There is a mention of a large pit, dug by the rebels in the north of the island and covered up with poles, turves and grass, into which they managed to lure a group of Dutch sailors.

The pit was then re-filled with earth and twigs. Ultimately the forces were unequal, the rebels crushed, and only the northern and southwestern regions of Taiwan remained under the control of the East India Company.

Fort San Salvador has not disappeared without a trace. And we owe this to archaeologists.

In the city of Jilong, a Spanish-Taiwanese expedition found Fort San Salvador, built during the Spanish occupation of Taiwan in 1626-1642. The researchers discovered some Neolithic artefacts, such as bones and shells, plus some items from later periods. A porcelain vial from the Qing Dynasty and which was intended for medicine particularly caught the

attention of the archaeologists. Due to the excavations, the previously planned construction of public parking lots has been discontinued, according to the Mayor of Jilong, Lin Yu-chan

. He noted that these archaeological excavations were very significant. “This is a truly exciting moment in the history of Jilong,” concluded the Mayor.

Arable farming, cattle breeding, crafts, hunting

Horticulture began to develop.

The most widespread crops were cereals (millet, rice), legumes (peas, various beans), and tuberous species (taro, sweet potatoes, yams).

The production of irrigated rice, sugar cane, onions and ginger increased throughout the 17^>th,18^>th, & 19^>th centuries with the crops being harvested twice per year.

The Dutch also introduced the local people to the technology of growing tobacco.

The communal fields were cultivated by women under the guidance of certain men who were known as the “elders of the

field”. In addition to this, every woman and every man worked on their plots.

Fishing, crab and oyster catching in the 17th century were exclusively women’s occupations, whereas in the 18 and 19th centuries it became men’s work. For fishing bows and harpoons were used and they set up nets and made dams. But the main occupation for men was hunting. They hunted singly and in groups. Sometimes hunters of 2 or 3 neighbouring communities could unite. They hunted collectively either with stakes and dogs or with the help of snares. The prey was divided-up in the following way: the hunters kept the heads, bones, horns and skins of animals, and the remainder of the meat among all residents. Domestic animals included pigs, dogs and chickens. Some homeowners had cats. In the 19th century, horses were imported from China but were used only for riding. The food was usually cooked by women. A hearth was made of stones outside the house. Meat was rare on the table. The entrails of animals were salted and salt treatment was also used for unscaled fish. Salt was extracted by evaporating seawater in troughs. They ate with their hands, sometimes helping themselves with coconut shells. Starting from the 18th century, they began to use sticks and porcelain bowls.

Grains were ground using a mortar and pestle.

Rice, sweet potatoes and peas were spiced using red pepper. Fruit (bananas, oranges, persimmons) played a secondary role.

Beginning in the 3rd century, they used weapons made of deer antlers, whereas in the 16th century, they began to buy iron arrowheads and knives from the Chinese and daggers from the Japanese.

By the 17th century, they began to smelt iron and make weapons themselves.

Boats were hollowed out of wood. Bamboo was used to make vessels for storing grain and water. Often water was stored in gourds.