSW BA JR? GL 1 271 Han

Reddish brown glazed on both sides (except base),

thin flat base (c.0.7cm thick), slightly sloping walls

c.1-1.3cm thick, heavy throwing marks on interior

surface; surviving H c.9cm; base DIA 19cm

T5 SF12 503 POT HSW BA JR? SL 1 120 Han

Reddish brown slip on exterior; trace of brownish

glaze on the inside (except base), thin base with a

small hollow (c.0.5cm thick), sloping wall (c.0.7-1.2cm

thick); surviving H c.6cm; Base DIA 15cm


Light reddish brown slipped exterior with small

black inclusions; thick wall (c.1-1.6cm thick); flat base;

very slightly sloping wall at base and getting near

straight in height - relatively straight compared to the

others excavated base in this project; uneven finish on

interior; surviving H c.9cm; base DIA 21cm

T5 SF14 503 POT HSW BA GL 1 89 Han

Feint trace of brown yellowish brown glaze on the

interior; sloping wall; very slightly hollow base with

a groove at the edge but no footring; surviving H

c..5.5cm; walls about 0.7cm; base about 0.4cm thick;

light creamy grey fabric with occasional black

inclusions; base DIA12cm

122


3 joiners; near straight wall (c.1cm thick); very

slightly hollow base with thin wall (c.0.3-0.5cm thick)

and rough surface at base; light grey fabric wrapped

with orange brown, with some small black inclusions;

wheel-finished marks on both sides; reddish brown

slipped exterior; surviving H c.6cm; base DIA 15cm

T1 SF16 103 DBM PLA A MO

2 27 UD 3 joiners; 2 grooves; approximately 3x6.5x D1.5cm

T1 SF17 103 DBM PLA B MO

1 63 UD 1 ridge with flat rectangular plaster at rear; 7x6.4x

D2-2.3cm; W of ridge c.0.5cm

T1 SF18 103 DBM PLA C MO

1 121 UD

With protruding rounded ridge below straight wall;

slightly curving below rounded ridge; overall

9.5x3.2cm;


1 181 UD

With protruding rounded ridge below straight wall;

slightly curving below rounded ridge; overall

10x6xD3cm;


1 22 UD Only the protruding rounded ridge survived; overall

dimensions: 5.8x2.5xD2cm

T1 SF21 103 DBM PLA D MO

1 326 UD

Comprised of 3 layers of plaster: rear & middle are

flat and rectangular; the front with simple curved

moulding; 6.5 x 13.5 x D5.5


1 11 UD Fragment of simple curved moulding; 4x2.5xD2cm


1 115 UD Fragment of simple curved moulding;

4.6x8.7xD4.5cm


1 158 UD

Comprised of 3 layers of plaster: rear & middle are

flat and rectangular; the front with simple curved

moulding; 6.7 x 8.5 x D5cm

T1 SF25 103 DBM PLA D MO 1 41 UD Fragment of simple curved moulding; 4.5x6.3xD3

T1 SF26 103 DBM PLA D MO 1 29 UD Fragment of simple curved moulding; 4.5x4.5xD2.5

123


1 61 UD Fragment of simple curved moulding; 7.7x4xD3.3

T1 SF28 103 DBM PLA E MO

1 22 UD

Irregular shaped fragment; front with small ridge and

blackish colour; rear surface uneven; surviving

thickness 0.7-1.5cm; L5.2xW3.8

T1 SF29 Surface

find CBM BR MO

1 4501 UD

Intact rectangular green brick wrapped with a layer

of simple plaster mouldings at one end & simple

grooved elongated plaster mouldings on both

surfaces; collected on surface on site; dimensions of

green brick: 27x11.5xD10.5; dimensions of elongated

plaster moulding (front): 24.5x9xD7cm; (rear):

26.5x3x7cm;

T1 SF30 104 CBM BR MO

1 3882 UD

Fragment of rectangular green brick wrapped with a

layer of simple plaster mouldings at one end &

simple grooved elongated plaster mouldings on one

side; dimensions of green brick: 26x11xD6; irregular

patch of plaster survived with MAX L16, W11, D6.5


1 18 UD Fragment of simple curved moulding; blackish at

rear; 4x2.3xD3cm