The sacrificial area at the Sanxingdui site in Guanghan, Sichuan
Abstract
Since May 2022, six newly-discovered sacrificial pits have been excavated at the Sanxingdui site, revealing 13,000 cataloged artifacts. Over 3000 of them are intact, well-preserved artifacts made of ivory and other materials. Considering the discoveries from these six pits and the two previously excavated pits, we propose that pits K5 and K6 were used as sacrificial pits for sacrificial activities, while the other pits served as burial pits for ritual objects. The excavations detailed in this article hold great significance for understanding the sacrificial activities, the sacrificial systems of the ancient Shu state, and the shifting settlement patterns at the Sanxingdui site.
Postscript
The original article 四川广汉市三星堆遗址祭祀区prepared by Honglin Ran 冉宏林, Yu Lei 雷雨, Hao Zhao 赵昊, Zhenbin Xie 谢振斌, Haichao Li 黎海超, Chong Wang 王冲, Feihong Xu 徐斐宏, and Danyang Xu 许丹阳was published in Kaogu 考古 (Archaeology) 2022.7:15–33, with 39 figures and 16 notes. This abbreviated English version, translated by Tao Li 李涛, has removed the notes.
Further readings
Chen, Xiandan 陈显丹. 1989. 广汉三星堆一、二号坑两个问题的探讨 (Two issues on pits K1 and K2 at the Sanxingdui site in Guanghan). Wenwu 文物 (Cultural relics) 5:36–38.Search in Google Scholar
Shi, Jingsong 施劲松. 2004. 三星堆器物坑的再审视 (Reexamination of the artifact pits at the Sanxingdui site). Kaogu xuebao 考古学报 (Acta Archaeologlca Sinica) 2:157–182.Search in Google Scholar
Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology 四川省文物考古研究院. 1999. Sanxingdui jisi keng 三星堆祭祀坑 (Sacrificial pits at the Sanxingdui site). Beijing: Wenwu chubanshe.Search in Google Scholar
© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- New archaeological discoveries
- The Piluo Paleolithic site in Daocheng, Sichuan
- The Huangshan Neolithic site in Nanyang, Henan
- The sacrificial area at the Sanxingdui site in Guanghan, Sichuan
- The Guozishan Warring States tomb M1 in Zhangshu, Jiangxi
- The 2021 excavation on the Zhengjiahu cemetery in Yunmeng, Hubei
- Tang dynasty Tuyuhun royal tombs in Wuwei, Gansu
- Reports
- The excavation of M793 at Liujiazhuang North in Yinxu, Anyang, Henan
- The 2015–2019 excavation of the bronze foundry site at the Huanbei Shang City in Anyang, Henan
- Research
- The Lushanmao site and the formation of the Xitu type architectural tradition
- Archaeological observations on agro-pastoralist integration in south-central Inner Mongolia during the Eastern Zhou
- On crescent-shaped objects of the early Bronze Age in southern Siberia and the surrounding areas
- Further discussion on the origins of horse stirrups
- Research on the pottery decorations and manufacturing techniques of the Houtaomuga Phase I culture
- Scientific examination and study of the Qijia culture bronze artifacts from Mogou site in Lintan, Gansu
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- New archaeological discoveries
- The Piluo Paleolithic site in Daocheng, Sichuan
- The Huangshan Neolithic site in Nanyang, Henan
- The sacrificial area at the Sanxingdui site in Guanghan, Sichuan
- The Guozishan Warring States tomb M1 in Zhangshu, Jiangxi
- The 2021 excavation on the Zhengjiahu cemetery in Yunmeng, Hubei
- Tang dynasty Tuyuhun royal tombs in Wuwei, Gansu
- Reports
- The excavation of M793 at Liujiazhuang North in Yinxu, Anyang, Henan
- The 2015–2019 excavation of the bronze foundry site at the Huanbei Shang City in Anyang, Henan
- Research
- The Lushanmao site and the formation of the Xitu type architectural tradition
- Archaeological observations on agro-pastoralist integration in south-central Inner Mongolia during the Eastern Zhou
- On crescent-shaped objects of the early Bronze Age in southern Siberia and the surrounding areas
- Further discussion on the origins of horse stirrups
- Research on the pottery decorations and manufacturing techniques of the Houtaomuga Phase I culture
- Scientific examination and study of the Qijia culture bronze artifacts from Mogou site in Lintan, Gansu
