Niumatou Archaeological Site
Located on Aofeng Mountain in Qingshui District, Taichung City, the Niumatou Archaeological Site Cultural Park is a multifunctional space that integrates archaeological excavation, historical memory, and cultural exhibitions. It bears witness to the evolution of human activities in central Taiwan from prehistoric times to the present. The site was originally part of the Qingshui military camp of the Republic of China Army and is now part of the township park in the Taichung Port Special District.
The Niumatou Site is a significant representative of the mid-Neolithic culture in central Taiwan, dating back over 4,000 years. The cultural layers discovered here include not only the "Niumatou Culture" but also prehistoric cultures such as the "Yingpu Culture" and the "Fanzaiyuan Culture", showing exchanges and mutual influences with the "Niuchouzi Culture" of southern Taiwan. Numerous cord-marked pottery pieces in red and brown tones have been unearthed, serving as key evidence for studying this period and making it the first archaeological site in Taiwan to be named after a place.
"Niumatou" was originally an old name for the Qingshui area. Its name is derived from the transliteration of "Gomach," a settlement of the Papora people, one of the indigenous plains tribes. The early Papora inhabitants engaged in fishing, hunting, and shifting cultivation. By the mid-17th century, Dutch colonization, the Kingdom of Tungning (Ming Zheng), and Qing Han Chinese immigration gradually transformed their traditional lifestyle and culture.
During the Japanese colonial period, the government built a sports field and the Qingshui Shrine at the site, using the unity of religion and governance to reinforce control. These developments also left behind valuable colonial-era relics. After World War II and Taiwan’s restoration, the area became an army artillery base. Following the camp’s decommissioning, the land was handed over to the Taichung City Government and, thanks to the advocacy of many scholars and experts, was developed into the Niumatou Archaeological Site Cultural Park.
The park's design balances the preservation of cultural heritage with educational outreach. It introduces the site's discovery and archaeological achievements, exhibits unearthed artifacts, explains excavation techniques and research findings, and enables the public to gain a deeper understanding of the historical context of human activity in the Taichung region. Remnants of Japanese-era buildings and military facilities are also preserved on site, creating a layered historical record spanning prehistoric, colonial, and modern periods.
