ARCHAEOLOGISTS from the Chinese University of Hong Kong have discovered the remains of a 3,500-year-old village in Lantau, believed to be the oldest complete site in the territory.
The settlement was found at Pa Tau Kwu hill, a headland near Penny's Bay on northeast Lantau.
During a month-long excavation of the 300-square-metre site, archaeologists unearthed granite foundations of three structures as well as a stove and a stone chair.
Two of the structures were round and one was square. They were probably homes of between 12.5 and 20 square metres.
Artefacts found at the site included axes, pottery, spinning wheels, spears and fishing tools.
Director for the Centre for Chinese Archaeology and Art at Chinese University and project leader Tang Chung said the find was a breakthrough in the study of prehistoric Hong Kong.
'This is the oldest village found in Hong Kong as far as we know. Previously we had to rely on artefacts but now we can study at the settlement site to get a better understanding of the life of early Hong Kong people.' The find was of major significance because it disproved the decades-old theory that Hong Kong's earliest inhabitants lived on boats and did not build settlements.
