[Explanation] On March 20th, the "Archaeological China" major project progress meeting was held in Chengdu. The latest archaeological results of the Sanxingdui site were announced at the meeting: 6 new "sacrifice pits" were discovered at the Sanxingdui site, and fragments of golden masks were unearthed one after another. More than 500 key cultural relics.

Some experts believe that the new discoveries at the Sanxingdui site can not only fill the gaps in the existing excavations at Sanxingdui, but also provide more research materials for the reconstruction of the religious and cultural beliefs of the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites, as well as new directions for the research in the two places. .

  [Concurrent] Zheng Manli, Deputy Director of the Heritage Protection and Research Department of Jinsha Site Museum

  The latest discovery of Pit No. 4 now sets this age very surely between 3200 and 3000 years ago.

In the age when our Sands emerged, it was 3,200 years ago.

So from this perspective, the discovery of the new "sacrifice pit", and the release of more "sacrifice pits" in the future, and the release of dating data, may enable us to see more clearly Between the two, especially Sanxingdui in this era of sacrifice, their evolution is a process.

At the same time, we can see some similarities and differences between Sanxingdui and Jinsha in this sacrifice, which allows us to more clearly clarify the inheritance or continuity of the relationship between the two.

  [Explanation] It is reported that the Jinsha Site is generally considered to be another political, economic, and cultural center of the ancient Shu Kingdom that emerged on the Chengdu Plain after the Sanxingdui Site.

According to Zheng Manli, combining the age of the newly announced Pit No. 4 at the Sanxingdui site and the archaeological "breaking relationship" between Pit No. 6 and No. 7, that is, Pit No. 6 and Pit No. 7 partially overlap. It shows that they may also have the timing relationship of their burial, which should reduce the possibility of "the theory of burial of the national treasure of Sanxingdui".

  [Concurrent] Zheng Manli, Deputy Director of the Heritage Protection and Research Department of Jinsha Site Museum

  In fact, this new excavation in Sanxingdui, I think it can bring us some new thinking.

For example, from a macro point of view, the excavation of these six pits, especially the dating of its age, allows us to see more clearly the duration of this sacrificial activity in Sanxingdui.

Especially in this era like Pit No. 4, it is very helpful for us to clearly realize that the time of its sacrifice and the time when the sacrifice activities of our Jinsha are carried out are actually in a co-existence relationship.

  [Explanation] Zheng Manli believes that the first stage ritual supplies at the Jinsha site are mainly ivory and stone tools, but the cultural relics unearthed at the Sanxingdui site do not include stone tools.

It may prove that during the development of ancient Shu civilization, not only sacrificial acts, but also the thoughts and concepts of ancient Shu people may also be changing.

  [Concurrent] Zheng Manli, Deputy Director of the Heritage Protection and Research Department of Jinsha Site Museum

  From the excavation of the "sacrifice pit" we have seen in Sanxingdui, we have not found any stone carvings yet.

Does this mean that it has some sacrificial supplies and a ideological and conscious behavior with different sacrificial purposes?

Then we also need to explore more to confirm whether such a change has occurred in their ideology, or whether the purpose of the sacrifice has changed.

  [Explanation] In addition, Zheng Manli introduced that from the Sanxingdui site to the Jinsha site, the similarities and differences between the two unearthed cultural relics also show to a certain extent the evolution of the ancient civilization that embraced the "Hundred Schools of Culture" and its integration into The historical process of the pluralistic integration of Chinese civilization.

  [Concurrent] Zheng Manli, Deputy Director of the Heritage Protection and Research Department of Jinsha Site Museum

  From Sanxingdui to Jinsha, we can actually see that there are many cultural exchanges between us and the Southwest region and the Central Plains culture.

For example, in our new discovery in Sanxingdui this time, we discovered a lot of bronze statues.

At this time of Jinsha, we can see that its absorption of culture has actually reached another level.

Whether it is the Central Plains culture, the civilization of the Yangtze River basin, and the Qijia culture in the north, we can see some of it in Jinsha.

Therefore, we can see that the entire ancient Shu culture is in the process of development. In fact, it has an inclusive mentality to absorb and develop to create such a process.

  [Commentary] Zheng Manli said that in addition to excavation, archaeology is also very important for the protection and display of cultural relics.

The Sanxingdui site not only brought heavy discoveries, but also brought new technologies for excavation and protection, which may become a "key" to solve the problem of ivory protection at the Jinsha site.

  [Concurrent] Zheng Manli, Deputy Director of the Heritage Protection and Research Department of Jinsha Site Museum

  Now we can see that the excavation in Sanxingdui is a national effort.

We have also used some of the latest technologies and technologies in our protection, as well as some theories and methods.

We also look forward to this excavation in Sanxingdui, especially the process of extraction and protection of ivory, which can solve a difficult problem of ivory protection about 3000 years ago.

If this problem can be solved, it can help our Sands to better protect some of our existing ivory that has been extracted in the future.

  Yang Yudian reports from Chengdu, Sichuan

Editor in charge: 【Luo Pan】