Changguang Site Introduction
The East Coast of Taiwan is home to many prehistoric cultural sites, most of which belong to the Qilin culture from approximately 3,500 years ago during the Late Neolithic period. The Qilin culture is also known as the "Megalaithic culture," named for the numerous giant monoliths and rock coffins unearthed as artifacts. The Changguang site is one of the archaeological sites associated with the Qilin culture. Some sites on the East Coast are located too close to settlement areas, and in the past, these prehistoric artifacts were often unintentionally destroyed by residents who had no understanding of their significance, making excavation and preservation challenging. As a result, many sites can no longer be identified, which is quite unfortunate. The Changguang site is a fascinating place; even though the site is now within a community, the excavated artifacts are skillfully integrated into the community, creating the unique phenomenon of "a site within a community." The "Shikeng Cultural and Historical Museum" in the community presents the fragments of pottery unearthed from the site in new artistic forms without damaging their original shapes. The rock coffin sites are mostly situated in private residences, and a replica of one of these rock coffins is currently held at the National Museum of Prehistory in Taiwan. Additionally, along a road in the community, a shoulder bear monolith unearthed from prehistoric excavations stands tall, enveloping the entire community in an atmosphere of prehistoric culture.
