海洋是生命的搖籃，它爲生命的誕生與繁衍提供了必要的條件；海洋是風雨的故鄉，它在控制和調節全球氣候方面起着重要作用；海洋是資源的寶庫，它給人類提供了極爲豐富的食物和巨大儲量的各種資源；海洋是交通的要道，它爲人類從事海上交通提供了最爲經濟、便利的運輸途徑；海洋是現代高科技硏究與開發的基地，它是人類探索自然奧秘、發展高科技産業的重要場所。

　　海洋的邊沿和近海的島嶼，歷來是人類的重要活動場所。海洋中豐富的食物資源，爲人類提供了充足的營養，它孕育着人類，人類也在不斷地認識海洋、適應海洋、征服海洋和利用海洋的過程之中，創造出海洋文化。海洋文化又具有明顯的地域性、歷史性、民族性特點。早期住在海邊和海島上的人，大都是漁民，漁業是他們的主要生計。這種以打魚爲生的生活方式，相應地産生出不同于農業族群的生活習慣和文化傳統，我們稱之爲漁業文化。

　　南海，又稱南中國海。中國大陸瀕臨五大海區：渤海、黃海、東海、南海，及台灣以東太平洋海域。南海因其位于我國大陸的南方，故名。南海是世界著名的熱帶大陸邊緣海之一，面積遼闊，水體巨大，水域深淵。整個南海幾乎被大陸、半島和島嶼所包圍，北面是我國廣東、廣西沿海大陸和台灣、海南兩大島嶼，東面是菲律賓群島，西面是中南半島，南面是加里曼丹島與蘇門答臘島等。南北橫越約2000公里，東西縱跨約1000公里。整個海域面積約350萬平方公里，其平均水深爲1212米，最深處爲5567米，爲一比較完整的深海盆地。中國在南海中的重要島嶼有海南島，東沙、西沙、中沙、南沙等群島和黃岩島等。海岸地勢較低，海岸線切割較弱。沿岸和島嶼附近有大量珊瑚發育，河口和海灘生長有紅樹林。北部灣和泰國灣爲南海西部的大型海灣。注入南海的主要河流有珠江、韓江以及紅河、湄公河和湄南河等。

　　史前時期的南海，是一個神秘、令人遐想和充滿好奇的課題。納入我們硏究計劃的是南海史前時期的漁業文化。我們將目光集中在嶺南的沿海陸地與近海島嶼史前時期的文化遺存，通過這一縮小的範圍，我們更能夠看清南海漁業先民的生態環境、人種人群、生産生活、社會發展程度，進而走近古人的精神世界。

　　所謂一方水土養一方人。一方水土孕育一方文化。人的性格的形成，人生觀和世界觀的形成，和他從小到大生存的環境、所接受的文化敎育有着密不可分的關係。不同的時代、不同的環境、不同的民族與文化背景，可以造就風格迥異的文化，而在更高的層次上看，中華大地上，不同的文化細流，又匯成了中華文化的主流。中華文明起源多元一統、多源一體的格局，已爲考古發現提供的大量材料所證實。南海漁業先民的文化，旣有中華文化共同性，同時，也有着自己的特點。 

　　從考古學角度觀察南海沿岸及島嶼史前文化，在不同的時期看到多個旣有聯繫又有區別的考古學文化面貌。在不同的層次上和角度上，可以把握不同的特點。這里發現的居住遺址主要有洞穴遺址、階地遺址、貝丘遺址、沙丘遺址等類型。早期居民以洞穴爲主要棲息地。舊石器時代早期這里就有人類生存活動，舊石器時代中晩期，這里是世界早期人類活動的重要地區，發現相當多的人類化石。更新世末至全新世初期的文化遺存更是普遍發現，並有着廣泛的同質性。這種同質性具體表現是：與大熊貓-劍齒象動物群化石及稍晩的現代哺乳動物群標本伴生的打制石器、局部磨制石器、穿孔石器，以及一定數量的骨角器，廣泛出現的螺殻堆積亦是這類文化的特徵之一。在人類經濟活動刺激下，華南全新世初期的石器加工工業也朝着適應漁獵的方向發展，穿孔石器，磨制刃部的石器和燧石小石器的出現反映出這種變化①。在許多遺址之中發現軟體類、魚類、兩棲類、龜鱉類及哺乳動物。距今一萬年左右的三亞落筆洞遺址是南海早期人類活動的一個重要遺址，在洞穴遺存的堆積物中，發現了大量的水生軟體動物遺骸，堆積十分密集。水生動物計有7目24種，其中螺殻約有7萬個之多，有些經火燒過。説明當時人們重視對水生動物的利用，捕撈經濟比較興旺發達，當時人類有廣泛的取食範圍，人們對水有較好的適應、瞭解和利用。新石器時代居住于海邊河旁的先民，大量食用貝類生物，在住地及附近留下大量的堆積成丘的貝殻，其中殘留着大量人類活動的痕迹和人類有意抛棄或無意失落的物品，因而形成我們現在所説的貝丘遺址，這是南海沿岸地區及近海島嶼最爲常見的一種古文化遺址類型。海濱貝丘、河岸貝丘、河海交匯地點鹹淡水類型的貝丘成爲三種主要的貝丘遺址類型；沙丘遺址主要分布于南海岸邊及島嶼的海灣上，大自然的造化，在海岸或海島邊沿形成許多的海灣，不少海灣上有沙堤或有沙灘，有淡水從山旁流出，優越的自然環境，使大量魚類、貝類海洋生物聚集在這里，成爲一個天然的人類糧倉。沙堤-瀉湖類型沙丘遺址、沙灘連坡地型沙丘遺址爲兩種主要的沙丘遺址類型。沙丘、貝丘遺址爲主的史前考古遺存廣泛分布于南海北岸及其島嶼，重要的遺址如廣西的邕寧頂螄山遺址、西津遺址、秋江遺址、豹子頭遺址、江西岸遺址；廣東的高要蜆殻洲遺址、佛山河宕遺址、高明古耶遺址、西樵山鎮頭遺址、三水銀洲遺址、東莞村頭遺址、蚝崗遺址，深圳咸頭嶺遺址、大黃沙遺址、小梅沙遺址，珠海寶鏡灣遺址、後沙灣遺址；香港的東灣遺址、大灣遺址、深灣遺址、涌浪遺址；澳門的黑沙遺址等等。這里是百越先民的發源地之一，這里的原始文化與中原地區的原始文化有着密切的聯繫，這里還是南島語族的重要發生地。

　　漁網用于海洋捕撈，是一個具有劃時代意義的進步，新石器時代中期，網魚還只是小打小鬧，在距今4000多年前，網魚技術已經完全成熟，並形成規模生産。珠海寶鏡灣先民大規模使用漁網捕魚，該遺址中出土1000多件漁網的網墜和幾十件比普通網墜更大的沉石，網墜成堆出土，或39件或24件一堆，顯示出當時漁網編織時一個完整網具中包含網墜的可能數量。大量出土網墜的地點還見于香港涌浪遺址、珠海平沙棠下環遺址等地點，另外，在珠海寶鏡灣遺址、珠海荷苞島鎖匙灣遺址、香港涌浪遺址、香港東灣遺址等地都出土多件可能用于船錨的大型石器。這些情况足以説明這一地區，這一時期的先民，有發達的漁業經濟。寶鏡灣岩畫中刻下的海船，高明古耶發現的船槳，是史前時期人類征服海洋的重要工具的見證。石刻岩畫是環珠江口地區的重要史前遺存，珠海、香港、澳門等地發現多處石刻岩畫，在廣西境內發現較多圖繪的岩畫。其中珠海寶鏡灣岩畫，是南中國目前發現面積最大、內容最爲豐富的早期石刻岩畫。史前岩畫是漁業先民的藝術杰作，它記録了先民們的興趣愛好與精神追求。

　　陶釜是史前時期漁業先民主要的炊器，中原地區大量使用的鼎、鬲在這里較少出現。這里是印紋陶技術發明與廣泛使用的地區之一，豐富的陶器裝飾紋使這里的陶器裝飾十分有特色；有肩石器、有段石器、凹石器、蚝蠣啄、穿孔石器以及蚌殻製成的網墜、刀、魚鈎等工具較多地被先民使用，成爲南海先民生産工具的特色；粵東地區是有段石器的主要分布區；珠江三角洲、桂南、粵西與海南島地區是有肩石器的主要分布區，西樵山遺址是有肩石器的主要製作場①。史前時期珠江三角洲地區先民大量使用玉石製成的玦，常用的材料有水晶、石英石、石英脈、玉髓、瑪瑙、灰岩等等。玦，最初是一種挂在耳上的裝飾，由於製作精美，後來也較多用于祭祀活動。這里出土用于祭祀的禮器還有石鉞、石圭、玉琮和玉（石）璋等；在廣西泛北部灣地區，頂螄山文化之後，新石器時代晩期出現一種大石鏟的遺存，較具特色。這種形體碩大、造型美觀、形制獨特、結構合理、製作精緻的大石鏟，起源于前期的有肩石斧，是當地的駱越先民爲適應原始農業發展的需要而發明製作的一種生産工具，隨着社會的發展和祀祭儀式的需要，有一部分巨型石鏟演變成專用于祭祀的禮器①。

　　南海漁業先民的文化，從人物性格上看，它不同于北方草原上遊牧民族的文化，沒有那么粗獷、豪放，也不同于長江、黃河流域的冲積平原上農耕先民的文化，沒有那么痴迷地眷戀着故土，它是一種以海岸與島嶼爲依託，以漁獵爲生計的面向海洋的文化。史前時期南海漁業文化具有海洋文化的一般特性，這就是開放性、冒險性、交流遷移性、兼容性、商業性，同時，還有一種求眞務實的精神文明。

　　南海北岸史前漁業文化的硏究，涉及面廣，內容極爲豐富，本硏究僅是抛磚引玉的嘗試。 


　　Southeast Chinese mainland is on verge of five sea areas: Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean sea area to the east Taiwan. In Chinese, we call South China Sea “Nanhai”, as “nan” means “south”；the Sea is one of the largest marginal seas in western Pacific, covering a vast area and its water is deep and abundant. Guangdong and Guangxi are the two major provinces on the north coast of South China Sea and the two are also called Lingnan region. 

　　Research on the Pre-Qin South China Sea is a mysterious subject, making people full of wild thoughts and curiosity. In this book, we will discuss the fishery culture of South China Sea in Pre-Qin period. Through focusing on the cultural relics and remains found on the coastal land and offshore islands of Lingnan region, we will get a clearer picture of the ecological environment, ethnic groups, production life, and social development levels of our ancestors and even walk into their spiritual life. 

　　As a Chinese saying goes, “the natural environment of a place builds the people's character”; but not only that, the natural environment of a place also breeds its culture. So peoples at different times and places create different cultures, it is the culture diversity that forms the grant Chinese culture. Being a part of Chinese culture, the fishery culture of South China Sea has its own unique characteristics. Most of the early islanders and inhabitants of the coastal areas in South China were fishermen and their living habits and cultural traditions varied from the racial groups relying on agriculture.  

　　Through archaeological observations, we could see these characteristics from different levels and angles. The residential sites found on the coast and islands of South China Sea are mainly: cave sites, platform sites, shell-mound sites, sand dune sites and so on. The human fossil unearthed proves that South China Sea had been an important area for human activities in the middle and late of Paleolithic Ages. More culture remains from the late Pleistocene to the early Holocene have been found, and these remains possess a lot of homogeneities. Under the stimulation of human economic activities, the processing industry of stone implements had developed to the direction adapting to fishing and hunting. The unearthed perforated stone tools, ground stone blades, small chert tools prove that transition. The remains of mollusc, fish, amphibian, chelonian and mammal have also been discovered in the sites. A large amount of water mollusc remains has been found densely stacked in the Luobidong Site of Sanya, Hainan province, which is 10,000 years before present. The mollusc can be classified into 24 species belonging to 7 orders, and the number of shells that have been found reaches over 70.000, some of which had even been fired. All these founding demonstrate that the ancestors had attached importance to making the best use of aquatic animals and fishery was quiet flourishing at that time. Since a large number of shellfish had been taken by the ancestors, the piles of shells they left form today's shell-mound sites which are one of the popular site types in the coastal areas and offshore islands of South China Sea. The three major types of shell-mound sites are coastal, river bank, and the shell-mound sites at a place where the sea and rivers converge. The sand dune sites distribute mainly on the north coast of South China Sea and the bays of its islands. As if designed by nature, many bays have beaches or sand bars, fresh water outflowing from the nearby mountains and here in these bays gather abundant fishes and shellfish. The excellent nature environment had provided the early human with sufficient food supplies. The two main types of sand dune sites are: sand bar-lagoon type and beach-slope type. The archaeological remains of South China Sea in prehistoric period are featured by its sand dune and shell-mound sites which largely distribute on the north coast of South China Sea and its lands. Some important sites include: Zinindin site, Xijin site, Qiujiang and Baozitou site of Guangxi province; in Guangdong province, there are the corbicula shell-mound site of Gaoyao city, Hedang site of Foshan, Guye site of Gaomin, Yinzhou site of Sanshui, Cuntou site of Dongguang, Xiantouling site of Shenzhen, Baojingwan and Houshawan site of Zhuhai. Tung Wan and Taiwan site in Hong Kong and the Hac Sa Site in Macao are also significant.

    The using of fishing net in marine capture was an epoch making progress. As early as 4000 years ago, the fish netting technology had completely matured and been widely used. More than one thousand net sinkers have been excavated in Baojingwan site, Zhuhai city. Also net sinkers have been unearthed in the Yung Long  site of Hongkong, the Xiahuang site of Zhuhai and many other places. Not only that, the big stone implements unearthed in Baojingwan and Yaoshiwan site of Zhuhai, Yung Long  and Tung Wan site of Hong Kong might have been used as anchors. All these prove that the ancestors in the area had a well-developed fishery economy. The sea boat on the rock painting of Baojingwan site and the paddles unearthed in Guye site of Gaoming, Foshan city also serve as evidence. Speaking of rock paintings, we have to say they are one of the most important prehistoric cultural remains in Pearl River estuary region and have been found in many places, such as, Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao. Among all these rock paintings, the one in Baojingwan site is the largest and most complete. Those paintings are artistic masterpieces of the ancestors and had recorded the early people's interests, hobbies and spiritual pursuits. 

　　Pottery Fu is one of the main cooking utensils for the ancestors in Pre-Qin Period. Pottery Ding and Li which were commonly used in central China are rarely seen in the north coast of South China Sea. However, this is the area where the technology of printing on potteries had been invented and widely adopted. The stone implements used to be employed by the ancestors are shouldered-stones, concave stones, perforated stones, pointed stones using as oyster openers, as well as the net-sinkers, knifes and fishhooks made by clamshells. All these are representatives of the production implements of the ancestors on South China Sea. The people in Pre-Qin also used a wide range of stones to make Jue, a kind of ornaments at that time. The stones they used were usually crystals, quartzes, chalcedonies, agates and lime stones. Initially, Jue was worn as jade ear rings for ornamental purpose; later it also served for sacrificial and ritual purposes because of its delicacy. The excavated sacrificial and ritual implements also include Stone Yue, Stone Gui, Jade Cong, Stone or Jade Zhang and so forth. After uncovering the Dingshishan Culture in the Pan-North Bay region of Guangxi province, there emerges the ruin of great stone shovels of the late Neolithic Age. These large, delicately designed, and carefully made stone shovels originated from the early shouldered-stone axes. They were first invented as a production tool in order to adapt to the development of agriculture; but with the development of the society and the need for sacrificial rituals, a proportion of these gigantic shovels had been used as professional ritual implements. 

　　From the angle of people's characters, the fishery culture of the early inhabitants on South China Sea differs from the nomadic people who had lived on the plateau of north China and whose characters were straightforward, bold and unconstrained. Also it varies from the culture of the farmers who used to live on the alluvial plain, the drainage region of Yangtze and Yellow River and who were sentimentally attached to their homeland. The fishery culture of the early inhabitants on South China Sea is a kind of marine culture and the people in this culture had the characters of openness, mobility, flexibility, commercialization and the spirit of risk, realism and pragmatism.(肖婧译)