Continued explorations and finds revealed that the area was a large strictly planned cemetery covering an area of 324,500 sq m. We know the resting place for the deceased, so where did people live? Where is the capital located?

Ancient records show the capital of the Guo State was called Shangyangcheng after it was moved from Baoji in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, but its specific location had always been a mystery.

After researching the excavated items and other materials, experts inferred that the Lijiayao site two kilometers southeast of the cemetery might well be the ancient city of Shangyangcheng. Large-scale excavations in 2000 validated their conjecture. The 2,600-year-old city finally unveiled itself after many years underground.

 Chariot and horse pits

People of the Guo State are thought to have been well-educated and seasoned warriors, and many of their monarchs had been important ministers of the Zhou Dynasty. They often fought for the Zhou Dynasty, and relics prove this.

Chariots and battle steeds were important symbols of the military force at the time, and large amounts of carts and horses unearthed here demonstrate the importance of war to the state. From the 1950s to the 1990s, eight chariot and horse pits, and three horse pits were found.

The archeologists restored the rotten wooden chariots with loess. But gazing at those relics, one can still imagine the mighty forces of the Guo State. The West Zhou Dynasty marked a pinnacle in the development process of chariot making. With the extension of the governed area and strengthened links among different regions and states, vehicles also became more important.

Author: Jeff

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