One of China’s first dynasties

Four archaeological sites dating back 3,600 years have provided new insights into one of China’s first dynasties, including early domestic heating systems, possible use of moats to protect cities, as well as painted ceramics and turquoise jewelry as signs of status, according to SCMP.

Sites belonging to the ancient Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) were recently discovered in the capital Beijing, Hebei province, as well as Shaanxi and Henan provinces, according to the Heritage Administration Chinese National Culture.

The discoveries from these archaeological sites paint a historically valuable picture of the city building, social system, burial rites and handicraft production of the 2nd Dynasty of China. China. This Bronze Age dynasty is also home to China’s first royal lineage proven by historical evidence.

Among the discoveries were nine tombs of high-ranking nobles from the late Shang Dynasty. This is the largest burial site of its kind ever excavated in Shaanxi.

The tombs were found at the Zhaigou archaeological site located on 11 hills containing large rammed earth buildings, cemeteries and bronze casting shops.

More than 200 grave goods were recovered from the graves, including a set of chariot and horse accessories, a swallow-shaped ornament inlaid with turquoise, and a bone tool with animal patterns also inlaid with turquoise. , gold cloud earrings, bronze arrowheads, bronze axes, seashells, jade and crocodile bones.

The tombs provide insight into the political structure of the Shang dynasty and the interaction between the Shang and northern cultures, researchers point out.

At the Xingong site in Beijing – one of the earliest Bronze Age settlements discovered in the Chinese capital – archaeologists found tombs arranged in the same order and facing the same direction. one direction, indicating a form of urban planning.

Some tombs also contained burial goods such as painted pottery, gold and jade earrings, turquoise necklaces, and red agate beads, reflecting the high social status of the buried.

Analysis of the remains also shows that people from different social classes had similar diets of millet and meat.

The findings may shed light on Bronze Age cultural exchange between people living in the Yan Mountains area of ​​Beijing and the northern grasslands, the researchers point out.

Clues about urban planning and housing

Some notable urban planning discoveries relate to the Huanbei Shang site in Henan – once the capital of the middle Shang dynasty, discovered in 1999.

Archaeologists studying this area over the past two years found that part of the city was surrounded by ditches, instead of rammed earth walls as previously thought. They also found clues pointing to paths and bridges to get into the city.

These findings could change the understanding of ancient urban layouts because they show that walls were not considered the only way to protect a city, archaeologists note.

The fourth archaeological site, near Handan, Hebei province, was once an important military site during the Shang dynasty. Medium-sized settlements associated with the late Shang and later Zhou dynasties were found to have burial sites, roads, moats, pottery kilns, stone waterways, and rows of houses.

At one house, researchers found an indoor structure to circulate heat, possibly an early form of the Chinese kang – the ancient system of using a heating pad to keep the house warm in winter long in the north.

As the first Chinese dynasty with written historical records, the Shang Dynasty is said to mark the beginning of Chinese civilization and culture.

The Shang Dynasty is said to have invented or used the basic tools and techniques necessary for society to develop, such as writing, agriculture, social rituals, chariots or weapons for war and organization. political position.