The Shang Dynasty tombs in the Shaojiapeng site have unearthed a rich number of bronze artifacts
Shell charms in the pits of carriages and horses
Xinhua News Agency, above the "Zhong" type tomb, 3 "Day" character courtyards are arranged in a regular manner; Around the tomb, there are 4 pits of carriage and horse and several funerary tombs; A number of exquisitely shaped bronzes are engraved with inscriptions with the word "book"... A few days ago, the Shang Dynasty "book" ethnic burial unity site was found in Shaojiapeng Village, Anyang, Henan, forming an arch guard for the Yin Ruins Palace Area.
After two years of archaeological excavations, the site of Shaojiapeng, located on the southeast edge of the Yin Ruins Conservation Area and 2.4 kilometers away from the ruins of the Ancestral Temple of the Yin Ruins Palace, has been judged by archaeologists to be an important area for the "Book" people of the Shang Dynasty to live and live. "In the Oracle, there is a record of the 'Book' clan. The 'book' clan emblem appeared on a number of bronzes found at the Shaojiapeng site this time, so we believe that the 'book' clan is active in the area. Kong Deming, director of the Anyang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, said.
Bronze cover, the inner wall has an inscription of 12 characters
Archaeologists found a total of 18 house foundations and 24 tombs in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, including a "Medium" type tomb, a total of 6 cars in 4 carriage and horse pits, and a number of exquisite bronzes, jade tools, bone mussels, and carriage and horse tools were unearthed.
Of the 18 Excavated Tombs of the Shang Dynasty, the "Zhong" type tomb was seriously stolen, and only a small number of small artifacts such as pottery and carriage and horse ware were unearthed.
Bronze cover
In the rest of the burial tombs, a total of more than 20 sets of bronze ceremonial vessels have been excavated, including Ding, Yao, Jue, etc., and some have inscriptions "books". In addition, a large number of bronze weapons, carriage and horse tools, jade tools, bone mussels and so on have been unearthed. A bronze lid with an inscription of 12 characters has also been unearthed in the site, which is very rare.
In the 4 Shang Dynasty carriage and horse pits, a total of 6 cars were excavated, accompanied by martyrs and martyrs. Car ornaments and horse ornaments are more luxurious, a carriage found in the scepter, some martyrs wear shell charm hats, some martyrs also have shell charms on the head, and there are bronze substrates, gold veneer bubble ornaments hanging on the forehead of the horse.
"This is rare in archaeology in the Anyang area, reflecting the extraordinary status and power of the owner of the carriage." Kong Deming said.
The 18 house foundations form 3 multi-entry courtyards, and the "medium" type tomb is located below the middle courtyard.
Part of the excavated bronze ware issued by Xinhua News Agency (Courtesy of Anyang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology)
"These three courtyards are all north-south oriented, the plane is in the shape of a 'day', and the layout is very clear." Liang Yu, a technician at the Anyang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and a staff member of the Shaojiapeng site archaeological excavation project, said.
According to reports, through anatomy and stratigraphic observation, the founding date of these three courtyards is the late Shang Dynasty, after many restorations and utilization, the abandoned age is before and after the Zhou King destroyed the Shang.
All kinds of indications show the high specifications and scale of the Shaojiapeng ruins, and what kind of social status do the "Book" people living here have? What kind of social division of labor is involved? What kind of relationship did it have with the Shang Dynasty royal family? These questions still need to be answered through follow-up studies.