Deciphering Sanxingdui
Bronze
objects unearthed at Sanxingdui
Nothing is more exciting in archaeological circles than the discovery of a
lost civilization that could possibly rewrite history. Sanxingdui, in Guanghan,
40 km from Chengdu
in SW China's Sichuan
Province , is one such discovery. The excavations from Sanxingdui bring us
face to face with ancient civilizations in Sichuan, long lost and only scantily
recorded in ancient Chinese literature. Though over seventy years has passed
since its discovery, much of Sanxingdui is still shrouded in historical mists.
The origin of Sanxingdui
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The Gold Scepter found at
Sanxingdui |
Exotic
seashells |
Given the absence of any written records about Sanxingdui, identifying its
origin becomes a very challenging job. The novelties and differences
Sanxingdui's objects display as compared to those found in other parts of China
have given rise to controversies concerning its origin.
One hypothesis that has gained much appeal holds that
Sanxingdui was a transplant of Western civilization. Is this really so? Experts
have found more evidence to refute that theory than support it.
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