Xinhua News Agency, Zhengzhou, January 19 (Reporters Gui Juan and Yuan Yueming) The reporter learned from the Anyang working team of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences that archaeologists recently discovered two new explorations in the Yinxu Shangwang Mausoleum and surrounding areas on the north bank of the Huanhe River in Anyang, Henan. The surrounding ditch and more than 400 sacrificial pits refreshed the understanding of the pattern of the cemetery of the king of Shang.
It is understood that the East and West Waigou are 40 meters apart.
Among them, Dongweigou is completely closed and surrounds the large tombs and a large number of sacrificial pits in the east area of the King's Mausoleum of Yin Ruins, with a distance of about 246 meters from east to west and about 236 meters from north to south.
Xiweigou has discovered three sections in the north, east and south. It surrounds the three sides of the tomb in the west area of Wangling. It has been proved that the northern section is 190 meters, the eastern section exceeds 230 meters, and the southern section is 90 meters.
The number of newly discovered sacrificial pits is more than 460, and the shape is basically the same as the sacrificial pits in the Yinxu period of previous archaeological excavations.
These sacrificial pits are mainly located in the eastern section of Dongweigou, and are densely distributed in rows in some areas.
"From the perspective of spatial relationship, the two newly discovered encircling ditches are all around the periphery of the Yin and Shang tombs. The northern ends of the east and west sections of the Dongwei ditch are inclined to the east, which is consistent with the direction of the Shang Dynasty buildings found in the Yin Ruins." Chinese society Niu Shishan, a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences, said that considering multiple factors, the two encircling ditches are likely to be related to the Shangwang cemetery.
What is particularly special is that there is a large-scale blank area to the east of the eastern section of Dongweigou and south of the southern section, and very few remains of the late Shang Dynasty have been found.
"From this, it is speculated that not only there is a clear plan for the Shangwang cemetery area, but also a large area outside the cemetery is designated as a buffer zone, which is prohibited from being occupied by ordinary people." Niu Shishan said.
In addition to the ditch and sacrificial pit, archaeologists also discovered a certain number of ash pits, tombs and other relics.
"The new discovery has refreshed the understanding of the pattern of Shang Wang's cemetery, and will promote the study of the Shang Dynasty mausoleum system and even Shang culture and business history." Niu Shishan said.
It is reported that this archaeological exploration work started in mid-August 2021 and is still in progress, with a total exploration area of more than 72,900 square meters.
In the future, archaeologists will select key points for excavation research.