Pits of sacrifice of the Shang Dynasty (17th century - 11th century BC)

Location: Guanghan County, Sichuan Province

Period: About 12th - century BC

Excavated in 1986

Significance: It has played a key role in understanding the features of the bronze civilization in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and in exploring those of the regional bronze civilization in China. 

Bronze sculpture of human head covered with gold mask: probably the sculpture of god (left, height 42.5 cm); Bronze statue of standing man: probably the statue of god (mid, height 260.8 cm); Bronze sculpture of human head covered with gold mask: probably the sculpture of god (right, height 48.1 cm)

 Introduction

Sanxingdui Site in Sichuan province covers an area of about 6,000,000 square meters. The two pits excavated at Sanxingdui are among the most fascinating of recent findings in Chinese archaeology. They were discovered by workers at a local brick factory, just outside a walled settlement that had already been excavated, in the summer of 1986.

The two pits were filled with bronze objects, jades, and elephant tusks that had been buried (probably as offerings). The objects in Pit 1 had been burned before burial. The findings in Pit 2 (right) were in three distinct layers -- on top were some sixty elephant tusks, next came large bronze objects (including bronze standing figure and bronze human head with gold leaf), and below were jade and stone implements, animal masks, and some smaller bronzes.

The objects clearly indicate the presence of a strong regional culture with sophisticated religious practices and advanced bronze-casting technology. In contrast to Shang burials, these offering pits show no evidence of human sacrifice, but they do reveal a marked interest in the human form, especially the face.

The Sanxingdui findings are exciting, but they remain enigmatic. No texts have been found, nor is there any mention of this culture in the records of other states. Analysis of lead and other elements in the bronzes indicates sources similar to those of other cultures along the lower Yangtze River basin.