Dating the Tamalin Site
“Archaeological Collections of Central Taiwan” can be roughly divided into prehistoric cultures such as Tapenken, Niu-ma-tou, Yin-pu, Tamalin, Fan-tzu-yuan, and Da-ciu-yuan, and the Han-Chinese culture; they are briefly described below:
The Tapenken culture (6000 to 4500 years ago), these are the earliest representatives of the Neolithic Age in Taiwan and exemplified by the ruins discovered in Tapenken, Pali, Taipei. Tapenken-style earthenware can be found in ruins in central Taiwan such as Niu-ma-tou lower layer in Ching-sui Township, Niu-pu in Chang-hwa City, and Hui-lai-li in Taichung City. The feature of this pottery is the decoration of cord marks on the body of bowls and pots. Only a few types of stone implements have been found , such as axes, adzes, net sinkers, spearheads and bark beating tools all made by chipping and grinding.
The Niu-ma-tou culture (4500 to 3500 years ago) is represented by the pottery found in the upper layers at Niu-ma-tou in the Ching-sui Township. It is presumed to have evolved from the Tapenken culture. Representative ruins in the central regions include Suiyuandi and the crematorium in Ta-chia Township; East Tachia and Ma-tou Road in Wai-pu Township, and Chaung-hou Village in Shen-kang Township; Hsu-kuang Elementary and Long-chuan Village south of Dadu Plateau; Hui-lai Bureau in Taichung Basin; Niu-pu and Wu-his in Chang-hwa City; Tsao-hsieh-tun and Ping-lin in Nantou. The ruins discovered are along the coast, or on the plateau and hills near rivers and streams. Pottery is mostly red and rope-marked. The rope marks are usually found below the neck or shoulder of the object. The markings are shallower and thinner than those of the Tapenken culture; a few incised lines are sometimes found by the edge of the mouth; pots, bowls, and bottles with wide flared mouths with everted edges. A bulged body, round bottom, and circular legs are commonly seen. The cord marked earthenware from the late stage of Niu-ma-tou culture was later replaced by black pottery.