Author: Zhu Huan Yue Yitong He Shaoqing
On September 9th, the important project of "Archaeological China"-the news briefing on the staged results of the archaeological excavations of the Sanxingdui site was held in Guanghan, Sichuan, to inform the latest results of the archaeological excavations of the Sanxingdui site.
Up to now, more than 5,000 cultural relics have been extracted from the Sanxingdui New Sacrifice Area.
What surprises did Sanxingdui, who "sleep for thousands of years, wake up the world", this time again?
Is it gold?
Is it jade?
Is it silk?
Or is it lovely bronze?
Let's take a look!
Bronze altar and beasts unearthed from Sacrificial Pit No. 8.
Photo courtesy of Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
Sanxingdui Site Discovery
The largest bronze altar and beast to date
It is reported that the largest bronze altar and blue animal in Sanxingdui have been discovered on the ivory layer of the No. 8 sacrificial pit at the Sanxingdui site.
At the northeast corner of the sacrificial pit, the bronze altar and the beast lie next to each other. The altar is about 85 cm high and 50 cm wide, like a cube.
It is estimated that the beast is about 1.2 meters long, or it is the same artifact as the complex-shaped altar.
The bottom of this bronze altar is a three-layer platform with a height of about 30 cm. A platform is formed on the platform. A kneeling figure with virtual hands on one corner of the platform faces outwards, and a bronze figure in the center of the platform. It is dance-like.
On both sides of the dancer, there are two tall bronze figures stepping on the 5 cm high platform.
Further up, there was a kneeling person carrying a pole on his shoulder, and another layer of platform was welded on the pole. On the platform was a bronze animal with a height of more than 20 centimeters.
There is a thread twisted from copper wire around the neck of the bronze beast.
There is also a person kneeling on the back of the beast, with a hook cloud tattoo on his leg.
At the waist of this bronze figure, the upper half of the altar broke and disappeared.
Archaeologists speculate that according to the proportions, this altar should still be forty to fifty centimeters high.
Golden mask.
Photo courtesy of Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
The biggest so far!
Sanxingdui reproduces the complete golden mask
As early as 1986, when the No. 1 and No. 2 sacrificial pits were discovered, Sanxingdui unearthed cultural relics, such as gold rods, gold masks, broken pieces of gold leaf, etc., proved its unique gold-using customs.
In the new round of archaeological excavations in the sacrificial area opened last year, gold wares appeared again frequently.
Following the discovery of a huge golden mask in the No. 5 sacrificial pit of the Sanxingdui site, a golden mask was found again in the No. 3 sacrificial pit.
It is understood that this golden mask is relatively intact. It is 40 cm wide and about 27 cm high when unfolded flat. It is the largest one among the complete golden masks found in Sanxingdui.
Bronze standing figure resembling "Ultraman".
Photo courtesy of Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
"Ultraman" "Zhuge Liang"...
These "traversing" cultural relics in Sanxingdui unveiled
Archaeologists found a bronze standing figure in the south of Pit 3.
The portrait is small, not more than 20 cm tall.
But when the archaeologists removed the dirt from the figure, it was discovered that this bronze figure was wearing a pointed crown, with protruding eyes and an exaggerated face.
At first glance, the overall shape is very close to the image of Ultraman on TV.
It looks like a bronze figure of "Zhuge Liang" in the Three Kingdoms period.
Photo courtesy of Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
Also in Pit 3, another bronze figure resembles the shape of "Zhuge Liang" during the Three Kingdoms period.
This artifact was discovered when the large bronze mask in the pit was extracted. Although it is a bronze figure, it is completely different from the bronze figure unearthed in 1986.
His hair curled back into an exaggerated form of tiles, just like the crown and hat worn by Zhuge Liang.
"Western knife" made of jade.
Photo courtesy of Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
The mysterious wooden box found before Pit 6 was finally cleaned up, and a jade knife was found in it. Its shape and size are very similar to the common Western knives today.
These cultural relics like "crossing" are unique in shape and exquisitely made, which once again proves the romantic artistic creativity and imagination of Sanxingdui people.
Progress of the Archaeological Excavation in the Sacrificial Area of Sanxingdui Site
The excavation of Pit No. 3 started on January 9, 2021 and has now entered the final stage. It is expected that the field excavation will be completed within 2 months.
The excavation of Pit 4 started on October 9, 2020 and ended on August 19, 2021.
Pit No. 5 has been prepared to extract the accumulation in the pit and return it to the laboratory. It is expected that the field cleaning will be completed by the end of September and will be transferred to the laboratory for fine cleaning.
Up to now, a total of 19 nearly complete gold wares, 2 jade wares, 2 bronze wares have been unearthed in Pit No. 5, as well as nearly 300 pieces of dental carvings, among which are golden masks, bird-shaped gold ornaments, and olive-shaped jade wares. , Round gold leaf, jade beads and cloud and thunder tooth carvings.
The field excavation of Pit No. 6 was completed on July 19, 2021. The "wooden box" and the woodware on the west side of the pit have been extracted back to the laboratory as a whole.
Up to now, only two wooden utensils including the "Wooden Box" and 1 jade knife have been unearthed from Pit No. 6, but the "Wooden Box" has not been cleaned up yet, so whether there are more cultural relics unearthed remains to be clarified.
Pit No. 7 has cleaned up the filling and accumulation, and exposed the buried accumulation, including the uppermost ivory and other cultural relics underneath. The number of ivory is estimated to be nearly 200. The cultural relics that can be confirmed include jade, zhang, 瑗 and bronze heads. , There are collars, turtle-shaped ornaments, etc., and the ivory extraction work is currently underway. It is expected that all ivory will be extracted in October and the buried cultural relics will begin to be extracted.
At present, 1 nearly complete bronze ware, 3 gold wares, and 5 jade wares have been unearthed in Pit No. 7, and 80 ivory pieces (including broken ivory) have been extracted. Typical cultural relics include black colored bronze human heads and fish-shaped gold foil pieces.
Bronze altar and beasts unearthed from Sacrificial Pit No. 8.
Photo courtesy of Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
Pit No. 8 has been cleared of the filling and accumulation of ash, exposing ivory and buried cultural relics under the ivory. The number of ivory is estimated to be close to 200. The cultural relics that can be confirmed include bronze man heads, bronze masks, bronze statues, bronze fangs, etc. Bronze altars, bronze beasts, bronze top statues, jade zhang, jade ge, jade collar, stone chime, etc., are currently undergoing ivory extraction work. It is expected that all ivory will be extracted in October and the buried cultural relics will be extracted.
The nearly complete artifacts currently extracted include 54 bronze wares, 349 gold wares, 199 jade wares, 34 stone wares, and 66 ivory (including broken ivory). Typical cultural relics include small copper convex bird figures, golden masks, Yuzhang, stone chime, etc.
now,
Many cultural relics were once again found in Sanxingdui,
I have to sigh,
Sanxingdui is really a magical treasure!
The mystery of the sacrificial pit of Sanxingdui,
It is hoped that with the ongoing archaeological excavations, the truth will gradually be revealed,
Are you looking forward to it?